Every five years, the Harmonized System Committee of the World Customs Organization (WCO) reviews the Harmonized System (HS) and issues recommendations, also called amendments, which involve modifying and updating the tariff rate.

This update contemplates the specific tariff classification to resolve environmental and social problems, such as new tobacco and nicotine products, rapid diagnostic kits (Zika virus), dual-use goods, and chemicals with global warming potential.

This seventh amendment was expected to be adopted and mandatory as of January 1, 2022, and is now established to enter into force on June 07, 2022. The main changes in this seventh amendment are mainly focused on the following:

The most affected chapters by these modifications have been the following: 

• Chapter 3: Fish and crustaceans, mollusks, and other aquatic invertebrates.
• Chapter 15: Animal or vegetable fats and oils; their derivated products; processed edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes.
• Chapter 29: Organic chemical products.
• Chapter 30: Pharmaceutical products.
• Chapter 38: Various products of the chemical industries.
• Chapter 44: Wood, charcoal, and wood products.
• Chapter 84: Nuclear reactors, boilers, machines, devices, and mechanical artifacts; parts of these machines or devices.
• Chapter 85: Electrical machines, devices, and their parts; electrical material; sound playing or recording devices, TV sound and image recording and playing devices, and the parts and accessories of these devices. 
• Chapter 87: Motor vehicles, tractors, cycles, and other land vehicles, their parts, and accessories. 
• Chapter 90: Optical, photographic, or cinematographic, measuring, checking, or precision instruments and devices; medical-surgical instruments and devices; and their parts and accessories. 
• Chapter 94: Furniture; medical-surgical furniture; bedding and the like; illumination devices not specified or included in other Chapters; advertisements, signs, nameplates, lights, and similar items; prefabricated constructions.

You can consult the complete document, as well as the preliminary versions of the LIGIE and TIGIE with the applicable changes here (in Spanish):

Seventh Amendment to the Harmonized System
Preliminary version of the LIGIE Chapter 1-54
Preliminary version of the LIGIE Chapter 55-98

With the upcoming entry into force of the 7th amendment, it is important to be aware of the changes. At JA del Rio, we recommend that companies review all the subsections used to make their shipments or product imports to be aware of any modifications to the subsection, description, or extra content when it comes into force.

If you require additional information in this regard, contact us, and we will gladly assist you.