HS code: how to choose it correctly and what an error costs

20 May 2026

The HS code determines the duty, VAT and the list of permits. An error in one digit means additional charges and a delayed consignment — which is why an accurate product description from the supplier matters.

What the EAEU CN FEA is and why the code matters

The EAEU CN FEA is the Eurasian Economic Union’s commodity nomenclature: a ten-digit code, based on the international Harmonized System, that describes any product crossing the border. The code determines the import duty rate, VAT and whether certificates, declarations, licences and labelling are required.

Two similar products can be classified differently, with duties differing several times over. Choosing the code is therefore not a formality but a key decision that affects the economics of the whole delivery.

How the code is chosen

Classification follows the General Rules of Interpretation: first the heading is determined from the description and purpose of the product, then the subheading and further subdivisions by material, composition, function and configuration. Technical characteristics, composition, operating principle and even packaging all matter.

For difficult cases — multi-component goods, sets, unfinished products — the Russian Federal Customs Service issues preliminary classification decisions, which legally fix the code before delivery.

This is where the supplier’s input is decisive: a technical description, data sheet and composition allow the code to be chosen accurately. The same data are used on the export side, where we check the goods under TARIC against EU restrictions before dispatch.

What a wrong code costs

If customs reclassifies the goods, the importer faces additional duties and VAT, penalty interest and an administrative fine — up to half the value of the goods where payments were understated. Meanwhile the goods sit at the temporary storage warehouse, and each week of downtime adds storage costs.

Our specialists select the code from the product characteristics before dispatch, check the requirements for permits and, if necessary, prepare a request for a classification decision. This removes the risk of a dispute with customs.

Questions and answers

How many digits does the EAEU code have?

Ten digits, describing any product that crosses the border.

Can the code be fixed before delivery?

Yes. For difficult cases the Federal Customs Service issues preliminary classification decisions that legally fix the code.

What does the supplier need to provide?

A technical description, composition and purpose of the product; for equipment, a data sheet describing the operating principle.

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