The WCO (World Customs Organization) is the intergovernmental body, based in Brussels, that maintains the Harmonized System (HS) used by customs authorities worldwide.
What does WCO stand for?
WCO stands for the World Customs Organization. Its members include the UK, the EU member states and the US, among more than 180 customs administrations.
What does the WCO do?
It maintains and periodically updates the HS nomenclature, publishes the Explanatory Notes and classification opinions, and sets international standards for customs procedures.
How it relates to classification
The first six digits of every UK, EU and US code come from the WCO's HS. The WCO Explanatory Notes are a key reference when a product could fall under more than one heading.
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