Honey; natural

HS v2017 Code: 0409

Chapter	Heading	Sub-heading
04	09	n/a

Code	0409
Version	HS v2017
Hierarchy Level	4
Datasource	WCO
Chapter	04

Ancestor Codes: Dairy produce; birds' eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included

This Code: Honey; natural

Child Codes: Honey; natural

Sibling Codes (Nearest 5): Butter and other fats and oils derived from milk; dairy spreads; Cheese and curd; Birds' eggs, in shell; fresh, preserved or cooked; Birds' eggs, not in shell; egg yolks, fresh, dried, cooked by steaming or boiling in water, moulded, frozen or otherwise preserved, whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter; Edible products of animal origin; not elsewhere specified or included

About honey; natural

HS code 0409 covers natural honey, a highly valued and versatile food product that has been an important part of human diets for thousands of years. Honey is a natural sweetener produced by honeybees from the nectar of flowering plants. It is a significant agricultural commodity, with global production and trade playing a crucial role in the broader food and beverage industry.

Production process

The production of natural honey involves a complex process carried out by honeybees. Bees collect nectar from flowers, store it in their hives, and then use specialized enzymes to transform the nectar into honey. The bees then seal the honey in honeycomb cells, where it is stored as a food source. Beekeepers harvest the honey by removing the sealed honeycomb and extracting the honey through a process of centrifugation or pressing.

Production inputs

The primary inputs required for the production of natural honey are honeybees, flowering plants, and beekeeping equipment such as hives, frames, and extraction machinery. Beekeepers also require access to suitable land and climatic conditions to maintain healthy bee colonies. Additionally, labor and transportation are important inputs for the harvesting, processing, and distribution of honey.

Production outputs

The main output of HS code 0409 is natural honey, which is consumed directly as a food product or used as an ingredient in a wide range of other food and beverage items, including 1704 Sugars and sugar confectionery, 1905 Bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits and other bakers' wares, and 2106 Food preparations not elsewhere specified or included. Honey is also used in the production of 2201 Waters, including natural or artificial mineral waters and aerated waters, not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter nor flavoured, 2208 Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of less than 80% vol; spirits, liqueurs and other spirituous beverages, and various cosmetic and personal care products.

Family tree for honey; natural

    graph LR
    A["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/04'>04: Dairy produce; birds' eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included</a>"]
A --> B["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/0409'>0409: Honey; natural</a>"]

    A --> C["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/0401'>0401: Milk and cream; not concentrated, not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter</a>"]
A --> D["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/0402'>0402: Milk and cream; concentrated or containing added sugar or other sweetening matter</a>"]
A --> E["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/0403'>0403: Buttermilk, curdled milk and cream, yoghurt, kephir, fermented or acidified milk or cream, whether or not concentrated, containing added sugar, sweetening matter, flavoured or added fruit or cocoa</a>"]
A --> F["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/0404'>0404: Whey and products consisting of natural milk constituents; whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter, not elsewhere specified or included</a>"]
A --> G["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/0405'>0405: Butter and other fats and oils derived from milk; dairy spreads</a>"]
A --> H["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/0406'>0406: Cheese and curd</a>"]
A --> I["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/0407'>0407: Birds' eggs, in shell; fresh, preserved or cooked</a>"]
A --> J["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/0408'>0408: Birds' eggs, not in shell; egg yolks, fresh, dried, cooked by steaming or boiling in water, moulded, frozen or otherwise preserved, whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter</a>"]
A --> K["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/0410'>0410: Edible products of animal origin; not elsewhere specified or included</a>"]

    B --> L["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/040900'>040900: Honey; natural</a>"]


    %% Color coordination by level

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    classDef level2 color:#000,fill:#e0a458,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    classDef level3 color:#000,fill:#419d78,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    classDef level4 color:#000,fill:#c04abc,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    classDef level5 color:#000,fill:#f1c40f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    classDef level6 color:#000,fill:#f1c40f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    classDef highlight color:#000,fill:#fff,stroke:#000,stroke-width:5px



  %% Apply classes
  class A level2
class B level4
class C level4
class D level4
class E level4
class F level4
class G level4
class H level4
class I level4
class J level4
class K level4
class L level6

  class B highlight

  %% class A level1
  %% class B,C level2
  %% class D,E,F,G,H,I level2
  %% class J,K,L,M,N,O,P level3
  %% class B highlight