The 76th Session of the Harmonized System Committee (HSC) concluded with remarkable achievements and continued progress in ensuring the consistent interpretation and application of the Harmonized System.
Held from 17 to 26 September 2025 for discussions and on 3 October 2025 for the reading of the report, the session brought 74 Members, representing 73 countries and the European Union, under the chairmanship of Mr. Tom Beris (United States).
In his opening remarks, the Chairperson warmly welcomed El Salvador and Jamaica, which had recently become new Contracting Parties to the Harmonized System Convention. He underlined the vital role of the Committee in providing clear and consistent guidance that supports administrations and stakeholders in the correct and uniform application of the Harmonized System (HS).
The Committee produced outstanding results over the two-week session, demonstrating strong engagement and collaboration among Members. The agenda included the following achievements:
- Examination of 71 agenda items
- 40 classification decisions
- Two amendments to the HS 2022 Explanatory Notes
- Creation of 21 new Classification Opinions and deletion of two existing Opinions
In addition, the Committee initiated discussions on the development of the Correlation Tables between the HS 2028 and HS 2022 editions and adopted an improved format of the Table presenting the correlation between the HS 2022 and 2028 editions, with the aim of enhancing clarity and usability. These Tables will serve as an essential reference tool for the effective implementation of the HS 2028 amendments.
The session also included the election of a new Chairperson for the next two sessions. Mr. Taufik Ismail (Indonesia) was elected Chairperson for the 77th and 78th Sessions of the Committee.
The delegations and the WCO Secretariat expressed their sincere appreciation to Mr. Tom Beris for his outstanding leadership and dedication during his tenure as Chairperson, covering the 73rd to 76th Sessions.
The next (77th) Session of the HSC is scheduled to be held in March 2026 at the WCO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.