HS Code for Wood tar
Wood tar is classified under HS code 3807.00. This heading is located in Chapter 38, which covers miscellaneous chemical products. Heading 3807 is a specific, single-level heading that encompasses wood tar, wood tar oils, wood creosote, wood naphtha, vegetable pitch, and brewers' pitch. Wood tar is a complex liquid product obtained by the destructive distillation of wood (usually resinous wood like pine). The classification is based on the chemical identity of the substance as a derivative of wood processing. Unlike mineral tars, wood tar contains high concentrations of phenolic compounds like guaiacol and creosol. The Harmonized System groups wood tar with its immediate distillation products, such as wood creosote, because they are all part of the same chemical production chain. This code is used for the raw tar as well as refined versions, provided they have not been further processed into specific medicaments or retail chemical products classified elsewhere.
Products Included
- Pine tar (Stockholm tar)
- Birch wood tar
- Wood tar oils
- Wood creosote (non-medicinal)
- Wood naphtha (crude methyl alcohol)
- Vegetable pitch
Common Misclassification
Wood tar is often confused with coal tar, which is classified under HS code 2706.00. Coal tar is a mineral product derived from the distillation of coal, whereas wood tar is a vegetable-derived chemical product. Another common error is HS code 3806.10, which is for rosin. While rosin and wood tar both come from resinous trees, rosin is a solid resin acid, while wood tar is a liquid product of destructive distillation. Additionally, if wood tar is prepared as a medicament for retail sale (e.g., for skin conditions), it might be moved to Chapter 30, though the bulk raw material remains in 3807.00.
FAQ
What is the HS code for Wood tar?
The HS code for wood tar and its associated oils and creosote is 3807.00.
Is wood tar the same as coal tar in the HS system?
No, they are classified differently. Wood tar is 3807.00 (Chapter 38, Chemicals), while coal tar is 2706.00 (Chapter 27, Mineral Fuels).
Industry
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the HS code for Wood tar?
The HS code for Wood tar is 380700 (Wood tar; wood tar oils; wood creosote; wood naphtha; vegetable pitch; brewers' pitch and similar preparations based on rosin, resin acids or on vegetable pitch).
How do I classify Wood tar for customs?
Wood tar is classified under HS code 380700 — Wood tar; wood tar oils; wood creosote; wood naphtha; vegetable pitch; brewers' pitch and similar preparations based on rosin, resin acids or on vegetable pitch. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is the HS code for Wood tar the same in all countries?
The base HS code 380700 for Wood tar is internationally standardized for the first 6 digits across 200+ countries. Individual countries may add additional digits for national tariff lines and specific classifications.