Subheading · Chapter 97 · Heading 9705
9705.21: Human specimens and parts thereof
Subheading 9705.21 belongs to heading 9705 (collections and collectors’ pieces of archaeological, ethnographic, historical…) in chapter 97.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 9705 21 00 00 Human specimens and parts thereof Free
- 9705 21 00 12 More than 200 years old Free
- 9705 21 00 90 Other Free
Additional duties and import rules
Charges on top of the customs duty, and rules the goods must meet at the border.
Additional duties and charges 1
- Additional dutyAdditional duties 35%
- Applies to goods from
- Belarus, Russia
- Legal act
- 2022 No. 376
- Documents
- 9008
Import requirements 5
- Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
- Applies to goods from
- Iraq, Ukraine
- Legal act
- S.I. 2020/707, S.I. 2022/395
- Documents
- 9009
- 9010
- 9017
- Import controlImport control on restricted goods and technologies
- Applies to goods from
- Libya
- Legal act
- 2020 No. 1665
- Documents
- Y920 Goods other than those described in the footnotes linked to the measure
- Import controlImport control on luxury goods
- Applies to goods from
- North Korea
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/411
- Documents
- Y945 Travellers' personal effects or goods of a non-commercial nature for travellers' personal use contained in their luggage (Art 10.2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1509)
- Y946 Goods necessary for the official purposes of diplomatic or consular missions of Member States in the DPRK or international organisations enjoying immunities in accordance with international law, or to the personal effects of their staff (Art 10.3 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1509)
- Import controlImport control on seal products
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- Legal act
- 2018 No. 1034
- Documents
- C679 Attesting Document (seal product), issued by a recognised body in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 737/2010 prior to 18 October 2015
- C680 Written notification of import and document giving evidence where the products were acquired (seal product)
- C683 European Union - Attesting document for seal products resulting from hunt by Inuit or other indigenous communities for placing on the Union's market in accordance with Article 3 (1) of Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009 on trade in seal products
- Y032 Other goods than those seal products mentioned in Regulation (EU) 2015/1850 (OJ L 271)
- Import controlImport control - Waste
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/590
- Documents
- C672 Information document accompanying shipments of waste as mentioned in Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 – Article 18 and Annex VII
- C669 Notification document as mentioned in Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 - Article 5 and Annex IA
- Y923 Product not subjected to the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2024/1157
- C670 Movement document as mentioned in Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 – Article 5 and Annex IB
Preferential rates by country
| Agreement or scheme | Countries | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| standard rate (no agreement) | — | Free |
| DCTS Comprehensive | Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin and 38 moreAfghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo - Kinshasa, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé & Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia | Free |
| European Union (including code "EU") | Free | |
| CARIFORUM | Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize and 10 moreAntigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago | Free |
| OCTs (Overseas Countries and Territories) | Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands and 7 moreAnguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands, St Helena, Turks & Caicos Islands | Free |
| Central America | Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama | Free |
| SADC EPA | Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia | Free |
| Eastern and Southern Africa States | Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zimbabwe | Free |
| CPTPP | Brunei, Malaysia | Free |
| UK–Andorra agreement | Andorra | Free |
| UK–Albania agreement | Albania | Free |
| UK–Australia agreement | Australia | Free |
| UK–Canada agreement | Canada | Free |
| UK–Switzerland agreement | Switzerland | Free |
| UK–Côte d’Ivoire agreement | Côte d’Ivoire | Free |
