Wipes|HS Code

Wipes harmonized system code

Product Overview Wipes under HS code 3401 are defined as soap or organic surface-active products and preparations, in the form of bars, cakes, molded pieces or shapes, and paper, wadding, felt, and nonwovens, impregnated, coated, or covered with soap or detergent. These wipes are typically soft, lightweight, and disposable. They are available in various sizes and are usually moistened with a cleansing solution. They are processed to ensure durability and effectiveness. The subcategories within HS code 3401 include soap and organic surface-active products used for washing the skin in the form of liquid or cream, soap in other forms, and the aforementioned wipes. These wipes are used mainly in the food service industry for cleaning surfaces, in retail for maintaining hygiene standards, and in various processing industries. Their value lies in their convenience, disposability, and effectiveness in maintaining cleanliness and hygiene. They are often preferred over traditional cleaning methods due to their time-saving and easy-to-use characteristics. HS Code Classification & Trade Specifications The full 6-digit HS Code for these wipes is 3401.30.00. The hierarchical breakdown of this code is 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, modeling pastes, "dental waxes" and dental preparations with a basis of plaster), Heading 3401 (Soap; organic surface-active products and preparations for use as soap, in the form of bars, cakes, molded pieces or shapes, whether or not containing soap), and Subheading 3401.30 (Organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap). The classification of these wipes under this specific code is due to their nature as soap or detergent-impregnated materials designed for cleaning. In terms of trade considerations, these wipes are typically packaged in resealable plastic bags or dispensers to maintain their moisture. They must be stored in a cool, dry place to prevent drying out. Shipping requirements include proper packaging to prevent damage during transit. The quality standards for these wipes include being free of harmful chemicals, being hypoallergenic, and providing effective cleaning.

Wipes 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.).