HS Code for Sickles

Sickles are classified under HS code 8201.90, which is a residual category for various hand tools used in agriculture, horticulture, or forestry. This code is part of Chapter 82, covering base metal tools. Heading 8201 includes specific subheadings for spades (8201.10), mattocks (8201.30), and axes (8201.40). However, sickles, scythes, and hay knives do not have their own specific 6-digit subheadings in many versions of the Harmonized System and are thus grouped under 8201.90. A sickle is defined as a hand-held agricultural tool with a variously curved blade typically used for harvesting grain crops or cutting succulent forage for feeding livestock. The classification is determined by the tool's manual nature and its intended use in the agricultural sector. The blade must be made of base metal to fall under this heading. The handle may be wood, plastic, or metal, but the tool's essential character is derived from the curved cutting edge. This classification follows GRI 1, as the tool is specifically named in the explanatory notes for heading 8201 as an "other" hand tool of a kind used in agriculture.

Products Included

• Hand sickles
• Scythes
• Hay knives
• Grass shears (hand-operated)
• Timber wedges
• Forks (agricultural hand tools)

Common Misclassification

Sickles are sometimes misclassified under HS code 8201.40, which is specifically for axes, bill hooks, and similar hewing tools. While a bill hook is similar to a sickle, it is generally heavier and used for woody vegetation. Another error is using HS code 8208.40, which applies to knives and cutting blades for machines used in agriculture; 8201.90 is strictly for hand-held tools. Additionally, decorative or ceremonial sickles not intended for use might be classified under 9705 as collectors' items.

FAQ

What is the HS code for Sickles?

The HS code for hand-operated sickles used in agriculture is 8201.90.

Is a scythe classified under the same code as a sickle?

Yes, both scythes and sickles are classified under HS code 8201.90 as they are both agricultural hand tools not specified in other subheadings of 8201.