Product classification
HS code for Filter board: 4805.40
Paper and paperboard, filter paper and paperboard, uncoated, in rolls or sheets.
Classification of filter board under HS 4805.40
Filter board is classified under HS code 4805.40, which covers uncoated filter paper and paperboard in rolls or sheets. Chapter 48 of the Harmonized System deals with paper and paperboard, articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard. Heading 4805 is a residual category for other uncoated paper and paperboard, not further worked than specified in Note 3 to this Chapter. Subheading 4805.40 is specifically reserved for filter paper and paperboard. These products are characterized by their high porosity, specific fiber composition, and absence of sizing or coating, designed to remove solid particles from liquids or gases. To qualify for this code, the material must be in its bulk form—either in large rolls or rectangular sheets. The technical requirement for 4805.40 is that the paperboard remains \"uncoated\" and in its primary manufactured dimensions. This classification is vital for industrial suppliers who provide raw filtration media to manufacturers of automotive, laboratory, or food-grade filters. The weight and thickness of the board are secondary to its functional identity as a filtration medium in an unfinished state.
- Covers
- Industrial filter paperboard in large rolls
- Laboratory-grade filter sheets (rectangular)
- Thick uncoated paperboard for liquid filtration
- Raw filter media for automotive air filters (in rolls)
- Unprocessed wine and beverage filtration boards
- Also under 4805.40
- Whatman Filter Paper
- Melitta Coffee Filter Rolls
- Hollingsworth & Vose (H&V) Filter Media
Codes often confused with 4805.40
Common mistake. Filter board is often misclassified under HS code 4823.20, which covers filter paper and paperboard that has been cut to shape (such as circles or specific sizes for machines). Once the board is no longer in standard rolls or large rectangular sheets, it moves to 4823. Another common error is using HS code 8421.99, which is for parts of filtering or purifying machinery. While the board is used in such machinery, as a paper product, it must be classified in Chapter 48 unless it is a fully assembled filter element.
Top exporters and importers of HS 480540 (the code used for filter board), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 480540 (the code used for filter board) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 23% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 9.2% 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 480540, not only filter board.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $73M 23% of world exports
- 2 United Kingdom $54M 17% of world exports
- 3 Germany $42M 13% of world exports
World total: $319M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $37M 9.2% of world imports
- 2 Germany $35M 8.6% of world imports
- 3 Indonesia $33M 8.2% of world imports
World total: $402M 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 filter board
Brazil splits HS 4805.40 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 4805.40.10Filter paper 15–25 g/m², 20–30% heat-seal fibres
- 4805.40.90Other filter paper and paperboard
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
EU Regulatory Requirements
This product category is subject to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Importers must provide due diligence statements proving the product was not produced on deforested land after December 31, 2020.
This product is covered by the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), requiring operators to exercise due diligence to minimize the risk of placing illegally harvested timber on the EU market.
Questions about filter board
What is the HS code for Filter board?
The HS code for Filter board is 480540 (Paper and paperboard; filter paper and paperboard, uncoated, in rolls or sheets). The HS code for uncoated filter paper and paperboard in rolls or sheets is 4805.40.
How do I classify Filter board for customs?
Filter board is classified under HS code 480540 — Paper and paperboard; filter paper and paperboard, uncoated, in rolls or sheets. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What if the filter board is cut into circular discs?
If the filter board is cut into specific shapes like circles, it is no longer classified under 4805.40 and should be classified under HS code 4823.20.
Which countries are the top exporters of filter board (HS 480540)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 480540 (the code used for filter board) in UN Comtrade data were China ($73M, 23% of world exports), the United Kingdom ($54M) and Germany ($42M). World exports came to about $319M, 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 filter board (HS 480540)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 480540 (the code used for filter board) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($37M, 9.2% of world imports), Germany ($35M) and Indonesia ($33M). World imports came to about $402M, 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 Filter board the same in all countries?
The base HS code 480540 for Filter board 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 filter board in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 480540 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for filter board depends on the product's details: 4805.40.10 (Filter paper 15–25 g/m², 20–30% heat-seal fibres), 4805.40.90 (Other filter paper and paperboard).