Meat; of horses, asses, mules or hinnies… (heading 0205): importing markets

Fact sheet

Code

0205

Chapter

02 · Meat and edible meat offal

Subheadings

1

What you need to know to export HS 0205

Horse meat falls under a regulated food category in most import markets. The destination country determines the veterinary and sanitary requirements, not the origin. Before committing to a buyer, confirm with the importer which certificates and inspections they require at entry, then check if Spain's competent authority can issue them.

Tariff treatment depends on the specific subheading within 0205, the destination country, and any trade agreement in force. Access2Markets provides the applicable tariff and any quotas for each route from Spain; this is the starting point before pricing. Some markets may have seasonal or quota-based restrictions on horse meat imports.

Traceability is non-negotiable in this category. The meat must be traceable to the animal of origin through official registers. Keep documentation from the farm through slaughter, processing and export. If your buyer is in the EU, the traceability chain is standardized; non-EU destinations often have additional record-keeping requirements.

Italy absorbs the largest share of global horse meat imports. Belgium and China are also significant buyers, but market access rules differ substantially. Research your specific buyer's import procedures and port of entry before negotiating terms, as some countries require pre-notification of shipments or specific certifications not issued in Spain.

Common questions about HS 0205 exports