Hi,
I am having a hard time understanding the harmonized system codes and if I need to enter these codes in my store for my products and hoping someone can shed some light on these. I am starting a new store selling pet products. I live in Canada but my products will be shipping from suppliers in either the US or the UK and they will ship to either the US or Canada. There is a spot in the customs information for each product that requires a harmonized system code? Are these required for each product before I start selling? I am also wondering if there are import duties and/or taxes I need to collect or be concerned with.
Thanks in advance.
PetHaven
The Harmonized System (HS) codes are a standardized system of product classification used by customs officials around the world to identify and classify goods for the purposes of tariffs and trade regulations. In most countries, including Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, products imported into the country must be classified using the HS codes in order to determine the applicable tariffs and taxes.
In general, it is recommended that you classify your products using the HS codes when setting up your store, as this will help you to accurately calculate the applicable tariffs and taxes for your products and ensure that you are compliant with customs regulations.
To classify your products using the HS codes, you will need to determine the correct HS code for each of your products based on the product’s characteristics and intended use. You can find HS codes for specific products using the World Customs Organization’s HS classification search tool, or by consulting a customs broker or trade specialist.
Once you have determined the correct HS code for each of your products, you can enter the HS codes in your store’s customs information for each product. This will allow you to accurately calculate the applicable tariffs and taxes for your products, and will help to ensure that you are compliant with customs regulations.
It is important to note that in addition to tariffs, you may also be required to collect and pay other import duties and taxes on your products, depending on the country of origin, the destination country, and the HS code of the product. You should consult with a customs broker or trade specialist to determine the applicable duties and taxes for your products, and to ensure that you are compliant with all relevant customs regulations.
I hope this information is helpful and clarifies the role of the Harmonized System codes in ecommerce. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Hi,
Thank you for that information as that is very helpful. As I am a dropshipper I will not be shipping the products myself. My suppliers based in the US and UK will be doing the shipping. Therefore do I still need to worry about entering these codes in my store or will the suppliers have all this info already and will use the correct codes when they ship the product?
thanks again
Short answer — yes, if you’re shipping internationally.
Even if your supplier in the US or UK handles the shipping, customs still needs HS codes to clear the package at the border. Since the US eliminated its de minimis exemption in August 2025, every parcel needs classification regardless of value. Canada has required HS codes on commercial imports for years.
For pet products, here are the most common codes:
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Dog/cat food (prepared): 2309.10
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Pet treats (meat-based): 1602.90
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Pet toys (rubber or plastic): 9503.00
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Pet beds and cushions: 9404.90
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Leashes and collars (leather): 4201.00
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Leashes and collars (textile/nylon): 6307.90
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Grooming brushes: 9603.29
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Bowls (ceramic): 6912.00
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Bowls (stainless steel): 7323.93
Country of Origin should be set to wherever the product is manufactured — not where your supplier is based. If the product is made in China but your US supplier is just warehousing it, the Country of Origin is CN (China).
You can add these in Shopify on each product page under Shipping → Customs information. For a store with many products, the fastest method is Settings → Taxes & Duties → Manage → Update with CSV — export the spreadsheet, fill in the HS code column, and re-import.