Heading 16.05 — Crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic inverteb... 6-digit code

1605.21 Crustacean preparations; shrimps and prawns, prepared or preserved, not in airtight containers

A full HS code. These six digits are what goes on a customs declaration, and they mean the same thing in every country that uses the Harmonized System.

Section IV, Foodstuffs, Beverages & Tobacco — prepared food and drink — sugar, cocoa, beverages, spirits, vinegar and tobacco.

  1. 16 Chapter Meat, fish, crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates, or insects; preparations thereof
  2. 05 Heading Crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates, prepared or preserved
  3. 21 Subheading Crustacean preparations; shrimps and prawns, prepared or preserved, not in airtight containers

Chapter 16 covers prepared or preserved meat, fish, crustaceans, molluscs and insects: canned tuna, corned beef, sausages, fish balls, and similar cooked, cured or otherwise processed animal-protein products. This is where chapter 2 and chapter 3 raw products end up once they're cooked, canned or otherwise transformed. Classification tip: The specific species and packing medium (in oil, in brine, in sauce) each affect the subheading for canned fish, so check the label's exact contents, not just 'canned fish' generically.

All of chapter 16

Other codes under 16.05

1605.10 Crustacean preparations; crab, prepared or preserved 1605.29 Crustacean preparations; shrimps and prawns, prepared or preserved, in airtight containers 1605.30 Crustacean preparations; lobster, prepared or preserved 1605.40 Crustacean preparations; other than crab, shrimps, prawns, and lobsters, prepared or preserved 1605.51 Mollusc preparations; oysters, prepared or preserved 1605.52 Mollusc preparations; scallops, including queen scallops, prepared or preserved 1605.53 Mollusc preparations; mussels, prepared or preserved 1605.54 Mollusc preparations; cuttle fish and squid, prepared or preserved 1605.55 Mollusc preparations; octopus, prepared or preserved 1605.56 Mollusc preparations; clams, cockles and arkshells, prepared or preserved 1605.57 Mollusc preparations; abalone, prepared or preserved 1605.58 Mollusc preparations; snails, other than sea snails, prepared or preserved 1605.59 Mollusc preparations; n.e.c. in item no. 1605.5, preparations such as pastes, sausages, prepared meals and the like 1605.61 Aquatic invertebrates; sea cucumbers, prepared or preserved 1605.62 Aquatic invertebrates; sea urchins, prepared or preserved 1605.63 Aquatic invertebrates; jellyfish, prepared or preserved 1605.69 Aquatic invertebrates; other than crustaceans, molluscs, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, and jellyfish, prepared or preserved

The wording above is the Harmonized System nomenclature as published by the World Customs Organization, HS 2022 edition. It is a classification reference, not a tariff: it carries no duty rates, and it stops at six digits — the importing country adds its own beyond that.

Classification is decided by the General Rules of Interpretation and the section and chapter notes, and it is the importing country’s customs authority that makes it binding.

Shipping goods under 1605.21? A customs hold shows up as a milestone that stops moving — follow the container or the air waybill from departure to delivery.

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1605.21 FAQ

1605.21 covers crustacean preparations; shrimps and prawns, prepared or preserved, not in airtight containers. It sits under heading 16.05 (crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates, prepared or preserved) in chapter 16, Section IV of the Harmonized System.

It is the international part of it. Six digits are the same in every country that applies the Harmonized System; the importing country then extends them to eight or ten for its own tariff and statistics. Declare 1605.21 plus whatever national digits the destination’s tariff schedule adds to it.

The General Rules of Interpretation, read together with the notes to Section IV and to chapter 16. A description that reads right is not enough on its own — the notes routinely pull goods out of the chapter they obviously belong to and put them somewhere else. Where duty or licensing turns on the answer, ask the importing country’s customs authority for a binding ruling.

A wrong or missing code is one of the common reasons customs holds a container, and a hold shows up as a milestone that stops moving. Watch for it in the container tracking app, on the air waybill in the air cargo tracker, or through the tracking API.

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