HS Code 0408Birds' eggs, not in shell; egg yolks, fresh, dried, cooked by steaming or boiling in water, moulded, frozen or otherwise preserved, whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter

What HS code 0408 covers

Heading 0408 covers the contents of a bird's egg once the shell is gone. It also covers egg yolks on their own. Think of liquid egg, frozen egg yolk and egg powder.

The wording comes from the Harmonized System, the WCO classification that customs offices use around the world. You may also see it called HSN code 0408 or HTS code 0408. The first six digits are shared by all countries. A country may add extra digits for its own use.

The legal text is long, so here is the short version. If an egg product has no shell, or is a yolk, look here first. Eggs sold with the shell on are a different case, covered further down.

How to choose the right 0408 subheading

Ask two questions. First, is the product yolks only, or the whole egg without its shell? Second, is it dried, or in another form such as fresh, cooked, moulded, frozen or otherwise preserved? The two answers point to one code.

Frozen egg yolks belong in 040819, and so do cooked or preserved yolks. Whole egg powder, which is dried egg that is not yolks only, belongs in 040891. Frozen or liquid whole egg belongs in 040899, together with the other non-dried forms of whole egg.

Use this quick guide, then check your product against the exact wording in the table above. If you are still unsure, test your product description in the HS code classifier before you file.

• 040811: yolks only, dried
• 040819: yolks only, in any other listed form
• 040891: whole egg without shell, dried
• 040899: whole egg without shell, in any other listed form

Difference between HS 0407 and 0408 eggs, and what is not included

The split is simple. Eggs that still have their shell go to heading 0407. Eggs without a shell, and egg yolks, go to 0408. A bird's egg in its shell is never a 0408 product, even if it is cooked or preserved.

Other goods sit in neighbouring headings. Natural honey is in 0409. Insects and other edible animal products not named elsewhere are in 0410. Whey is in 0404. Milk, cream, yogurt, butter and cheese are in 0401 to 0406, so they are dairy goods and not egg products.

The chapter page lists every heading in the same family, and the page for all HS code chapters shows the wider structure.

HS code 0408 import export data and shipment records

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 0408, or with one of its six-digit codes if you know the exact form of your egg product.