HS Code for PP Food Containers: 3923.10 or 3924.10

The two headings

The dividing line is function, not material. A container sold to a restaurant for packing food for transport is usually 3923.10. A container sold to a consumer for serving or storing food at home is closer to 3924.10. Customs rulings in different countries have gone both ways for the same product.

Why it matters

• Duty rates differ between the two headings in many markets
• Some markets require different import licences or food-contact declarations per heading
• Reclassification after the fact creates duty adjustment and penalties

How to settle it before shipping

1. Give your broker the product photo, use description and end customer type
2. Ask for a written classification opinion
3. In the US, consider a Binding Ruling from CBP — free, and it settles the question permanently
4. In the EU, request a Binding Tariff Information (BTI) decision

Both are free and take a few weeks. For a repeat program, it is the cheapest insurance available.

Documents usually needed at import

FAQ

Does the lid have a different code? Usually the same heading as the container, but check — some brokers classify lids separately.

Does colour affect classification? No.

Can I change the code later? Yes, but expect a duty reassessment on past entries.

Next step

Tell us the destination country and the end use. We will give you the product description our broker uses, so your broker can classify consistently.

Related reading

• Export Documents for PP Food Containers: The Complete Set
• Germany VerpackG and France Triman: EPR Registration for Food Packaging
• EU Single-Use Plastics Directive: Where PP Containers Stand

Models covered on this site: PF-GG001 · 1000 ml PF-RW1000 · 1000 ml PF-SQ1000S · see all models in this category.