Product classification

HS code for Fresh vegetables: 0709.99

Vegetables, edible, n.e.c. in chapter 07, fresh or chilled.

Classification of fresh vegetables under HS 0709.99

HS code 0709.99 is a residual classification used for fresh or chilled vegetables that are not specifically enumerated in the preceding subheadings of Chapter 7. The Harmonized System organizes vegetables based on botanical families and common trade names. When a vegetable does not fit into the specific categories for potatoes (0701), tomatoes (0702), onions and garlic (0703), brassicas (0704), lettuce (0705), edible roots (0706), cucumbers (0707), or leguminous vegetables (0708), it falls into heading 0709. Within this heading, 0709.99 acts as the "other" category for species not elsewhere specified (n.e.c.). This includes a wide variety of products such as okra, fennel, parsley, tarragon, and various wild edible plants. The classification requires the product to be in a fresh or chilled state. Chilling involves reducing the temperature of the vegetable to improve its shelf life without reaching the freezing point. If the vegetables are frozen, they are classified under heading 0710. If they are provisionally preserved (e.g., in brine), they move to 0711, and if dried, to 0712. Because 0709.99 covers such a broad range of items, it is often subject to close scrutiny by customs officials to ensure that the imported goods do not actually belong in a more specific, higher-tariff category.

Covers
  • Fresh okra (lady's fingers)
  • Fresh culinary herbs like parsley, tarragon, and marjoram
  • Fresh fennel and celery other than celeriac
  • Fresh sweetcorn and zucchini (if not specified elsewhere)
Also under 0709.99
  • Melissa's Produce specialty vegetables
  • Frieda's Specialty Produce
  • organic kohlrabi from local farms
  • imported radicchio from Italy

Codes often confused with 0709.99

Common mistake. Vegetables in this category are often misclassified with those in 0709.60 (fruits of the genus Capsicum or Pimenta) or 0709.51 (mushrooms). Furthermore, if the vegetables are frozen, they must be declared under 0710.80, and if dried, under 0712.90.

0709.60Vegetables; fruits of the genus capsicum or of the genus pimenta, fresh or chilled0709.51Vegetables; mushrooms of the genus Agaricus, fresh or chilled0710.80Vegetables; uncooked or cooked by steaming or boiling in water, n.e.c. in heading no. 0710, frozen0712.90Vegetables; mixtures of vegetables n.e.c. in heading no. 0712, whole, cut, sliced, broken or in powder but not further prepared, dried

Top exporters and importers of HS 070999 (the code used for fresh vegetables), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 070999 (the code used for fresh vegetables) in UN Comtrade data was the Netherlands, with 17% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 13% 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 070999, not only fresh vegetables.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Netherlands $641M
  2. 2 Italy $557M
  3. 3 China $486M

World total: $3.7B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Germany $515M
  2. 2 United States $408M
  3. 3 Hong Kong $391M

World total: $3.8B 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 fresh vegetables

Brazil splits HS 0709.99 into 3 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:

Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.

Questions about fresh vegetables

What is the HS code for Fresh vegetables?

The HS code for Fresh vegetables is 070999 (Vegetables; edible, n.e.c. in chapter 07, fresh or chilled).

How do I classify Fresh vegetables for customs?

Fresh vegetables is classified under HS code 070999 — Vegetables; edible, n.e.c. in chapter 07, fresh or chilled. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

What is the HS code for fresh vegetables n.e.c.?

The HS code for fresh or chilled vegetables not elsewhere specified in Chapter 7 is 0709.99.

Can fresh herbs be classified under this code?

Yes, many fresh culinary herbs such as parsley and marjoram are classified under 0709.99 if they are not specifically listed in other chapters like Chapter 9 (spices).

Which countries are the top exporters of fresh vegetables (HS 070999)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 070999 (the code used for fresh vegetables) in UN Comtrade data were the Netherlands ($641M, 17% of world exports), Italy ($557M) and China ($486M). World exports came to about $3.7B, 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 fresh vegetables (HS 070999)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 070999 (the code used for fresh vegetables) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($515M, 13% of world imports), the United States ($408M) and Hong Kong ($391M). World imports came to about $3.8B, 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 Fresh vegetables the same in all countries?

The base HS code 070999 for Fresh vegetables 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 fresh vegetables in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 070999 into 3 NCM codes, so the right one for fresh vegetables depends on the product's details: 0709.99.11 (Sweet corn for sowing), 0709.99.19 (Fresh or chilled sweet corn, not for sowing), 0709.99.90 (Other fresh or chilled vegetables).