HS Code 0508: Coral and similar materials, unworked or simply prepared, shells of molluscs, crustaceans or echinoderms and cuttle-bone, not cut to shape powder and waste thereof

Q: Is HS code 0508 the same in every country?

Yes — HS code 0508 is part of the WCO Harmonized System and is the same in every WCO member country at the 6-digit level. Beyond 6 digits, each country extends the code under its own system (e.g. HTSUS in the US, CN/TARIC in the EU, HSK in Korea, CCCHS in China) for national tariff rates and trade statistics. To see how a specific country classifies this code, select a country.

Q: Which WCO edition does HS code 0508 belong to, and has it been reclassified?

The Harmonized System is maintained by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and revised approximately every five years. The current edition is HS 2022, which replaced HS 2017 on 1 January 2022. Codes are added, merged, or split between editions to reflect new products and trade patterns, so a code valid in one edition may not exist or may mean something different in another.

Q: How do I find the correct country-specific version of HS code 0508?

Beyond the international 6-digit level, each country adds its own digits — the US extends to 10 digits (HTSUS), the EU to 8 or 10 (CN/TARIC), China to 13 (CCCHS), Korea to 10 (HSK), Japan to 9, and so on. To find the full code used by a specific country, select a country in TradeInt's HS Code Tool and search for 0508.

What is HS Code 0508

HS Code 0508 covers Coral and similar materials, unworked or simply prepared, shells of molluscs, crustaceans or echinoderms and cuttle-bone, not cut to shape powder and waste thereof. It is a 4-digit heading within Chapter 05 (Products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included), Section I. Its 6-digit subheadings are identical in every HS-adopting country; from the 7th digit onward, each country extends the code for its own tariff and statistics.

Explore global 2026 latest import export trade data and shipment records for Coral and Shells on TradeInt global trade data platform

What does HS Code 0508 Coral and similar materials, unworked or simply prepared, shells of molluscs, crustaceans or echinoderms and cuttle-bone, not cut to shape powder and waste thereof Cover?

Section I

Chapters (01-05) Live animals; animal products

Chapter 05

Products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included

HS Code 0508

Coral and similar materials, unworked or simply prepared, shells of molluscs, crustaceans or echinoderms and cuttle-bone, not cut to shape powder and waste thereof

HS Code 050800

Animal products; coral and similar materials, shells of molluscs, crustaceans, echinoderms, cuttle-bone, unworked or simply prepared but not cut to shape, powder and waste thereof

Click any HS code above to see live 2026 latest Coral and Shells trade data including exporters, importers, and shipment volumes.

What HS Codes for Other Animal Products Do Not Cover

Chapter 05 covers animal products not specified elsewhere — bones, horns, ivory, feathers, hair, shells, coral. Goods frequently misclassified here but that belong elsewhere include:

Edible products of animal origin

Chapters 02, 03, 04, 16

Hides, skins, and leather

Chapter 41 or 43

Worked ivory, horn, or coral

Chapter 96

Wool and animal hair for textile use

Chapter 51

This list highlights common classification errors only — it is not exhaustive. For binding classification, work with a licensed customs broker or qualified trade compliance professional.

Related HS Codes under Coral and Shells HS 0508

HS Code 050800

Animal products; coral and similar materials, shells of molluscs, crustaceans, echinoderms, cuttle-bone, unworked or simply prepared but not cut to shape, powder and waste thereof

HS Code 0501

Human hair; unworked, whether or not washed or scoured; waste of human hair

HS Code 0502

Pigs', hogs' or boars' bristles and hair; and waste thereof

HS Code 0504

Guts, bladders and stomachs of animals (other than fish); whole and pieces thereof, fresh, chilled, frozen, salted, in brine, dried or smoked

HS Code 0505

Skins 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

HS Code 0506

Bones and horn-cores, unworked, defatted, simply prepared (but not cut to shape), treated with acid or degelatinised; powder and waste of these products

HS Code 0507

Ivory, tortoise-shell, whalebone and whalebone hair, horns, antlers, hooves, nails, claws and beaks unworked or simply prepared, not cut to shape; waste and powder of these products

HS Code 0510

Ambergris, castoreum, civet and musk; cantharides; bile, dried or not glands, other animal products used in preparation of pharmaceutical products, fresh chilled, frozen or otherwise provisionally preserved

HS Code 0511

Animal products not elsewhere specified or included; dead animals of chapter 1 or 3, unfit for human consumption

Frequently Asked Questions

What is HS code 0508?

HS code 0508 covers Coral and similar materials, unworked or simply prepared, shells of molluscs, crustaceans or echinoderms and cuttle-bone, not cut to shape powder and waste thereof, a heading within Chapter 05 (Products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included) of the WCO Harmonized System. Headings sit between the broad chapter level and the more specific 6-digit subheading level.

Is HS code 0508 the same in every country?

Which WCO edition does HS code 0508 belong to, and has it been reclassified?

How do I find the correct country-specific version of HS code 0508?