Product classification
HS code for Ossein: 0506.10
Animal products, ossein and bones treated with acid.
Classification of ossein under HS 0506.10
Ossein is classified under HS code 0506.10, a designation that places it within the category of animal products not elsewhere specified. Chapter 5 of the Harmonized System covers various raw materials of animal origin, and heading 0506 is specifically reserved for bones and horn-cores. The classification of ossein under 0506.10 is driven by the specific processing the bone has undergone. Ossein is the organic matrix of bone that remains after the mineral components, primarily calcium phosphate, have been removed through treatment with dilute hydrochloric acid. This process is explicitly mentioned in the subheading description: "Ossein and bones treated with acid." This material is distinct from raw bone and also from the final processed product, gelatin. The classification follows General Interpretative Rule 1, as the product is named directly in the subheading text. It is primarily traded as an intermediate industrial product for the photographic, pharmaceutical, and food-grade gelatin industries.
- Covers
- Acid-treated bone (Ossein)
- Demineralized bone matrix for industrial use
- Degelatinized bone (if acid treated)
- Ossein chips for gelatin production
- Also under 0506.10
- Rousselot (gelatin manufacturer)
- Gelita (gelatin manufacturer)
- Nitta Gelatin (gelatin manufacturer)
Codes often confused with 0506.10
Common mistake. Ossein is frequently misclassified under HS code 3503.00, which is the code for gelatin. While ossein is the primary raw material for gelatin, it has not yet undergone the hydrolysis required to become gelatin. It may also be confused with HS code 0506.90, which covers other bones and horn-cores that have not been treated with acid. Proper identification depends on confirming the demineralization process.
Top exporters and importers of HS 050610 (the code used for ossein), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 050610 (the code used for ossein) in UN Comtrade data was India, with 35% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Japan, with 54% 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 050610, not only ossein.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 India $11M 35% of world exports
- 2 Belgium $9.7M 30% of world exports
- 3 Thailand $5.6M 17% of world exports
World total: $33M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Japan $24M 54% of world imports
- 2 United Kingdom $8.8M 20% of world imports
- 3 India $5.1M 11% of world imports
World total: $45M 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 ossein
Brazil classifies ossein under NCM 0506.10.00: HS 0506.10 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about ossein
What is the HS code for Ossein?
The HS code for Ossein is 050610 (Animal products; ossein and bones treated with acid). The HS code for Ossein is 0506.10.
How do I classify Ossein for customs?
Ossein is classified under HS code 050610 — Animal products; ossein and bones treated with acid. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is Ossein the same as gelatin for customs purposes?
No, Ossein is a raw material classified in Chapter 5 (0506.10), while gelatin is a further processed chemical product classified in Chapter 35 (3503.00).
Which countries are the top exporters of ossein (HS 050610)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 050610 (the code used for ossein) in UN Comtrade data were India ($11M, 35% of world exports), Belgium ($9.7M) and Thailand ($5.6M). World exports came to about $33M, 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 ossein (HS 050610)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 050610 (the code used for ossein) in UN Comtrade data were Japan ($24M, 54% of world imports), the United Kingdom ($8.8M) and India ($5.1M). World imports came to about $45M, 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 Ossein the same in all countries?
The base HS code 050610 for Ossein 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 ossein in Brazil?
In Brazil, ossein (HS 050610) is classified under NCM 0506.10.00.