Chapter 08 covers edible fruit and nuts, peel of citrus fruit or melons, mainly including fresh or dried fruit and nuts, as well as plant parts used for extracting essential oils or beverages. Goods under this chapter are mostly agricultural products for direct consumption, involving tariff quotas, quarantine and preservation requirements, and it is one of the chapters with more classification disputes in agricultural trade. Heading 0802 covers other nuts, fresh or dried, including almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, chestnuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, etc., whether or not shelled or peeled. Nuts under this heading must be whole, broken or sliced, but do not include roasted, flavored or further processed nut products. The first 2 digits 08 represent Chapter 8 'Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons'. Digits 3-4, 02, represent the heading 'Other nuts, fresh or dried', i.e., 0802. Digits 5-6, 11, are the subheading 'Almonds, fresh or dried', where '11' is the specific subheading number for almonds under heading 0802, alongside hazelnuts (0802.21/22), walnuts (0802.31/32), etc. The complete code 080211 refers to almonds, fresh or dried, including inshell or shelled almonds. Almonds are nuts that have not undergone deep processing such as roasting or flavoring, conforming to the description of heading 0802 'Other nuts, fresh or dried'. 080211 specifically refers to almonds, distinguishing them from hazelnuts, walnuts, chestnuts, etc. under the same heading. If almonds have been roasted or flavored, they should be classified under 2008 (Other prepared nuts), not 080211.

Product name: Fill in the specific product name, such as 'almonds' or 'almond kernels', and indicate fresh or dried, whether inshell. Method of preparation or preservation: Indicate 'fresh' or 'dried', the drying method such as sun-dried, oven-dried, etc., and whether shelled or peeled. State: Fill in 'inshell' or 'shelled', whether whole, broken or sliced. Latin scientific name: Fill in the Latin scientific name of almond, Prunus dulcis, for quarantine and species confirmation. Origin: Fill in the specific country or region, such as California, USA, Spain, etc. Brand: If there is a brand, fill in the brand name; if no brand, fill in 'None'. Packaging specifications: Fill in the packaging method and weight per package, such as '25 kg/bag' or '10 kg/carton'. Use: Fill in 'edible' or 'for food processing', and do not fill in 'for sowing' unless quarantine requirements are met. Product name: Almonds (almond kernels); Method of preparation or preservation: dried, shelled, unroasted; State: whole kernels; Latin scientific name: Prunus dulcis; Origin: California, USA; Brand: None; Packaging specifications: 25 kg/bag; Use: edible. Misreporting almonds as 'apricot kernels', as the two have different classification and quarantine requirements. Failing to indicate whether shelled, leading to incorrect subheading determination. Incorrectly filling in 'roasted' or 'flavored', which should be classified under 2008 rather than 080211.

The core basis for classification is the Import and Export Tariff and HS Explanatory Notes. 080211 applies only to almonds (almond kernels), fresh or dried, whether or not inshell, but must not be roasted, flavored or further processed. If roasted, salt-baked or otherwise treated, they are classified under 2008. Attention should also be paid to the difference from apricots (0809); almonds are almond kernels, while apricots are apricot fruit. 080212 Almonds, fresh or dried (shelled): 080212 is shelled almonds, 080211 is inshell almonds. If declared as shelled, they should be classified under 080212. 0809 Apricots, fresh or dried: Apricots are the fruit of the apricot tree, almonds are almond kernels; the two are different species and are classified differently. 2008 Other prepared nuts: 2008 applies to roasted, flavored or further processed nuts, such as salt-baked almonds. 0802 Other nuts, fresh or dried: 0802 is the heading, 080211 is its subheading; if not further specified, classify under 0802. Confirm the product is almonds rather than apricots or apricot kernels. Confirm whether inshell, to distinguish 080211 from 080212. Confirm it has not been roasted, flavored or otherwise processed. Verify the Latin scientific name Prunus dulcis. Check whether the origin is from an epidemic area, requiring a quarantine certificate.

What is the difference in HS codes between almonds and apricot kernels? Almonds (almond kernels) are classified under 080211 or 080212, while apricot kernels (seeds of apricot) are usually classified under 0809 (Apricots, fresh or dried) or 1212 (Apricot kernels). The two are different species with different quarantine and tariff treatment, and must be accurately distinguished at declaration. What is the difference in HS codes between inshell and shelled almonds? Inshell almonds are classified under 080211, and shelled almonds under 080212. The state must be clearly declared, otherwise it may lead to classification errors and customs inspection. Which code should roasted or flavored almonds be classified under? Roasted, salt-baked or flavored almonds have exceeded the scope of 0802 and should be classified under 2008 (Other prepared nuts). If only simply dried, they remain under 080211/080212. What quarantine certificates are required for importing almonds? An official phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country is required, and it must be confirmed that the origin is free from quarantine pests of concern to China. Some countries also require a fumigation certificate. How can I check the import tariff rate for almonds? You can consult the Import and Export Tariff of the People's Republic of China or the website of the General Administration of Customs, and determine the applicable MFN rate, agreement rate or general rate based on the origin. Rates are subject to change, and the latest announcement shall prevail. Is the 'Latin scientific name' mandatory in the declaration elements for almonds? Yes, the Latin scientific name helps customs confirm the species and quarantine risks, especially for plant products. Prunus dulcis should be filled in to avoid confusion with apricots. What HS code applies to cross-border e-commerce retail imports of almonds? 080211 or 080212 also applies, but it must comply with the cross-border e-commerce retail import commodity list and be declared through the customs cross-border e-commerce clearance system. Are almonds and almond kernels the same commodity? Yes, almonds, i.e., almond kernels, are the seeds of the same species Prunus dulcis. In trade they are often called almond kernels or American almonds, but the standard name is almonds.