HS Code 0505Skins and other parts of birds with feathers, down; feathers, down and parts thereof; not further worked than cleaned, disinfected, treated for preservation; powder, waste and parts of feathers

What HS code 0505 covers

Heading 0505 is for the raw feather trade. It sits in Section I, Live Animals; Animal Products, and belongs to Chapter 05, the animal products that are not listed anywhere else. If you ship feathers, down or bird skins in a basic state, this is the heading to check first.

The heading names a few kinds of goods. They are bird skins with the feathers or down still on, feathers and down on their own, and parts of feathers. It also takes feather powder and feather waste. All of them must be in a simple state. That limit matters, and it is explained further down.

People also search for this as HSN code 0505. The number is the same. HSN is simply the name some countries use for the Harmonized System.

050510 vs 050590: choosing the right six-digit code

The split comes down to one question: is the product feathers or down used for stuffing? If yes, it goes under 050510. Think of fill for pillows, cushions and quilts.

If the answer is no, the goods go under 050590. This code is the catch-all for the rest of the heading. It also takes feathers and down that are not for stuffing, plus powder and waste made from them.

A quick way to remember it:

• 050510: feathers and down used for stuffing
• 050590: skins and other parts of birds, feathers and down not for stuffing, and powder and waste of such
• Both codes require the goods to be no more than cleaned, disinfected or treated for preservation

What 'not further worked' means for feathers and down

Both codes carry the same condition. The goods may be cleaned, disinfected or treated so they keep. They may not be worked beyond that. Washing and treating feathers so they do not spoil is fine. Turning them into a finished or shaped product is not.

So this heading does not cover feathers that have been made into something else. A shipment that has gone past the simple stage needs a different heading, and the HS code classifier can help you find it.

Chapter 05 has other headings for animal materials that people often mix up with feathers:

• HS 0502 is for pigs', hogs' or boars' bristles and hair, and their waste.
• HS 0506 is for bones and horn-cores, plus powder and waste of these.
• HS 0507 is for ivory, horns, antlers, hooves, nails, claws and beaks, simply prepared.
• HS 0511 is for animal products not listed elsewhere, including dead animals of chapter 1 or 3 that are unfit for human consumption.

HS code 0505 import export data

Knowing the code is step one. Step two is seeing who actually trades under it. This is what EximDataX offers for feathers and down.

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.

Find buyers and suppliers of feathers and down

Start with the import data pages to see what is coming into a market, or the export data pages to see what is leaving. If you want names, go to buyer data or supplier data and work from the same heading.

Not sure your product belongs here at all? Run it through the classifier first, then come back and check the six-digit code that fits.