# HS Code 190531: Sweet biscuits > Section IV · Prepared foodstuffs; beverages, spirits and vinegar; tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes; products, whether or not containing nicotine, intended for inhalation without combustion; other nicotine containing products intended for the intake of nicotine into the human body > Chapter 19 · Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; pastrycooks' products **HS code:** `190531` ## 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](/hscode/19/190532) | Waffles and wafers, including cream-filled wafers. | | [190520](/hscode/19/190520) | Gingerbread and similar products. | | [190540](/hscode/19/190540) | Rusks, toasted bread and similar toasted products. | | [190590](/hscode/19/190590) | Other bakers' wares, such as cakes, pastries and unsweetened crackers. | Not sure this is your code? Use the [HS code finder](/hscode/classify). ## Common misclassifications - **Uncooked cookie dough or a biscuit baking mix declared as biscuits** → [190120](/hscode/19/190120). Mixes and doughs for bakery products belong in heading 1901 until they are baked. - **Dog biscuits declared as 190531** → [230910](/hscode/23/230910). 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). [Check HS codes, tariffs and sanctions with the Compliance agent](/agents/compliance) ## 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](https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds2/taric/taric_consultation.jsp) | | Into the United Kingdom | – | No record in our tariff data yet | – | – | Check the [UK Trade Tariff](https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/) | 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.](https://eximagent.ai/companies/jacobsens-bakery-ltd/326312734348) | 44 | | [FERRERO USA](https://eximagent.ai/companies/ferrero-usa/526180858253) | 38 | | [K-APEX (LAX)](https://eximagent.ai/companies/k-apex-lax/9061179776) | 38 | | [LOTUS BAKERIES NORTH AMERICA INC.](https://eximagent.ai/companies/lotus-bakeries-north-america-inc/10879987182) | 34 | | [SEA SHIPPING LINE](https://eximagent.ai/companies/sea-shipping-line/661477206954) | 26 | → [See all 124 importers of 190531](/companies/hs/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 **Is your product X or Y?** - Option A → **Is it for use Z?** Yes: [190531](/hscode/19/190531) (Check tariff table) · No: [190531](/hscode/19/190531) (Check tariff table) - Option B → **Is it for use Z?** Yes: [190531](/hscode/19/190531) (Check tariff table) · No: [190531](/hscode/19/190531) (Check tariff table) ## 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). ## Duty rates | Country | Rate | Programme | Effective from | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | US United States | 0% | MFN | 2026-01-01 | --- Source: https://eximagent.ai/hscode/19/190531 Last updated: 2026-10-12 Find importers, tariffs and sanctions for 190531 with EximAgent — https://eximagent.ai