HS Code 190531: Sweet biscuits
Page last reviewed . Duty figures are US MFN base rates, HTS 2026.
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Suggestions from the HS index, not a customs ruling
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What this code covers
Baked sweet biscuits (cookies in US English), with or without cocoa or a chocolate coating. Waffles and wafers, gingerbread, cakes and pastries, and uncooked cookie dough have their own codes.
How to tell it apart from neighbouring codes
| Code | Choose it if… |
|---|---|
| 190531 (this page) | Baked sweet biscuits or cookies, with or without cocoa or chocolate. |
| 190532 | Waffles and wafers, including cream-filled wafers. |
| 190520 | Gingerbread and similar products. |
| 190540 | Rusks, toasted bread and similar toasted products. |
| 190590 | Other bakers' wares, such as cakes, pastries and unsweetened crackers. |
Not sure this is your code? Use the HS code finder.
Common misclassifications
- Uncooked cookie dough or a biscuit baking mix declared as biscuits → 190120. Mixes and doughs for bakery products belong in heading 1901 until they are baked.
- Dog biscuits declared as 190531 → 230910. Dog or cat food put up for retail sale belongs in heading 2309, even when it looks like a biscuit.
- Chocolate-coated biscuits declared as chocolate → stay in 190531. Biscuits keep this code whether or not they contain cocoa, as the legal text says.
Requirements in key markets
United States
- FDA must receive Prior Notice before each food shipment arrives in the US.
- Packaged biscuits need FDA nutrition labelling and must declare major food allergens such as wheat, milk, egg and sesame.
European Union
- Biscuit labels must follow the Food Information to Consumers Regulation (EU) 1169/2011, including the allergen and nutrition declarations.
- Biscuit makers must apply the acrylamide mitigation measures in Regulation (EU) 2017/2158, with a benchmark level of 350 µg/kg for biscuits and wafers.
United Kingdom
- Pre-packed biscuits sold in the UK need food labels with ingredients, allergens and a nutrition declaration under UK food information rules.
- Biscuit makers supplying GB must also apply the retained acrylamide rules (Regulation 2017/2158).
Japan
- Food for sale in Japan needs an import notification to an MHLW quarantine station before customs clearance (Food Sanitation Act).
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Duty on key routes
| Route | Tariff line | Duty | Basis | Data date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any WTO-member origin → United States | 190531 (HTS) / 19053100 | 0% | MFN (the standard rate for WTO members) | as of Jan 1, 2026 (HTS); data year 2025 (ITC) | Chapter 99 / Section 301 or other additional duties (e.g. Section 232) may apply on top, depending on origin; 44 non-tariff measures listed for US imports of this line |
| Any WTO-member origin → Japan | 190531000 | 20.4% | MFN, applied | data year 2025 | 13 non-tariff measures listed for Japan's imports of this line |
| Into the European Union | – | No record in our tariff data yet | – | – | Check TARIC |
| Into the United Kingdom | – | No record in our tariff data yet | – | – | Check the UK Trade Tariff |
Suggestions from official data, not a customs ruling.
Top importers
124 companies imported HS 190531 into the United States in the last 12 months, in our US customs records, ranked by shipments:
| Company | Shipments of HS 190531, last 12 months |
|---|---|
| JACOBSENS BAKERY LTD. | 44 |
| FERRERO USA | 38 |
| K-APEX (LAX) | 38 |
| LOTUS BAKERIES NORTH AMERICA INC. | 34 |
| SEA SHIPPING LINE | 26 |
See all 124 importers of 190531 →
Across all our US customs records (2022-12-01 to 2026-07-31), 289 unique companies appear as importers of 190531.
Key facts
- The US MFN import duty on HS 190531 is 0% (USITC HTS 2026, as of Jan 1, 2026); Chapter 99 / Section 301 or other additional duties (e.g. Section 232) may apply on top, depending on origin.
- Japan's applied MFN duty on line 190531000 is 20.4% (data year 2025).
- 124 companies imported HS 190531 into the United States in the last 12 months, in our US customs records.
- Biscuits stay in HS 190531 whether or not they contain cocoa or a chocolate coating.
Decision tree
Frequently asked questions
- What is HS code 190531?
- HS code 190531 covers baked sweet biscuits (cookies), with or without cocoa or a chocolate coating.
- What is the US import duty on HS 190531?
- The standard (MFN) rate on HS 190531 is 0% as of Jan 1, 2026. Chapter 99 / Section 301 or other additional duties (e.g. Section 232) may apply on top, depending on origin.
- Who imports sweet biscuits (HS 190531) into the US?
- In the last 12 months the most active were Jacobsens Bakery Ltd., Ferrero USA and K-Apex (LAX), out of 124 companies in our US customs records.
- When should I use 190532 instead of 190531?
- Use 190532 for waffles and wafers. Other baked sweet biscuits stay in 190531.
- What is Japan's import duty on HS 190531?
- Japan's applied MFN rate on sweet biscuits, line 190531000 under HS 190531, is 20.4% (data year 2025).
All duty rates (1 corridor)
US MFN base rate (HTS 2026, Column-1 General) — excludes Section 301 / IEEPA add-ons; not legal advice. Other countries’ rates and live duties via the EximAgent CLI.
- USUnited States0%MFNas of Jan 1, 2026
Browse all of Chapter 19: Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; pastrycooks' products →
Go beyond the code
Find the companies shipping under 190531 — ranked by shipments recorded in US customs filings over the last 12 months.