HTS Classifier
HTS Classifier for Food & Beverages — Chapters 1–24
Food and beverage imports span HTS Chapters 1–24 with duty rates from 0% to 350%, mandatory FDA Prior Notice for every shipment, and USDA inspection requirements for meat, poultry, and fresh produce. Getting the HTS code right determines your duty rate and triggers the correct regulatory requirements. Describe your food or beverage product below and get the correct 10-digit HTS code, FDA/USDA flags, and duty rate estimate instantly.
<\!-- Classification Stats Grid -->HTS Chapters Covered
1–24
All food, beverage, and agricultural products
FDA Prior Notice
Required
All food imports before arrival
USDA Inspection
Category A
Meat, poultry, eggs — mandatory inspection
Avg Duty Range
0%–50%+
Varies widely; sugar/tobacco highest
Food & Beverage HTS Chapters — Regulatory Quick Reference (2026)
| Category | HTS Chapter | Duty Range | FDA Prior Notice | USDA Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live animals | Chapter 1 | 0%–4.4¢/kg | Yes | Yes |
| Meat & offal | Chapter 2 | 0%–26.4% | Yes | Yes (FSIS) |
| Fish & seafood | Chapter 3 | 0%–35% | Yes | No |
| Dairy products | Chapter 4 | 0%–236% | Yes | Partial |
| Fresh vegetables | Chapter 7 | 0%–36% | Yes | USDA-APHIS |
| Fresh fruit | Chapter 8 | 0%–40% | Yes | USDA-APHIS |
| Sugar & confectionery | Chapters 17–18 | 0.35¢–36.8¢/kg | Yes | No |
| Beverages (non-alc) | Chapter 22 | 0%–27.4% | Yes | TTB (alcohol) |
| Tobacco | Chapter 24 | 0%–350% | Yes | TTB |
FDA Prior Notice is required for ALL food imports (21 CFR 1.280). USDA-FSIS inspection mandatory for meat, poultry, egg products. USDA-APHIS clearance required for fresh fruits and vegetables. TTB permits required for alcohol. Rates based on USITC HTS 2026.
Key Regulatory Context for Food & Beverage HTS Classification (2026)
- FDA Prior Notice is Mandatory: FDA requires prior notice for every food import shipment (including animal feed) — submitted no earlier than 5 days before arrival by sea, 4 days by air/rail/truck (2 hours minimum for land border). Failure to submit prior notice results in hold and refusal. Submit via FDA's Prior Notice System Interface (PNSI) or through ACE.
- USDA-FSIS Inspection (Meat & Poultry): All imported meat, poultry, and processed egg products must be inspected by USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The country of origin must have an equivalent food safety system approved by USDA. Many countries are NOT eligible to export meat to the US — verify eligibility before ordering.
- HTS Chapter 4 Dairy — High Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs): Dairy products face extremely high over-quota tariff rates (up to 236% for certain cheeses, 90.6¢/liter for butter) when quota limits are exceeded. Within-quota rates are far lower (0%–20%). Cheese TRQs are country-specific. Importers must secure quota allocations from USDA before importing.
- Fresh Produce — USDA-APHIS Phytosanitary: Fresh fruits and vegetables require USDA-APHIS phytosanitary clearance. Certain products (avocados, citrus, stone fruit) have country-specific restrictions based on pest risk. Phytosanitary certificates from the exporting country are required.
- Organic Food Classification: "Organic" labeling in the US is regulated by USDA-NOP (National Organic Program). Imported organic food must come from USDA-NOP certified operations or equivalent organic programs in countries with USDA equivalency arrangements. HTS classification is unchanged — "organic" does not create a separate HTS code.
Frequently Asked Questions — Food & Beverage HTS Classification
What HTS chapters cover food and beverage products?
Food and beverage products are classified in HTS Chapters 1–24: Chapter 1 (live animals), Chapter 2 (meat), Chapter 3 (fish), Chapter 4 (dairy), Chapters 6–8 (plants, vegetables, fruit), Chapters 9–14 (coffee, tea, cereals, flour, seeds), Chapters 15–22 (fats, sugar, cocoa, prepared foods, beverages), Chapter 23 (food residues/animal feed), Chapter 24 (tobacco). Processed foods that undergo significant transformation may be classified outside Chapters 1–24 — for example, food-grade chemicals or vitamin premixes may fall in Chapter 29 or 21.
Is FDA Prior Notice required for all food imports?
Yes. FDA Prior Notice is required for every food import shipment — including dietary supplements, animal feed, beverages, and food ingredients. It must be submitted before arrival: up to 5 days in advance by sea, 4 days by air or rail, and no later than 2 hours before arrival at a land border port. Submit through FDA's PNSI system (available at accessdata.fda.gov) or integrated through your ACE filing with a licensed customs broker. Failure to provide Prior Notice results in refusal of admission.
How are cheese and dairy products from Europe classified and taxed?
Dairy imports face a Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) system. Within-quota cheese from Europe may enter at 10–20% MFN rates. Over-quota cheese rates reach 48.5¢/kg + 8.5% for certain cheeses to 236% for high-fat butter. The US does not have a general FTA with the EU — so European dairy does not benefit from reduced TRQ rates reserved for USMCA or bilateral FTA partners. Importers must obtain quota allocation from USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service for controlled dairy products. Use the USTradeStack classifier to get the exact HTS code and TRQ status.
What documents are required to import food products into the US?
Required documentation for food imports: (1) FDA Prior Notice submission (confirmation number required); (2) Commercial invoice with HTS classification, country of origin, manufacturer details; (3) Phytosanitary certificate (for fresh produce, issued by exporting country's plant health authority); (4) FSIS import inspection application (for meat/poultry — FSIS Form 9540-1); (5) Certificate of Conformance or health certificate for processed foods; (6) USDA-AMS quality grade certificate (for some commodities). Alcohol requires TTB permit and COLA (Certificate of Label Approval).
What is the tariff rate on imported wine and spirits?
Wine and spirits are classified in HTS Chapter 22. Still wine (Chapter 2204) typically faces MFN rates of 6.3¢/liter (under 14% alcohol) to 23.5¢/liter (sparkling). Distilled spirits (Chapter 2208) face 0%–$1.27/proof liter depending on product type. Section 122 (15%) applies through July 2026. TTB Federal Basic Permit is required for importers. A COLA (Certificate of Label Approval) is required for every product. Wine from countries with bilateral wine agreements (EU, Australia, etc.) may face different requirements under TTB.
How does sugar TRQ work for food ingredient imports?
Sugar and sugar-containing products (Chapters 17–18) are subject to a complex Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) system administered by USTR. Within-quota raw cane sugar enters at 0.62¢/lb. Over-quota rates jump to 35.74¢/lb (more than 50× the within-quota rate). Sugar TRQs are country-specific and limited in size. "Other sugars and syrups" and processed foods with high sugar content (over 65% by dry weight) may also be subject to additional duties. Importers of food ingredients with significant sugar content should confirm TRQ applicability before placing orders.
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Educational estimates only — actual duties and regulatory requirements determined by CBP and FDA/USDA at time of entry. HTS classification is the importer's legal responsibility. Consult a licensed customs broker or trade attorney before importing. Tariff rates effective as of April 2026. AI Disclaimer · Terms