Laundry detergent|HS Code

Laundry detergent harmonized system code

Product Overview Laundry Detergent, classified under Harmonized System (HS) Code 3402, is a formulated cleaning agent used for the purpose of removing dirt and stains from textiles, particularly clothing. This product is commonly presented in either liquid or powder form, with each variant exhibiting specific features such as color, scent, and concentration of active ingredients. The key characteristics of laundry detergent include its bio or non-bio properties, concentration level, fabric compatibility, and environmental impact. Within the HS Code 3402, laundry detergent falls under the subcategory of "Organic surface-active agents", and more specifically, under "Preparations put up for retail sale". Commercially, laundry detergents are extensively utilized in various sectors such as domestic households, laundromats, hospitality, and healthcare industries. The market positioning of laundry detergent is founded on its essential role in maintaining cleanliness and hygiene, with competitive advantages lying in its ability to effectively clean a wide range of fabrics and remove various types of stains. HS Code Classification & Trade Specifications The complete HS Code for Laundry Detergent is 3402.20, with the breakdown being as follows: Chapter 34 (Soap, organic surface-active agents; washing, lubricating, polishing or scouring preparations; artificial or prepared waxes, candles and similar articles, modeling pastes, dental waxes and dental preparations with a basis of plaster), Heading 02 (Organic surface-active agents, whether or not put up for retail sale). The rationale for this classification lies in the detergent's organic surface-active properties and its common retail presentation. In terms of trade considerations, laundry detergents are typically packaged in plastic containers or bags, duly sealed to prevent leakage and preserve the product's quality. Shipping requirements generally involve secure packaging to prevent damage during transit. The quality of Laundry Detergent is often measured by its cleaning efficacy, concentration of active ingredients, and safety for use on various fabrics. It must comply with stringent quality standards set by international regulatory bodies, ensuring its safety, effectiveness, and environmental impact are within acceptable limits.

Laundry detergent 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.).