The NANDINA Common Nomenclature, based on the Customs Cooperation Council’s Harmonized Description and Coding System (Harmonized System), is one of the Andean Community’s most important harmonized foreign trade instruments.

This modern system, which uses a common customs “language” that is recognized and accepted worldwide, simplifies the work of importers, exporters, producers, transporters and customs administrators. 

Since it entered into effect in 1991, this common system for classifying goods has been continuously updated and adjusted to the progress of the integration process and the needs of producers in the Member Countries.  Today the NANDINA is harmonized to the 8-digit level. 

It was last updated through Decision 653, which became effective on January 1, 2007.  This Decision approves the Consolidated Text of the Common Description and Coding Nomenclature for the Goods of the Andean Community Member Countries, known as «NANDINA», in order to facilitate the identification and classification of goods, foreign trade statistics and other Andean Community trade policy measures concerning the import and export of goods.