Petroleum jelly - vaseline Hs Code

Petroleum jelly - vaseline harmonized system code

Product Overview Petroleum Jelly, commonly known under the trade name Vaseline, classified under HS Code 271210, is a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons derived from petroleum refining processes. It exhibits a translucent, odorless, and non-volatile characteristic with a melting point typically ranging between 38°C to 60°C, ensuring stability under standard storage conditions. The product undergoes advanced refining stages including decolorization and deodorization to meet pharmaceutical and cosmetic-grade specifications. Within HS Code 271210, petroleum jelly is categorized primarily by purity levels and intended applications, encompassing pharmaceutical-grade, industrial-grade, and cosmetic-grade variants. Commercially, it serves multifaceted roles across food service for lubrication and sealing, retail in personal care formulations, and processing industries as a protective coating and moisture barrier. Its value proposition resides in chemical inertness, long shelf life, and compliance with international safety standards, positioning it as a critical raw material in multinational supply chains and manufacturing operations. HS Code Classification & Trade Specifications The HS Code 271210 corresponds to “Petroleum Jelly; Mineral Waxes and Similar Products Obtained by Distilling Petroleum," where 27 denotes Chapter 27 covering mineral fuels and oils, 12 specifies heading 2712 for petroleum jelly and related products, and 10 identifies subheading 271210 for petroleum jelly. Classification under this code is justified by the product’s origin from crude oil refining through fractional distillation and subsequent purification, conforming to the World Customs Organization’s Harmonized System guidelines. Trade considerations emphasize packaging in hermetically sealed metal tins, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) containers, or drums, ensuring protection against contamination and oxidation. Preservation involves maintaining temperature-controlled storage between 15°C and 25°C to prevent phase separation. Quality standards align with ASTM D721 and USP monograph specifications, requiring hydrocarbon content above 99%, minimal volatile matter, and absence of harmful impurities. Compliance with WTO trade facilitation agreements and accurate customs documentation is essential to streamline import-export procedures and ensure tariff classification accuracy.

Petroleum jelly - vaseline Chapter Note

1.- This Chapter does not cover : (a) Separate chemically defined organic compounds, other than pure methane and propane which are to be classified in heading 27.11; (b) Medicaments of heading 30.03 or 30.04; or (c) Mixed unsaturated hydrocarbons of heading 33.01, 33.02 or 38.05. 2.- References in heading 27.10 to “petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals” include not only petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals but also similar oils, as well as those consisting mainly of mixed unsaturated hydrocarbons, obtained by any process, provided that the weight of the non-aromatic constituents exceeds that of the aromatic constituents. However, the references do not include liquid synthetic polyolefins of which less than 60 % by volume distils at 300 C, after conversion to 1,013 millibars when a reduced-pressure distillation method is used (Chapter 39). 3.- For the purposes of heading 27.10, “waste oils” means waste containing mainly petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (as described in Note 2 to this Chapter), whether or not mixed with water. These include : (a) Such oils no longer fit for use as primary products (for example, used lubricating oils, used hydraulic oils and used transformer oils); (b) Sludge oils from the storage tanks of petroleum oils, mainly containing such oils and a high concentration of additives (for example, chemicals) used in the manufacture of the primary products; and (c) Such oils in the form of emulsions in water or mixtures with water, such as those resulting from oil spills, storage tank washings, or from the use of cutting oils for machining operations.