Product classification
HS code for Animal bones: 0506.90
Animal products, bones and horn-cores and powder or waste of such, unworked, defatted, simply prepared (not cut to shape), or treated with acid or degelatinised, n.e.c. in heading no. 0506.
Classification of animal bones under HS 0506.90
Animal bones are classified under HS code 050690, which broadly covers "Animal products; bones and horn-cores and powder or waste of such, unworked, defatted, simply prepared (not cut to shape), or treated with acid or degelatinised, n.e.c. in heading no. 0506." Chapter 5 of the Harmonized System is dedicated to "Products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included." Heading 0506 specifically addresses "Bones and horn-cores, unworked, defatted, simply prepared (but not cut to shape), treated with acid or degelatinised; powder and waste of these products." The subheading 050690 captures "Other" forms of these products, encompassing various states of animal bones that have undergone minimal processing, such as cleaning, defatting, or crushing into powder, but not shaped for specific uses. This classification distinguishes raw or minimally processed bones from manufactured bone products.
- Covers
- Raw animal bones
- Defatted bones
- Degelatinised bones
- Bone meal (powdered bones)
- Bone waste
- Horn-cores (unworked or simply prepared)
- Ossein
- Also under 0506.90
- Various agricultural suppliers (for bone meal)
- bone china manufacturers (e.g., Wedgwood, Royal Doulton - as users of bone ash)
- craft suppliers for bone carving
Codes often confused with 0506.90
Common mistake. Common misclassifications for animal bones often involve products with higher levels of processing or different primary compositions. HS code 230110, covering "Flours, meals and pellets, of meat or meat offal, unfit for human consumption; greaves," is sometimes confused. While bone meal can be used in animal feed, if it's purely bone-derived and not mixed with meat products, 050690 is more appropriate. Another significant misclassification risk is with HS code 9601, which covers "Worked ivory, bone, tortoiseshell, horn, antlers, coral, mother-of-pearl and other animal carving material, and articles of these materials." This code is for *worked* bone, meaning bones that have been cut, shaped, polished, or otherwise processed into articles or carving materials. HS 050690 is specifically for unworked or simply prepared bones, not finished products, requiring careful distinction based on the extent of processing.
Top exporters and importers of HS 050690 (the code used for animal bones), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 050690 (the code used for animal bones) in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 18% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 22% 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 050690, not only animal bones.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 United States $33M 18% of world exports
- 2 Germany $31M 16% of world exports
- 3 Spain $14M 7.4% of world exports
World total: $190M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $47M 22% of world imports
- 2 Japan $30M 15% of world imports
- 3 Belgium $26M 12% of world imports
World total: $209M 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 code for animal bones
Brazil classifies animal bones under NCM 0506.90.00: HS 0506.90 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about animal bones
What is the HS code for Animal bones?
The HS code for Animal bones is 050690 (Animal products; bones and horn-cores and powder or waste of such, unworked, defatted, simply prepared (not cut to shape), or treated with acid or degelatinised, n.e.c. in heading no. 0506). The HS code for Animal bones is 050690, which covers "Bones and horn-cores, unworked, defatted, simply prepared (but not cut to shape), treated with acid or degelatinised; powder and waste of these products."
How do I classify Animal bones for customs?
Animal bones is classified under HS code 050690 — Animal products; bones and horn-cores and powder or waste of such, unworked, defatted, simply prepared (not cut to shape), or treated with acid or degelatinised, n.e.c. in heading no. 0506. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What is the difference between unworked and worked animal bones for HS classification?
Unworked or simply prepared animal bones (HS 050690) refer to raw bones that have only undergone basic cleaning, defatting, or crushing, without being cut to shape or further processed into articles. Worked animal bones (HS 9601) are those that have been carved, shaped, polished, or otherwise transformed into finished products or materials for carving.
Which countries are the top exporters of animal bones (HS 050690)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 050690 (the code used for animal bones) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($33M, 18% of world exports), Germany ($31M) and Spain ($14M). World exports came to about $190M, 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 bones (HS 050690)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 050690 (the code used for animal bones) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($47M, 22% of world imports), Japan ($30M) and Belgium ($26M). World imports came to about $209M, 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 bones the same in all countries?
The base HS code 050690 for Animal bones 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 bones in Brazil?
In Brazil, animal bones (HS 050690) is classified under NCM 0506.90.00.