| UK–Chile agreement | Chile | Free |
| UK–Cameroon agreement | Cameroon | Free |
| UK–Colombia agreement | Colombia | Free |
| UK–Ceuta & Melilla agreement | Ceuta & Melilla | Free |
| UK–Ecuador agreement | Ecuador | Free |
| UK–Egypt agreement | Egypt | Free |
| UK–Fiji agreement | Fiji | Free |
| UK–Faroe Islands agreement | Faroe Islands | Free |
| UK–Georgia agreement | Georgia | Free |
| UK–Ghana agreement | Ghana | Free |
| UK–Israel agreement | Israel | Free |
| UK–India agreement | India | Free |
| UK–Iceland agreement | Iceland | Free |
| UK–Jordan agreement | Jordan | Free |
| UK–Japan agreement | Japan | Free |
| UK–Kenya agreement | Kenya | Free |
| UK–South Korea agreement | South Korea | Free |
| UK–Lebanon agreement | Lebanon | Free |
| UK–Liechtenstein agreement | Liechtenstein | Free |
| UK–Morocco agreement | Morocco | Free |
| UK–Moldova agreement | Moldova | Free |
| UK–North Macedonia agreement | North Macedonia | Free |
| UK–Mexico agreement | Mexico | Free |
| UK–Norway agreement | Norway | Free |
| UK–New Zealand agreement | New Zealand | Free |
| UK–Peru agreement | Peru | Free |
| UK–Papua New Guinea agreement | Papua New Guinea | Free |
| UK–Palestinian Territories agreement | Palestinian Territories | Free |
| UK–Serbia agreement | Serbia | Free |
| UK–Solomon Islands agreement | Solomon Islands | Free |
| UK–Singapore agreement | Singapore | Free |
| UK–San Marino agreement | San Marino | Free |
| UK–Tunisia agreement | Tunisia | Free |
| UK–Türkiye agreement | Türkiye | Free |
| UK–Ukraine agreement | Ukraine | Free |
| UK–Vietnam agreement | Vietnam | Free |
| UK–Samoa agreement | Samoa | Free |
| UK–Kosovo agreement | Kosovo | Free |
| UK–South Africa agreement | South Africa | Free |
UK: imports by month
Main suppliers, last 12 months
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 Germany | £427k | 70.3% | +118.3% |
 United States | £117k | 19.3% | +1,824.2% |
| United Kingdom | £27k | 4.5% | — |
 Italy | £7k | 1.2% | — |
 Belgium | £6k | 1% | — |
 Australia | £5k | 0.8% | — |
 France | £4k | 0.6% | +16.3% |
 Indonesia | £3k | 0.5% | — |
Same subheading in other tariffs
EU Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Türkiye Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line USA Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Canada Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Mexico Free General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Brazil 3.6% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Argentina 3.6% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Peru 6% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
New Zealand Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Japan Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Taiwan Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Switzerland Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Norway Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia 7% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Nigeria 20% General (MFN) 1 tariff line World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$500US$500+US$5k+US$42k+> US$1m
Exports: 74
- Germany: US$5m
- United States: US$1m
- United Kingdom: US$854k
- Switzerland: US$738k
- Singapore: US$42k
- Japan: US$39k
- Netherlands: US$26k
- Belgium: US$16k
- Denmark: US$15k
- Morocco: US$10k
- China: US$8k
- Australia: US$7k
- Chile: US$5k
- Ireland: US$4k
- South Africa: US$3k
- New Zealand: US$3k
- France: US$3k
- Spain: US$2k
- Slovenia: US$1k
- Angola: US$1k
- India: US$800
- Lebanon: US$700
- Cameroon: US$600
- Mozambique: US$600
- Bosnia & Herzegovina: US$500
- Egypt: US$500
- Sweden: US$500
- Uganda: US$500
- Indonesia: US$400
- Saudi Arabia: US$400
- Mauritius: US$200
- Serbia: US$200
- Zimbabwe: US$200
- Bahrain: US$100
- Bahamas: US$100
- Brazil: US$100
- Canada: US$100
- Costa Rica: US$100
- Algeria: US$100
- Israel: US$100
- Italy: US$100
- Kenya: US$100
- Mali: US$100
- Malta: US$100
- Malaysia: US$100
- Norway: US$100
- Philippines: US$100
- Tanzania: US$100
- Zambia: US$100
- Albania: US$0
- United Arab Emirates: US$0
- Austria: US$0
- Barbados: US$0
- Botswana: US$0
- Côte d’Ivoire: US$0
- Congo - Kinshasa: US$0
- Curaçao: US$0
- Czechia: US$0
- Ethiopia: US$0
- Finland: US$0
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$9kUS$9k+US$64k+US$176k+> US$752k
Imports: 83
- United States: US$3m
- Australia: US$935k
- France: US$752k
- United Kingdom: US$430k
- Germany: US$374k
- Poland: US$230k
- Singapore: US$183k
- Brazil: US$176k
- Canada: US$161k
- Philippines: US$149k
- Nicaragua: US$132k
