Car wash shampoo Hs Code

Car wash shampoo harmonized system code

Product Overview Car wash shampoo, classified under HS Code 340250, is a specialized cleaning formulation designed for automotive exterior maintenance. It is a liquid detergent solution composed primarily of surfactants, emulsifiers, and corrosion inhibitors, engineered to effectively remove dirt, grime, and contaminants from vehicle surfaces without damaging paintwork or protective coatings. Typically, the product exhibits a pH range between 7 and 9, ensuring mild alkalinity suitable for automotive finishes. Processing involves dilution-ready concentrates or ready-to-use formulations, with key quality attributes including biodegradability, low foam generation, and compatibility with water hardness variations. Within HS Code 340250, car wash shampoos fall under the broader category of surface-active preparations, with subcategories delineated by their chemical composition such as anionic, non-ionic, or cationic surfactant bases. Commercially, these shampoos serve the automotive care sector, including professional car wash services, retail automotive accessory suppliers, and vehicle maintenance operations. Their market positioning emphasizes efficacy in cleaning combined with environmental compliance, aiming to meet international standards for chemical safety and performance in diverse climatic conditions. HS Code Classification & Trade Specifications The Harmonized System (HS) Code 340250 corresponds to “Surface-active preparations, washing preparations (including auxiliary washing preparations) and cleaning preparations, whether or not containing soap, other than those of heading 3401.” This six-digit code is structured as follows: Chapter 34 (Soap, organic surface-active agents, washing preparations, lubricating preparations, artificial waxes, prepared waxes, polishing or scouring preparations, candles and similar articles, modelling pastes, dental waxes and dental preparations with a basis of plaster), Heading 3402 (Organic surface-active agents and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale), and Subheading 340250 (Washing and cleaning preparations, except those containing soap). Car wash shampoo’s inclusion under this classification is justified by its formulation as a surfactant-based detergent preparation specifically intended for cleaning applications that exclude soap-based compositions. Standard trade practices involve packaging in polyethylene drums or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) containers ranging from 5 to 25 liters to ensure chemical stability and prevent contamination. Preservation methods typically include the use of stabilizers and antimicrobial agents to prolong shelf life under varying environmental conditions. Shipping complies with international hazardous materials regulations where applicable, with documentation adhering to WTO guidelines and customs protocols. Quality standards often reference ISO 9001 for manufacturing consistency and OECD guidelines for environmental safety, supporting seamless customs clearance and international market access.

Car wash shampoo Chapter Note

1.- This Chapter does not cover : (a) Edible mixtures or preparations of animal, vegetable or microbial fats or oils of a kind used as mould release preparations (heading 15.17); (b) Separate chemically defined compounds; or (c) Shampoos, dentifrices, shaving creams and foams, or bath preparations, containing soap or other organic surface-active agents (heading 33.05, 33.06 or 33.07). 2.- For the purposes of heading 34.01, the expression “soap” applies only to soap soluble in water. Soap and the other products of heading 34.01 may contain added substances (for example, disinfectants, abrasive powders, fillers or medicaments). Products containing abrasive powders remain classified in heading 34.01 only if in the form of bars, cakes or moulded pieces or shapes. In other forms they are to be classified in heading 34.05 as “scouring powders and similar preparations”. 3.- For the purposes of heading 34.02, “organic surface-active agents” are products which when mixed with water at a concentration of 0.5 % at 20 C and left to stand for one hour at the same temperature : (a) give a transparent or translucent liquid or stable emulsion without separation of insoluble matter; and (b) reduce the surface tension of water to 4.5 x 10-2 N/m (45 dyne/cm) or less. 4.- In heading 34.03 the expression “petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals” applies to the products defined in Note 2 to Chapter 27. 5.- In heading 34.04, subject to the exclusions provided below, the expression “artificial waxes and prepared waxes” applies only to : (a) Chemically produced organic products of a waxy character, whether or not water-soluble; (b) Products obtained by mixing different waxes; (c) Products of a waxy character with a basis of one or more waxes and containing fats, resins, mineral substances or other materials. The heading does not apply to : (a) Products of heading 15.16, 34.02 or 38.23, even if having a waxy character; (b) Unmixed animal waxes or unmixed vegetable waxes, whether or not refined or coloured, of heading 15.21; (c) Mineral waxes or similar products of heading 27.12, whether or not intermixed or merely coloured; or (d) Waxes mixed with, dispersed in or dissolved in a liquid medium (headings 34.05, 38.09, etc.).