Plastic customs classification: Mastering of materials and products (Chapter 39)

This article summarizes the basics of customs classification of plastic goods in a compact form. What does plastic mean in the customs tariff? How are these products grouped? We take a closer look at this.

The tariff term of plastic

The note 1. of Chapter 39 defines the term "plastic" as follows:

• Products that fall under the customs tariff numbers 3901-3911,

• that are suitable to be shaped under external influence,

• that retain their shape after the removal of the external influence.

Grouping of plastic

1) According to the material

• of mineral origin (coal, petroleum)

• of animal origin (casein, chitin)

• of plant origin (cellulose, proteins)

2) According to the manufacturing

• produced by chemical synthesis (e.g. polyethylene, polyamide, polyurethane - polymerization)

• artificially produced (chemical conversion of natural materials!)

3) According to the properties

• thermoplastic plastics that soften when heated. They dissolve in solvents, can be shaped and harden when cooled.

• thermosetting plastics that harden when heated. They do not dissolve in solvents and cannot be reshaped.

4) According to the appearance

• Raw material (primary forms)

• Semi-finished products

• Finished products

  
  

Plastic raw materials (incl. waste; Pos. 3901 - 3915)

• This includes liquids and pastes, including dispersions (emulsions and suspensions) and solutions —> Addition of plasticizers, stabilizers, fillers, and colorants is permitted, but testing of the solvent content is required.

• Blocks of irregular shape, chunks, crumbs, powders (including molding compounds), granules, flakes, and similar loose forms. Addition of plasticizers, stabilizers, fillers, and colorants is permitted.

Plastic finished products (Pos. 3922 - 3926)

In this chapter, we talk about finished plastic goods when a specific product does not meet the classification conditions for the semi-finished products defined above:

• Bathtubs, shower trays (Pos. 3922),

• Plastic packaging: bags, boxes, cases, etc. (Pos. 3923),

• Tableware: plates, cups, bowls, knives, forks, spoons, etc. (Pos. 3924),

• Kitchen utensils: cookware, storage containers and boxes, measuring cups, etc. (Pos. 3924),

• Other household goods: trash cans, buckets, watering can, food containers, curtains, tablecloths, etc. (Pos. 3924),

• Hygiene or toilet articles: bedpans, pacifiers, fingerstalls, soap holders, towel hooks, toothbrush (Pos. 3924),

• Plastic products used in construction: tanks, doors, windows (Pos. 3925),

• Other goods: sculptures, decoration items, clothing articles, parts with general usability: screws, washers, etc. (Pos. 3926).

  
  

traide Support

At traide, we focus entirely on the subject of customs classification – precise, scalable, and automated. Our software supports companies in classifying all their product master data (from single products to thousands of entries) completely, up-to-date, and compliant with customs regulations – and permanently.
Here, we address not only the customs classification itself but also the challenges before it: unclear product descriptions, scattered data sources (e.g., webshops, PIM systems, product data sheets) or lack of structure in the classification process.
At the center is our AI-powered "customs tariff assistant":
It automatically finds the appropriate customs tariff number and checks existing customs classifications for formal and content accuracy. This way, companies significantly reduce their error rate, gain speed – and create room for strategic issues.

Do you have questions or want a demo? Write to us – we look forward to the exchange:

📧 info@traide.ai