- Malaysia: US$121k
- Macao SAR China: US$120k
- Dominican Republic: US$117k
- Iraq: US$117k
- Qatar: US$81k
- Saudi Arabia: US$70k
- Türkiye: US$65k
- Bahamas: US$64k
- Egypt: US$55k
- Israel: US$55k
- United Arab Emirates: US$52k
- Italy: US$46k
- Norway: US$45k
- Sint Maarten: US$44k
- Japan: US$35k
- Spain: US$33k
- Ecuador: US$32k
- Belgium: US$27k
- China: US$20k
- Vietnam: US$19k
- India: US$17k
- Switzerland: US$17k
- Taiwan: US$13k
- South Africa: US$9k
- Mexico: US$9k
- Bermuda: US$9k
- Brunei: US$9k
- Costa Rica: US$9k
- Finland: US$9k
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$9k
- Austria: US$6k
- Netherlands: US$6k
- St Vincent & the Grenadines: US$5k
- Barbados: US$5k
- Montenegro: US$5k
- Chile: US$4k
- Iceland: US$4k
- Dominica: US$3k
- Ireland: US$3k
- South Korea: US$3k
- Mongolia: US$3k
- Nigeria: US$3k
- Slovakia: US$3k
- Denmark: US$2k
- Portugal: US$2k
- Bahrain: US$2k
- Greece: US$2k
- Luxembourg: US$1k
- Cook Islands: US$1k
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | US$5m | 64.7% |
| 2 | United States | US$1m | 12.6% |
| 3 | United Kingdom | US$854k | 10.7% |
| 4 | Switzerland | US$738k | 9.3% |
| 5 |  Singapore | US$42k | 0.5% |
| 6 | Japan | US$39k | 0.5% |
| 7 |  Netherlands | US$26k | 0.3% |
| 8 | Belgium | US$16k | 0.2% |
| 9 |  Denmark | US$15k | 0.2% |
| 10 |  Morocco | US$10k | 0.1% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | US$3m | 38.2% |
| 2 | Australia | US$935k | 11.7% |
| 3 | France | US$752k | 9.4% |
| 4 | United Kingdom | US$430k | 5.4% |
| 5 | Germany | US$374k | 4.7% |
| 6 |  Poland | US$230k | 2.9% |
| 7 | Singapore | US$183k | 2.3% |
| 8 | Brazil | US$176k | 2.2% |
| 9 | Canada | US$161k | 2% |
| 10 |  Philippines | US$149k | 1.9% |
Import duty on this product around the world 93
The most-favoured-nation (MFN) duty each country applies to goods of this HS subheading: the average over its national tariff lines, with the lowest and highest line where they differ. Goods from countries with a trade agreement often pay less.
- 5%median duty
- 36number of duty-free countries (MFN)
- 30%highest: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad
93
| Importing country | MFN duty | lines from – to | data year |
|---|---|---|---|
 Albania | 0% | 2023 | |
 Algeria | 0% | 2023 | |
 Armenia | 0% | 2023 | |
| Australia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Bahamas | 0% | 2022 | |
 Bahrain | 5% | 2023 | |
 Belize | 20% | 2023 | |
 Benin | 20% | 2023 | |
 Bermuda | 0% | 2023 | |
 Bhutan | 10% | 2022 | |
 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 0% | 2022 | |
 Botswana | 0% | 2023 | |
 Burkina Faso | 20% | 2023 | |
 Burundi | 25% | 2023 | |
 Cameroon | 30% | 2023 | |
| Canada | 0% | 2023 | |
 Central African Republic | 30% | 2023 | |
 Chad | 30% | 2023 | |
 China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Congo - Brazzaville | 30% | 2023 | |
 Costa Rica | 5% | 2023 | |
 Dominican Republic | 20% | 2023 | |
 El Salvador | 5% | 2022 | |
 Equatorial Guinea | 30% | 2023 | |
 Eswatini | 0% | 2023 | |
| European Union (27 countries) | 0% | 2023 | |
 Fiji | 5% | 2023 | |
 French Polynesia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Gabon | 30% | 2023 | |
 Gambia | 20% | 2023 | |
 Ghana | 20% | 2023 | |
 Guatemala | 5% | 2023 | |
 Guinea | 20% | 2023 | |
 Guinea-Bissau | 20% | 2023 | |
 Honduras | 5% | 2023 | |
 Hong Kong SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Iceland | 0% | 2023 | |
 India | 10% | 2023 | |
| Indonesia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Jamaica | 20% | 2023 | |
| Japan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Jordan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kazakhstan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kenya | 25% | 2023 | |
 Kuwait | 5% | 2023 | |
 Lesotho | 0% | 2023 | |
 Liberia | 20% | 2023 | |
 Macao SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Madagascar | 5% | 2023 | |
 Malaysia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Maldives | 25% | 2023 | |
 Mali | 20% | 2023 | |
 Mauritius | 0% | 2023 | |
 Mongolia | 5% | 2023 | |
| Morocco | 2.5% | 2023 | |
 Mozambique | 20% | 2023 | |
 Namibia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nepal | 10% | 2023 | |
| New Zealand | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nicaragua | 5% | 2023 | |
 Niger | 20% | 2023 | |
| Nigeria | 20% | 2023 | |
| North Macedonia | 7% | 2023 | |
| Norway | 0% | 2023 | |
 Oman | 5% | 2023 | |
 Pakistan | 3% | 2023 | |
 Panama | 5% | 2023 | |
 Papua New Guinea | 0% | 2023 | |
| Philippines | 10% | 2023 | |
