HS Code 0402Milk and cream; concentrated or containing added sugar or other sweetening matter

What HS code 0402 covers

Think of this heading as milk that has been made thicker, drier or sweeter. Water has been taken out, or sugar has been added. Plain fresh milk is not here.

In everyday talk, the goods are milk powder, condensed milk and evaporated milk. Customs uses longer words instead: milk and cream, concentrated, with or without added sugar or other sweetening matter. The codes also split by form, such as powder, granules or other solid forms, and by fat content.

The first six digits of a Harmonized System code are the same in every country that uses the WCO system. In India the same code is often called an HSN code, and in the United States it sits inside the HTS. Each country may add more digits after the sixth. Those extra digits are national, so check them before you file.

The six-digit codes under 0402 compared

Each subheading answers three questions. Is it a powder or another form? Is sugar or another sweetener added? Here is how the codes line up with common product names.

• This is where skimmed milk powder usually sits.
• Whole milk powder without sweetener usually goes here.
• Evaporated milk is the usual example.
• Sweetened condensed milk is the usual example.

How to pick the right 0402 subheading

Work through the product in this order. It takes a minute and avoids most mistakes.

Step one: is the product a powder, granules or another solid form? If yes, look at 040210, 040221 and 040229. If it is liquid or paste, look at 040291 and 040299.

Step two, for solids only: check the fat content.

Step three: check the label for added sugar or another sweetener. With it, the solid is 040229. For liquids, no sweetener means 040291 and added sweetener means 040299.

If you are unsure, the HS code classifier can help you check your dairy HS code. Customs in your country has the final say.

0402 vs 0401, 0403 and 0404

The difference between HS 0401 and 0402 is simple. Once the milk is concentrated or sweetened, it moves to 0402.

Heading 0403 is for fermented or acidified products such as yogurt, buttermilk and kephir.

A good rule: decide first whether the product is still milk or cream in a concentrated or sweetened state. If it has been fermented, split into whey, churned or set into cheese, it belongs to a neighbouring heading.

HS 0402 import and export data, buyers and suppliers

Knowing the code is the first step. The next step is seeing who trades under it. EximDataX shows shipment-level import and export records from official customs sources.

Coverage: 43 direct customs feeds plus 184 mirror-derived countries. Named buyers and named suppliers are available in 38 of the 43 direct markets. Most markets refresh weekly and some refresh daily.

You can search by HS code to see who imports and exports a product, and book a free demo. Start with import data or export data, or go straight to buyer data and supplier data if you are looking for partners.