Meat and edible meat offal, n.e.c. in… (heading 0208): importing markets
HS code 0208 covers meat and edible meat offal not classified elsewhere in chapter 2, fresh, chilled or frozen: rabbit, frog legs, game and similar…
Published on 29 September 2026Updated on 29 September 2026
HS code 0208 covers meat and edible meat offal not classified elsewhere in chapter 2, fresh, chilled or frozen: rabbit, frog legs, game and similar products. Germany, Belgium and France are the largest declared importers, with Spain itself among the top markets. For a Spanish exporter, this heading matters because demand is concentrated in a handful of EU countries, which narrows where to focus market entry and compliance work.
Fact sheet
- Code
- 0208
- Chapter
- 02 · Meat and edible meat offal
- Subheadings
- 7
Main importing markets
USD · 2025| Country | Imports (USD) |
|---|---|
| Germany | 149,244,140 |
| Belgium | 74,275,046 |
| France | 66,930,722 |
| Netherlands | 64,679,302 |
| United States | 63,910,645 |
| Switzerland | 53,758,717 |
| Italy | 41,902,845 |
| Hong Kong SAR China | 32,174,622 |
| Austria | 27,618,425 |
| Portugal | 22,773,792 |
| China | 16,797,779 |
| Spain | 15,499,922 |
| Czechia | 14,154,701 |
| Canada | 12,753,193 |
| Slovenia | 12,525,814 |
Imports declared by each country from the world. Countries report with a delay: the period is the latest with consolidated data.
Source: UN ComtradeData for 2025Verified on 29 September 2026
What to check before exporting under HS 0208
HS 0208 groups meat and offal that don't fit the more specific headings in chapter 2, such as bovine, swine, sheep or poultry meat. It has seven subheadings, and the tariff, health certificate and labelling requirements all depend on which one applies to the actual product: rabbit meat, game, frog legs or other edible offal are treated differently. The exact subheading is confirmed by checking the product description against the TARIC database.
Because this is meat, any shipment out of the EU or into it is subject to sanitary and phytosanitary controls, not just customs duties. The applicable veterinary health certificate, the approved establishment requirements and any country-specific import bans depend on both the subheading and the destination country, and are checked through Access2Markets for the EU side and the importing country's veterinary or food safety authority for the other side.
Within the EU, meat products generally move without tariffs once intra-community trade rules and sanitary registration are met, which explains why Germany, Belgium, France and the Netherlands dominate the import table: they are both large consumer markets and common redistribution hubs for the wider European market. For a Spanish exporter, Germany and Belgium stand out as first markets to assess in detail, since they combine high import volume with proximity and existing EU harmonised rules.
Outside the EU, Switzerland, the United States, Hong Kong SAR China and Canada appear among the top importers for this heading. Each of these markets applies its own tariff schedule and its own sanitary import requirements for meat and offal, so the conditions that apply in one do not carry over to another: the tariff is checked in the destination country's own customs tariff or, for the US, in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, and sanitary conditions are checked with that country's food safety authority before any shipment is planned.
What products fall under HS 0208?
HS 0208 covers meat and edible meat offal that is not covered by the more specific headings of chapter 2, such as bovine, swine, sheep, goat or poultry meat. It includes products like rabbit, hare, game meat, frog legs and other edible offal, fresh, chilled or frozen, and is split into seven subheadings that group these by type of animal or product.
Which countries import the most under this heading?
Based on declared imports from the world, Germany leads, followed by Belgium, France, the Netherlands and the United States. Spain also appears among the top importers, alongside Switzerland, Italy, Hong Kong SAR China and Austria.
Does exporting meat under HS 0208 require a health certificate?
Meat and offal shipments are subject to sanitary controls in addition to customs duties, and typically require a veterinary health certificate issued for the specific product and destination. The exact certificate and the requirements for the exporting establishment depend on the subheading and the importing country, and are confirmed with that country's veterinary or food safety authority and, for EU trade, through Access2Markets.
Is the tariff the same for every product under HS 0208?
No. The tariff depends on the specific subheading, the country of destination and any trade agreement in force between that country and the country of export. It is checked using the destination country's customs tariff, or through Access2Markets and TARIC for trade involving the EU.
Why do Belgium and the Netherlands appear as major importers if they are not large meat producers?
Both countries are established redistribution hubs for the European market, with major ports and logistics infrastructure that handle goods bound for other EU countries. Their import figures reflect this hub role as well as domestic consumption.
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