The development of the Harmonized System (HS) as a multipurpose goods nomenclature was one of best achievement of the World Customs Organization (WCO). The HS is now used all over the world, in millions of transactions every day, for a variety of purposes: customs tariffs, trade policy formulation, determination of the origin of goods, etc.
The HS uniform application (interpretation of the text) by all users is the key to its success. Misclassification can lead to loss of revenue, delays in clearance and evasion of trade control.
The updating of the HS is a continuous process, requiring constant effort by the WCO in a rapidly changing trade environment. A considerable amount of time and resources have to be devoted to this work in order to take account of the latest developments in technology, patterns of trade and the special needs of HS users.