 Qatar | 5% | 2023 | |
 Rwanda | 25% | 2023 | |
 Saudi Arabia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Senegal | 20% | 2023 | |
 Seychelles | 0% | 2023 | |
 Sierra Leone | 20% | 2023 | |
 South Africa | 0% | 2023 | |
 South Korea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Sri Lanka | 15% | 2023 | |
 St Kitts & Nevis | 25% | 2023 | |
 St Vincent & the Grenadines | 20% | 2023 | |
| Switzerland | 0% | 2023 | |
 Tanzania | 25% | 2023 | |
 Thailand | 10% | 2023 | |
 Togo | 20% | 2023 | |
| Türkiye | 0% | 2023 | |
 Uganda | 25% | 2023 | |
 United Arab Emirates | 5% | 2023 | |
| United Kingdom | 0% | 2023 | |
| United States | 0% | 2023 | |
 Vanuatu | 0% | 2023 | |
 Vietnam | 0% | 2023 | |
 Zambia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Zimbabwe | 0.1% | 2023 |
Tariff data years 2022–2023; rates may have changed since. · UNCTAD TRAINS, accessed via WITS (World Bank)
Classifications and correspondences
Where this HS subheading sits in the United Nations' statistical classifications, and which codes it had in earlier editions of the Harmonized System.
- SITC Rev. 4
- 8965 Collections & collectors' pieces of zoological, botanical, mineralogical, anatomical, historical, archaeological, palaeontological, ethnographic/numismatic interest
- End use (BEC Rev. 5)
- Consumption goods · BEC 713202
- CPC 2.1 product
- 38963 Collections and collectors' pieces of zoological, botanical, mineralogical, anatomical, historical, ethnographic or numismatic interest; antiques
- ISIC Rev. 4 activity
- 9102 Museums activities and operation of historical sites and buildings
Earlier HS editions
| HS | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 9705.00 | changed |
| 2012 | 9705.00 | changed |
| 2007 | 9705.00 | changed |
| 2002 | 9705.00 | changed |
| 1996 | 9705.00 | changed |
| 1992 | 9705.00 | changed |
Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
Recent rule changes mentioning this code
Acts whose text cites this code or its heading. Check the act itself: a code can be cited for reasons other than a change of its duty.
- Import and export controls
FR Doc. 2026-14542 · 91 FR 45516 · Source: federalregister.gov
Code history
Since 2022; before, these goods were classified under 9705.00.
The UK Global Tariff divides subheading 9705.21 into 2 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
Subheading 9705.21 is a single line in the EU Combined Nomenclature, where the duty is duty-free.
156 countries pay no duty in the UK thanks to trade agreements and preference schemes such as DCTS Comprehensive and European Union, against a standard rate of Free.
In the UK, additional duty of 35% applies on top of the customs duty to goods from Belarus and Russia.
Imports of these goods into the UK came to £608.3k between September 2025 and August 2026 (up 132% on the year before); Germany supplied 70%, followed by United States.
In 2024, countries exported these goods worth US$8m (−22.2% year on year).
The largest exporter was Germany (US$5m), followed by the United States.
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for human specimens and parts thereof?
Human specimens and parts thereof fall under HS subheading 9705.21, part of heading 9705, in section XXI of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on human specimens and parts thereof in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 9705.21 from countries without a preferential agreement are free of duty. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on human specimens and parts thereof in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 9705.21 from countries without a preferential agreement are free of duty. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most human specimens and parts thereof?
Germany, with US$5m in 2024 (64.7% of world exports).
Which countries can export these goods to the UK duty-free?
156 countries pay no duty under a trade agreement or preference scheme, among them partners under DCTS Comprehensive, European Union, CARIFORUM. The goods must meet the agreement’s rules of origin and the importer needs proof of origin; otherwise the standard rate of Free applies. Pick a country above to see its rate.
Is there anti-dumping duty on these goods?
The UK charges additional duty of 35% on goods from Belarus and Russia. Lower rates apply to the named exporters listed in the measure.
Where does the UK import these goods from?
In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were Germany (70%), United States (19%) and United Kingdom (5%), out of total imports of £608.3k.