| Used footwear sold as worn articles in bulk |
HS 6309.00
National extensions may differ |
Commercial invoice, packing list, sales contract, customs declaration, transport document, and any required inspection or quarantine records.
|
HS 6309.00 may apply when footwear is genuinely worn and imported as used articles, commonly in bulk or bales. The importing customs authority may reject this classification if the goods are new, individually presented, highly sorted, or more specifically described elsewhere.
|
Provide photographs, bale descriptions, age or condition details, and the intended tariff classification to the customs broker before shipment.
|
| Waterproof footwear with rubber or plastic uppers and soles |
HS 6401 |
Commercial invoice, packing list, product description, material declaration, customs entry, and transport document.
|
Chapter 64 classification may apply when the footwear does not meet the conditions for HS 6309. The exact subheading depends on construction, coverage of the ankle or knee, and whether the footwear is designed to prevent water penetration.
|
Confirm the upper and sole materials, construction method, and product type with the destination-country tariff schedule.
|
| Other footwear with rubber, plastic, leather, or textile uppers |
HS 6402–6405 |
Invoice, packing list, detailed product specification, material breakdown, customs declaration, and transport documents.
|
HS 6402 generally covers footwear with rubber or plastic uppers; HS 6403 covers footwear with leather uppers; HS 6404 covers footwear with textile uppers; and HS 6405 covers other footwear. Used status does not automatically determine the HS code.
|
Separate mixed lots by upper and sole material and obtain a written classification opinion where the shipment contains several product types.
|
| Footwear parts, pairs, and incomplete items |
HS 6406
Parts of footwear |
Commercial invoice, packing list, itemized description of parts, material information, and customs declaration.
|
Soles, insoles, uppers, and other footwear parts may be classified differently from complete shoes. Unmatched shoes, damaged pairs, and repair lots should be described accurately rather than declared as complete footwear.
|
List complete pairs, single shoes, damaged goods, and loose parts as separate line items on the invoice and packing list.
|
| Core commercial export documents from China |
Not an HS classification |
Sales contract, commercial invoice, packing list, export customs declaration, booking or transport document, and proof of payment where requested.
|
Document requirements vary by shipment method, customs jurisdiction, trade term, and destination country. The invoice should show the goods description, quantity, unit price, total value, currency, origin, gross and net weight, and package information.
|
Make sure the invoice, packing list, shipping document, and customs declaration contain matching quantities, weights, values, and descriptions.
|
| Certificate of origin and preferential tariff claims |
Depends on the destination agreement |
Certificate of origin or approved origin declaration, commercial invoice, and supporting production or sourcing records when required.
|
Used shoes may not qualify for preferential tariff treatment merely because they are shipped from China. Origin rules differ by trade agreement and may be difficult to satisfy for previously owned or mixed-origin goods.
|
Ask the importer or customs broker whether a certificate of origin is accepted and whether the goods meet the applicable origin rules before claiming a reduced duty rate.
|
| Inspection, sanitation, and biosecurity controls |
Destination-country specific |
Cleaning or disinfection records where required, treatment certificate if applicable, inspection documents, and an accurate cargo condition statement.
|
Many countries apply restrictions to used footwear because it can carry soil, insects, pathogens, mold, or animal-derived contamination. Some jurisdictions require disinfection, fumigation, inspection, special packaging, or prohibit certain used goods entirely.
|
Confirm the destination country’s rules with its customs, agriculture, health, or biosecurity authority before purchasing or consolidating the shipment.
|
| Prohibited, restricted, or contaminated items |
May be controlled under separate national rules |
Restricted-goods permits, treatment certificates, declarations concerning hazardous contamination, and disposal or return records if required.
|
Shoes containing visible soil, pests, mold, blood, bodily fluids, hazardous residues, or undeclared animal materials may be detained, destroyed, re-exported, or penalized. Used footwear should not be mixed with prohibited waste or contaminated articles.
|
Use pre-shipment inspection, documented cleaning procedures, and clearly defined rejection standards for contaminated or unsafe items.
|
| Packaging and bale presentation |
Classification depends on the goods, not only the packaging |
Packing list showing the number of bales, cartons, pairs, net weight, gross weight, dimensions, and marks or numbers.
|
Bales or cartons should be secure, dry, clean, and suitable for international transport. Packaging should not conceal prohibited materials or make customs inspection impossible. The number of pairs should be consistent with the declared quantity.
|
Photograph each lot before loading and record bale numbers, weights, package dimensions, and visible condition.
|
| Customs value and duty calculation |
Based on the final tariff classification |
Commercial invoice, payment records, freight and insurance details, assists or commissions where applicable, and valuation explanations for low-value or mixed lots.
|
Customs value is not determined solely by the resale price. Customs authorities may review the transaction value, freight, insurance, assists, related-party pricing, and the condition of used goods. Duty and import VAT or GST depend on the destination tariff schedule.
|
Keep payment evidence and a written explanation of the grading, condition, quantity, and valuation method for mixed or damaged lots.
|
| Import permits and local product requirements |
Destination-country specific |
Import permit if required, customs power of attorney, product or waste declaration, labeling records, and any local conformity documents.
|
Some countries regulate used footwear as second-hand merchandise, sanitary-risk goods, textile products, or waste. Requirements may also apply to labels, country of origin, material composition, and consumer protection.
|
Obtain written confirmation from the importer of record that the shipment is legally permitted before the supplier prepares the export documents.
|
| Incoterms and allocation of customs responsibility |
Not an HS classification |
Sales contract, commercial invoice showing the agreed Incoterm, freight quotation, insurance certificate where applicable, and customs authorization.
|
Incoterms define commercial responsibilities for transport, costs, and risk, but they do not replace customs declarations, import permits, duties, or taxes. The importer usually remains responsible for destination-country import compliance unless local law provides otherwise.
|
State the Incoterm and named place precisely and identify who will act as exporter, importer of record, customs declarant, and tax payer.
|
| Pre-shipment quality and authenticity checks |
Not an HS classification |
Purchase order, grading specification, inspection report, photographs, packing list, and signed acceptance or rejection record.
|
Customs classification does not guarantee commercial quality. Mixed second-hand footwear can contain unmatched pairs, severe wear, counterfeit goods, unsafe materials, or items that fail destination-country restrictions.
|
Define grades, acceptable defect rates, pair-matching requirements, cleaning standards, and replacement or refund terms before payment.
|
