Cosmetic peptide HS code depends on whether you import a bulk active or a finished product. See Chapter 29, 33 and 35 codes, docs and filing tips.
Most cosmetic peptides are classified under HS Chapter 33 when they arrive as finished retail products, and under Chapter 29 or Chapter 35 when they arrive as bulk active ingredients. The correct cosmetic peptide HS code is determined by the product's form, function, and chemical purity, not by the word "peptide" on the label. Choosing the wrong code can mean delayed shipments, unexpected duty, or an FDA import hold.
Why One Peptide Can Have Several HS Codes
The Harmonized System is a six-digit international naming system maintained by the World Customs Organization. Individual countries extend it: the United States uses 10-digit HTS codes, the EU uses TARIC, and other markets add their own suffixes.
Because the first six digits are global, the underlying classification decision is the same everywhere. Customs officers generally look at three things:
- Form: Is the peptide a bulk powder, a concentrate, or a finished product in retail packaging?
- Function: Is it presented as a cosmetic ingredient, or does it make drug-like claims?
- Chemistry: Is it a chemically defined compound, a hormone-type polypeptide, or a protein substance?
That is why a search for peptides hs code returns so many different answers. The code follows the shipment, not the molecule.
HS Codes for Bulk Peptide Ingredients
When a peptide crosses a border as a raw material for a cosmetic manufacturer, it usually falls in Chapter 29 (organic chemicals) or Chapter 35 (protein substances).
| Product form | HS heading | Typical US HTS | When it applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synthetic peptide, non-hormone, bulk powder | 2934.99 | 2934.99.9000 | Chemically defined peptide such as copper tripeptide-1 |
| Polypeptide hormone or chain-modified hormone | 2937.19 | 2937.19.0000 | Peptides that function primarily as hormones |
| Peptones and other protein substances | 3504.00 | 3504.00.5000 | Mixed or undefined peptide material not classified elsewhere |
| Peptide already blended into a cosmetic base | Chapter 33 | 3304.99.5000 | The preparation, not the peptide, gives the essential character |
A Certificate of Analysis produced during peptide synthesis usually states the sequence and the purity level. That document matters at customs because a peptide at high purity is classified as a separate chemically defined compound, while a dilute blend is not.
HS Codes for Finished Products Containing Peptides
Once a peptide is formulated into a cream, serum, lip treatment or patch sold to consumers, the shipment is classified in Chapter 33. The specific subheading depends on what the product is and where it is applied.
| Finished product | HS heading | Typical US HTS |
|---|---|---|
| Lip product, such as olehenriksen pout preserve peptide lip treatment | 3304.10 | 3304.10.0000 |
| Eye makeup preparations | 3304.20 | 3304.20.0000 |
| Skin serums, creams and hydrogel patches, including cosrx the peptide collagen hydrogel eye patch | 3304.99 | 3304.99.5000 |
| Shampoos and other hair preparations | 3305.10 / 3305.90 | 3305.10.0000 / 3305.90.0000 |
A hydrogel eye patch is generally treated as a skin care preparation rather than eye makeup, even though it is applied near the eye. Customs rulings on this point have varied, so importers should confirm the subheading with a licensed broker.
How Customs Applies the Essential Character Rule
General Interpretative Rule 3(b) says a mixed product is classified by the material that gives it its essential character. In a peptide serum, the water, thickeners and preservatives do not define the product; the cosmetic function does.
The rule flips when the shipment is mostly peptide. A five-gram vial of lyophilized powder is a chemical, while a 30-milliliter serum is a cosmetic.
When a Peptide Product Stops Being a Cosmetic
The U.S. FDA decides between cosmetic and drug based on intended use, which is set by labeling, advertising and website claims. A peptide product that claims to heal a condition, treat hair loss or change body composition is regulated as a drug, not a cosmetic.
Classification follows the same logic. Shipments described only as aod9604 peptide or similar research compounds, with no cosmetic function statement, are frequently held as unapproved new drugs rather than admitted under Chapter 33.
Documents That Support the HS Code You Choose
Customs brokers rarely accept a code without evidence. Include these items with every peptide shipment:
- Commercial invoice listing the full INCI name, CAS number, purity, quantity and declared value.
- Certificate of Analysis showing sequence, purity and test method.
- Safety Data Sheet in the destination country's required format.
- Statement of intended use clarifying cosmetic versus research application.
- Country of origin declaration for duty and trade preference purposes.
In the United States, cosmetic importers also need to keep facility registration and product listing information current under MoCRA, the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act.
Common Classification Mistakes
- Using a Chapter 33 code for bulk peptide powder that has never been formulated into a cosmetic.
- Using a Chapter 29 code for a finished serum because the peptide is the featured ingredient.
- Assuming the code is identical in every country. The six-digit heading travels; the last four digits do not.
- Mixing research-grade peptides into a cosmetic entry. Material sold for laboratory use only is not covered by the Chapter 33 codes and can trigger an import hold.
- Omitting the INCI name, which forces customs to guess whether the product is a cosmetic or a bulk chemical.
Cosmetic peptides sold as finished retail products are classified in HS Chapter 33, while the same peptides sold as bulk actives are classified in Chapter 29 or Chapter 35. Duty rates, permit requirements and admissibility rules change often, so it is worth confirming your code in writing with a licensed customs broker or with U.S. Customs and Border Protection before the shipment leaves.
Note that peptide ingredients sold for injection are not cosmetics and are not covered by the codes in these tables. Anyone considering a peptide marketed for health purposes should talk with a healthcare professional first and treat vendor testimonials with caution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What HS code do cosmetic peptides use?
Finished cosmetic products that contain peptides are classified under HS heading 3304, usually 3304.99 for skin care and 3304.10 for lip products. Bulk peptide ingredients that have not been formulated are classified in Chapter 29, most often 2934.99, or in Chapter 35 under 3504.00. The classification follows the shipment's form and function, not the peptide molecule itself.
Are peptide serums and peptide lip treatments classified the same way?
No. Lip preparations fall under heading 3304.10, while skin serums, creams and hydrogel patches fall under 3304.99. Both sit inside Chapter 33, but the subheading can change the duty rate and documentary requirements in some markets. Importers should list the exact product type on the commercial invoice.
Do I need FDA approval to import peptide cosmetics into the US?
Cosmetics do not require FDA pre-market approval in the United States, but they must be safe and correctly labeled, and facilities must register and list products under MoCRA. If a peptide product claims to treat, cure or prevent disease, the FDA treats it as a drug, which requires an approved application. Importers should confirm the intended use before shipping.
This page provides educational research information and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.