Bones and horn-cores — HTS 0506
Bones and horn-cores, unworked, defatted, simply prepared (but not cut to shape), treated with acid or degelatinized; powder and waste of these products
Chapter 05 › Heading 0506
2026 HTS Rev 19 Synced Rules verified Operational
Written to help non-specialists understand this page. Rates, dates, and legal facts come from the official records above and on the linked source.
HTS heading 0506 is a four-digit product category for certain animal bones and horn-cores and related materials. It generally covers these materials when they are unworked, defatted, simply prepared without being cut into a particular shape, treated with acid, or degelatinized. It also groups together powder and waste made from the covered products. The heading is about the material and its processing condition, not simply the product’s commercial name or intended use.
To reach a specific eight-digit HTSUS code, start with the heading and then review the more detailed subheadings and statistical suffixes. Those lines may distinguish the material or type, such as bones versus horn-cores, and may separate whole or prepared material from powder or waste. Confirm that the product’s actual condition matches the wording of the selected provision; if it has been carved, cut to shape, otherwise manufactured, or substantially processed, another heading may apply. Classification can require customs-broker or other professional judgment when processing or composition is unclear.
What to check
- Identify the animal material precisely, including whether it is bone, a horn-core, powder, or waste.
- Document the product’s processing: defatting, acid treatment, degelatinization, cutting, carving, polishing, or other preparation.
- Read every subheading and statistical suffix under 0506, and match the product to the most specific wording rather than relying on its trade name.
- Check whether the item is actually covered by heading 0506 or is a manufactured article, shaped component, or product of another heading.
- Keep supplier specifications, photographs, process descriptions, and laboratory or composition information available to support the classification.
HTS heading 0506 summary
Bones and horn-cores is a 4-digit product category containing 2 published product-code lines in this snapshot. A heading does not carry one universal duty rate; classification must be narrowed to the line matching the product facts.
How to find your code in this category
A heading is a product category. To get the exact duty, narrow from this 4-digit heading to a sub-category (usually by material), then open the 8-digit code that matches your product.
Open any code in the tables below to see its exact duty rate, a duty calculator (enter your shipment value → estimated duty and landed cost), the rate-change history chart, and the country-by-country breakdown (including Section 301/232 add-on duties).
Why you have to click in: a single category can contain products with very different duties. The rate depends on the specific product — its material and construction — and on the country of origin, and those only get pinned down at the 8-digit code level. That is why this page points you to codes instead of showing one rate for the whole category.
Product codes & duty rates
👇 Each row is a specific product code — click a blue code to open its full page with exact duty rates by country, the rate-history chart, and a duty calculator. 👉
| Code | Description | General (MFN) | Special | Column 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0506.10.00.00 👉 | Ossein and bones treated with acid | Free | — | Free |
| 0506.90.00 👉 | Other | Free | — | Free |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 0506?
Bones and horn-cores, unworked, defatted, simply prepared (but not cut to shape), treated with acid or degelatinized; powder and waste of these products. To classify a specific item you must pick the matching sub-category and 8-digit code above; the right choice usually depends on the material and construction of the product.
How do I choose the right code within this category?
Start from the sub-categories (typically divided by material—for example cotton versus man-made fibers), then open the active 8- or 10-digit code that matches the product. When unsure, a licensed customs broker or a CBP binding ruling can confirm the classification.
Reference information only, not customs, legal, or classification advice. Confirm the current code and rate against the official HTS before you import.