Product classification
HS code for Animal bladders: 0504.00
Animal products, guts, bladders and stomachs of animals (other than fish), whole and pieces thereof, fresh, chilled, frozen, salted, in brine, dried or smoked.
Classification of animal bladders under HS 0504.00
HS code 0504.00 is the specific classification for animal bladders, guts, and stomachs. This heading is unique because it includes these organs whether they are intended for human consumption or industrial use, such as the production of natural sausage casings. The classification applies to whole organs or pieces thereof. The preservation methods allowed under this code include fresh, chilled, frozen, salted, in brine, dried, or smoked. It excludes fish bladders, which are classified under 0511. The primary factor for classification here is the anatomical origin of the product. Even if the bladders are cleaned and scraped for use in the food industry, they remain under 0504.00 as long as they have not been further prepared into finished articles. This code is essential for the international trade of natural casings used in the meat industry and for certain industrial applications like the manufacture of musical instrument strings or surgical sutures.
- Covers
- Dried pig bladders
- Salted beef bladders
- Fresh sheep bladders
- Pieces of animal stomachs (tripe)
- Natural sausage casings made from bladders
- Also under 0504.00
- Natural sausage casings used by artisanal butchers
- large-scale food processors like Johnsonville
- specific animal bladders for traditional crafts
Codes often confused with 0504.00
Common mistake. Animal bladders are frequently misclassified under HS code 0511.99, which is the general "other" category for animal products. However, 0504.00 is a specific heading that takes precedence for guts, bladders, and stomachs. Another common mistake is classifying processed casings under 3917.10. While 3917.10 covers artificial guts (sausage casings) made of hardened protein or cellulosic materials, natural bladders and guts must remain in 0504.00. Finally, fish bladders (maw) are often incorrectly placed here; they should be classified under 0511.91 as fish products.
Top exporters and importers of HS 050400 (the code used for animal bladders), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 050400 (the code used for animal bladders) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 19% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 15% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Figures cover everything classified under HS 050400, not only animal bladders.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $955M 19% of world exports
- 2 United States $560M 11% of world exports
- 3 Germany $415M 8.4% of world exports
World total: $4.9B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $705M 15% of world imports
- 2 Germany $564M 12% of world imports
- 3 Mexico $320M 6.6% of world imports
World total: $4.8B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
How these figures are built
109 countries reported 2025 trade to UN Comtrade in HS 2022, and their own totals are used. Countries that did not report are estimated from what other countries recorded trading with them. Those estimates miss trade with other non-reporting countries, so they can be low, and a non-reporting country can rank higher than shown or be missing from the list. World totals add both and leave out trade between two non-reporting countries. Figures are in current US dollars; reported imports are mostly valued CIF and exports FOB, and exports include re-exports. The UN Comtrade links show the underlying records; they can also list a few reporters left out here (regional groups and older HS editions).
Source: UN Comtrade (United Nations Statistics Division), 2025 annual data.
Brazil NCM codes for animal bladders
Brazil splits HS 0504.00 into 5 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 0504.00.11Bovine guts
- 0504.00.12Sheep guts
- 0504.00.13Swine guts
- 0504.00.19Guts of other animals, excluding fish
- 0504.00.90Animal bladders and stomachs, excluding fish
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about animal bladders
What is the HS code for Animal bladders?
The HS code for Animal bladders is 050400 (Animal products; guts, bladders and stomachs of animals (other than fish), whole and pieces thereof, fresh, chilled, frozen, salted, in brine, dried or smoked). The HS code for animal bladders (other than fish) is 0504.00, regardless of whether they are fresh, salted, or dried.
How do I classify Animal bladders for customs?
Animal bladders is classified under HS code 050400 — Animal products; guts, bladders and stomachs of animals (other than fish), whole and pieces thereof, fresh, chilled, frozen, salted, in brine, dried or smoked. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are natural sausage casings classified under this code?
Yes, natural sausage casings made from animal bladders or guts are classified under HS code 0504.00.
Which countries are the top exporters of animal bladders (HS 050400)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 050400 (the code used for animal bladders) in UN Comtrade data were China ($955M, 19% of world exports), the United States ($560M) and Germany ($415M). World exports came to about $4.9B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Which countries are the top importers of animal bladders (HS 050400)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 050400 (the code used for animal bladders) in UN Comtrade data were China ($705M, 15% of world imports), Germany ($564M) and Mexico ($320M). World imports came to about $4.8B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Is the HS code for Animal bladders the same in all countries?
The base HS code 050400 for Animal bladders is internationally standardized for the first 6 digits across 200+ countries. Individual countries may add additional digits for national tariff lines and specific classifications.
What is the NCM code for animal bladders in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 050400 into 5 NCM codes, so the right one for animal bladders depends on the product's details: 0504.00.11 (Bovine guts), 0504.00.12 (Sheep guts), 0504.00.13 (Swine guts), 0504.00.19 (Guts of other animals, excluding fish), 0504.00.90 (Animal bladders and stomachs, excluding fish).