3814.00 Solvents and thinners; organic composite solvents and thinners, n.e.c. or included, prepared paint or varnish removers
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 VI, Chemical Products — inorganic and organic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, fertilisers, paints and cosmetics.
- 38 Chapter Chemical products n.e.c.
- 14 Heading Organic composite solvents and thinners, not elsewhere specified or included; prepared paint or varnish removers
- 00 Subheading Solvents and thinners; organic composite solvents and thinners, n.e.c. or included, prepared paint or varnish removers
Chapter 38 covers chemical products n.e.c. (not elsewhere classified): everything from insecticides and disinfectants to prepared culture media, anti-freeze and industrial additives that don't fit the more specific chemical chapters (28-37). It's a broad, catch-all classification for specialty chemical formulations. Classification tip: Pesticides and disinfectants in this chapter almost always require separate environmental or agricultural-agency registration in the destination country, in addition to the customs classification.
All of chapter 38The 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 3814.00? A customs hold shows up as a milestone that stops moving — follow the container or the air waybill from departure to delivery.
Track a shipment3814.00 FAQ
3814.00 covers solvents and thinners; organic composite solvents and thinners, n.e.c. or included, prepared paint or varnish removers. It sits under heading 38.14 (organic composite solvents and thinners, not elsewhere specified or included; prepared paint or varnish removers) in chapter 38, Section VI 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 3814.00 plus whatever national digits the destination’s tariff schedule adds to it.
The General Rules of Interpretation, read together with the notes to Section VI and to chapter 38. 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.