Tullikoodeiksiin

Tullikoodeiksiin, commonly referred to as customs codes or HS codes, are a standardized international system for classifying traded products. Developed and maintained by the World Customs Organization (WCO), these codes are essential for the smooth and efficient flow of international trade. The Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) provides a hierarchical structure where each product is assigned a unique numerical code.

The HS code system is structured in chapters, headings, and subheadings, allowing for increasingly specific product identification. For example, a product might be classified under a broad chapter for "Live animals; animal products," then a more specific heading for "Meat and edible meat offal," and finally a subheading for "Poultry meat, fresh, chilled, or frozen." This system ensures consistency in how goods are categorized across different countries, facilitating customs procedures, tariff calculation, and statistical tracking of trade flows.

Governments worldwide adopt the HS code system for various purposes. These include determining import and export duties, collecting trade statistics, enforcing trade regulations, and managing quotas. Businesses involved in international trade must accurately identify and use the correct HS codes for their products to avoid delays, penalties, and incorrect duty payments. The HS code system is periodically reviewed and updated by the WCO to reflect changes in global trade and emerging product categories.