Product classification

HS code for Pesticides: 3808.59

Insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, disinfectants, herbicides and the like, containing goods specified in Subheading Note 1 to this Chapter, not DDT (ISO) (clofenotane (INN)), put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles.

Classification of pesticides under HS 3808.59

Pesticides that are put up in forms or packings for retail sale, or as preparations or articles, and contain substances specified in Subheading Note 1 to Chapter 38, are classified under HS code 380859. This heading is structured to include insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, herbicides, anti-sprouting products, and plant-growth regulators. The classification 380859 specifically excludes DDT but includes other hazardous goods mentioned in the legal notes. The primary criteria for classification under 3808 are the product's presentation (retail packaging) and its functional chemical properties. This code ensures that products intended for immediate use in agriculture or households are distinguished from bulk chemical shipments. The inclusion in this specific subheading is often triggered by the presence of toxicological components that require international monitoring under the Rotterdam or Stockholm Conventions.

Covers: Retail-packed insecticides (excluding DDT)
Fungicides prepared for immediate use
Herbicides put up for retail sale
Disinfectants for agricultural or domestic use
Rodenticides in prepared baits or traps
Also under 3808.59: Roundup (Monsanto/Bayer)
Raid (SC Johnson)
Ortho Home Defense (Scotts Miracle-Gro)
K-Othrine (Bayer Environmental Science)
Talon (Syngenta)

Codes often confused with 3808.59

Common mistake. Pesticides are often misclassified under 380891, 380892, or 380893. These codes are for insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides that do *not* contain the specific hazardous substances listed in Subheading Note 1. Importers must verify the active ingredient list against the Note 1 substances to choose between 380859 and the 38089x series. Furthermore, pure active ingredients not yet formulated into a preparation should be classified in Chapter 28 or 29 depending on their chemical structure.

3808.91Insecticides; other than containing goods specified in Subheading Notes 1 & 2 to this Chapter; put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles 3808.92Fungicides; other than containing goods specified in Subheading Note 1 to this Chapter; put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles 3808.93Herbicides, anti-sprouting products and plant-growth regulators; other than containing goods of Subheading Note 1 to this Chapter; put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles

Top exporters and importers of HS 380859 (the code used for pesticides), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 380859 (the code used for pesticides) in UN Comtrade data was South Africa, with 25% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Myanmar, with 43% 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 380859, not only pesticides.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

1 South Africa $43M 25% of world exports
2 United States $25M 14% of world exports
3 Guatemala $22M 13% of world exports

World total: $175M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

1 Myanmar $187M 43% of world imports
2 Malaysia $26M 6.1% of world imports
3 Guatemala $16M 3.7% of world imports

World total: $431M 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 pesticides

Brazil splits HS 3808.59 into 8 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:

3808.59.10Note 1 pesticides for household sanitising use
3808.59.21Methamidophos or monocrotophos pesticides
3808.59.22Endosulfan-based pesticides
3808.59.23Alachlor-based pesticides
3808.59.24HCH or lindane-based pesticides
3808.59.25Trichlorfon-based pesticides
3808.59.26N-ethylperfluorooctane sulphonamide pesticides
3808.59.29Other Note 1 pesticides, put up otherwise

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

Access via API

POST /api/classify/

{
  "query": "pesticides"
}

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Questions about pesticides

What is the HS code for Pesticides?

The HS code for Pesticides is 380859 (Insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, disinfectants, herbicides and the like; containing goods specified in Subheading Note 1 to this Chapter; not DDT (ISO) (clofenotane (INN)), put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles). Pesticides containing specific hazardous substances (excluding DDT) put up for retail sale are classified under HS code 380859.

How do I classify Pesticides for customs?

Pesticides is classified under HS code 380859 — Insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, disinfectants, herbicides and the like; containing goods specified in Subheading Note 1 to this Chapter; not DDT (ISO) (clofenotane (INN)), put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

What determines if a pesticide falls under 380859?

It depends on whether the product contains substances listed in Subheading Note 1 of Chapter 38 and if it is packaged for retail sale or as a finished preparation.

Which countries are the top exporters of pesticides (HS 380859)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 380859 (the code used for pesticides) in UN Comtrade data were South Africa ($43M, 25% of world exports), the United States ($25M) and Guatemala ($22M). World exports came to about $175M, 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 pesticides (HS 380859)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 380859 (the code used for pesticides) in UN Comtrade data were Myanmar ($187M, 43% of world imports), Malaysia ($26M) and Guatemala ($16M). World imports came to about $431M, 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 Pesticides the same in all countries?

The base HS code 380859 for Pesticides 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 pesticides in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 380859 into 8 NCM codes, so the right one for pesticides depends on the product's details: 3808.59.10 (Note 1 pesticides for household sanitising use), 3808.59.21 (Methamidophos or monocrotophos pesticides), 3808.59.22 (Endosulfan-based pesticides), 3808.59.23 (Alachlor-based pesticides), 3808.59.24 (HCH or lindane-based pesticides), 3808.59.25 (Trichlorfon-based pesticides), and more.