Ambergris, castoreum, civet and musk; cantharides; bile, dried or not glands, other animal products used in preparation of pharmaceutical products, fresh chilled, frozen or otherwise provisionally preserved (heading 0510): importing markets
HS heading 0510 covers ambergris, castoreum, civet, musk, cantharides, bile and glands used in pharmaceutical preparations. It has a single subheading.…
Published on 10 October 2026Updated on 10 October 2026
HS heading 0510 covers ambergris, castoreum, civet, musk, cantharides, bile and glands used in pharmaceutical preparations. It has a single subheading. Hong Kong SAR China (about 156 million USD) and Germany (about 84 million USD) were the largest importers in 2025, ahead of South Korea, Japan and Brazil. For an exporter from Spain, the target market's rules matter more than the tariff code.
Source: UN ComtradeData for 2025Verified on 10 October 2026
Fact sheet
- Code
- 0510
- Chapter
- 05 · Animal originated products; not elsewhere specified or included
- Subheadings
- 1
Main importing markets
USD · 2025| Country | Imports (USD) |
|---|---|
| Hong Kong SAR China | 156,155,407 |
| Germany | 84,148,397 |
| South Korea | 45,119,289 |
| Japan | 35,504,759 |
| Brazil | 35,048,089 |
| United States | 20,470,419 |
| New Zealand | 19,735,313 |
| Netherlands | 16,300,896 |
| India | 8,237,733 |
| Italy | 8,205,661 |
| France | 7,415,049 |
| Costa Rica | 6,536,706 |
| Canada | 4,889,466 |
| Spain | 4,145,083 |
| United Kingdom | 2,517,240 |
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 10 October 2026
What to know before exporting heading 0510 from Spain
Heading 0510 groups raw animal products that are not classified elsewhere in chapter 05. The common feature is use as a raw material, mainly in pharmaceutical preparations and, historically, in perfumery. The heading has a single subheading, so the classification decision is made mostly at national tariff-line level.
The buyers are concentrated. The table above shows that Hong Kong SAR China and Germany lead by a wide margin, and that the top five importers are on three continents. For a company exporting from Spain, this suggests starting the market analysis with those destinations. Import figures reflect what each country declares from the world, not what Spain sells.
Many products in this heading come from animal species. This means that rules on protected species and on animal-origin products can apply, in addition to ordinary customs rules. Whether a given product is subject to restrictions depends on the species, the product and the destination. It should be checked before quoting, not after.
The duty rate depends on the full national tariff line in the destination and on any agreement in force between that market and the EU. For a company exporting from Spain, rates and preferential origin conditions are consulted in Access2Markets, which shows duties, rules of origin and import formalities by product and country.
Within the EU, the integrated tariff is consulted in TARIC. It indicates the export-side measures that apply to the code. Before shipping, confirm the exact code with your customs agent or the AEAT, because a classification error changes duties and documents.
Frequently asked questions
What products are classified under HS 0510?
Heading 0510 covers ambergris, castoreum, civet and musk, cantharides, bile (dried or not) and glands and other animal products used to prepare pharmaceutical products. It includes them when fresh, chilled, frozen or otherwise provisionally preserved. It has one subheading.
Which countries import the most under HS 0510?
According to UN Comtrade data for 2025, the largest importers were Hong Kong SAR China (about 156 million USD), Germany (about 84 million USD), South Korea (about 45 million USD), Japan and Brazil (each about 35 million USD). Countries report with a delay, so the latest consolidated year may be revised.
Where can a Spanish exporter check the duty for HS 0510?
In Access2Markets, the European Commission tool. It shows the duty, the preferential rate if there is an agreement with the destination, the rules of origin and the import requirements for the product and country you select. The rate depends on the destination's national tariff line.
Does exporting from Spain require special permits for this heading?
It can. Because the goods are of animal origin, requirements may apply depending on the species, the product and the destination, including rules on protected species. The permits needed are specific to each shipment, so confirm them with the destination's import authority and your customs agent before agreeing a price.
Do the import figures show how much Spain sells?
No. The table shows what each country declares importing from the world, not Spain's exports. It indicates where demand is concentrated and is a starting point for choosing markets. Spain's own sales to each destination must be checked separately in trade statistics.
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