36 Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations
The broadest level of the Harmonized System. Pick the heading below that fits your goods, then the six-digit code under it — that last one is what you declare.
Section VI, Chemical Products — inorganic and organic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, fertilisers, paints and cosmetics.
- 36 Chapter Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations
- —— Heading Pick one of the 6 headings below
- —— Subheading Six digits, the level every country shares
Chapter 36 covers explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations: fireworks, safety matches, blasting compounds and similar controlled goods. Nearly every country requires special import licensing for this chapter regardless of HS code. Classification tip: Consumer fireworks and industrial/mining explosives sit on different subheadings and face very different licensing regimes: confirm which category applies before assuming a single import permit covers both.
6 headings in chapter 36
Four-digit groups. Pick the one that fits, then the six-digit code inside it.
- 36.01 Explosives; propellent powders 1 code
- 36.02 Prepared explosives, other than propellent powders 1 code
- 36.03 Safety fuses; detonating cords; percussion or detonating caps; igniters; electric detonators 6 codes
- 36.04 Fireworks, signalling flares, rain rockets, fog signals and other pyrotechnic articles 2 codes
- 36.05 Matches; other than pyrotechnic articles of heading no. 3604 1 code
- 36.06 Ferro-cerium and other pyrophoric alloys in all forms; articles of combustible materials n.e.c. in chapter 36 2 codes
Other chapters in Section VI
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 from chapter 36? A customs hold shows up as a milestone that stops moving — follow the container or the air waybill from departure to delivery.
Track a shipmentChapter 36 FAQ
Chapter 36 covers explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations: fireworks, safety matches, blasting compounds and similar controlled goods. Nearly every country requires special import licensing for this chapter regardless of HS code. Classification tip: Consumer fireworks and industrial/mining explosives sit on different subheadings and face very different licensing regimes: confirm which category applies before assuming a single import permit covers both.
Pick the heading below that describes the goods, then the six-digit subheading under it. Six digits is the level the Harmonized System defines and the level customs everywhere recognises; anything beyond that is added by the importing country.
The General Rules of Interpretation, read together with the notes to Section VI and to chapter 36. 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.