HS 230110 Flours, meals and pellets, of meat or meat offal; greaves

What products does HS 230110 cover?

This subheading covers flours, meals, and pellets derived from meat or meat offal, as well as greaves. These products are typically unfit for human consumption and are primarily used in animal feed or as fertilizers. The WCO Harmonized System Explanatory Notes for Heading 2301 clarify that "flours" and "meals" refer to products obtained by grinding or pulverizing dried meat or offal, while "pellets" are agglomerated forms of these flours or meals. Greaves, also known as cracklings, are the fatty residues left after rendering animal fats, often still containing some proteinaceous matter. This aligns with definitions found in the USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) and the EU TARIC system.

What falls outside HS 230110?

The following products are excluded from HS 230110: products fit for human consumption, which are generally classified in Chapter 2 or 16 depending on their preparation. For example, edible meat flours or meals, even if used in food preparations, would not fall here. Similarly, blood meal (HS 0511.99), fish meal (HS 2301.20), and bone meal (HS 0506.90) are specifically excluded due to their distinct origins or compositions. Products that are merely dried meat for human consumption, such as jerky, are classified under Chapter 2 or 16, not as animal feed ingredients. Furthermore, prepared animal feed mixtures containing these flours, meals, or pellets as ingredients are classified under Heading 2309.

What are common classification mistakes for HS 230110?

A common error is misclassifying products based on their end-use rather than their inherent nature and composition. Importers sometimes mistakenly classify meat flours or meals intended for pet food under Heading 2309 (preparations of a kind used in animal feeding) instead of 230110, even if they are not yet mixed with other ingredients. Another frequent mistake involves confusing greaves with rendered animal fats (Chapter 15) or other animal by-products like blood meal (HS 0511.99). Proper application of General Interpretive Rule (GRI) 1, which states that classification is determined according to the terms of the headings and any relative section or chapter notes, is crucial to avoid these errors. The presence of other ingredients would shift classification to a prepared feed.

How should importers classify products under HS 230110?

The correct procedure for classifying products under HS 230110 involves a thorough review of the product's composition, processing, and intended use, ensuring it aligns with the WCO Explanatory Notes for Heading 2301. Importers and customs brokers should first confirm that the product consists solely of flours, meals, or pellets of meat or meat offal, or greaves, and that it is unfit for human consumption. It is essential to obtain detailed product specifications, including manufacturing processes and ingredient lists, from the supplier. If there is any doubt, consulting the official USITC HTSUS, EU TARIC, or UK Trade Tariff for specific rulings or requesting a binding tariff information (BTI) decision from the relevant customs authority is highly recommended to ensure compliance and avoid potential penalties.