Chapter 09 covers coffee, tea, maté and spices, including coffee beans/powder, tea leaves, maté, pepper, chili, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, etc. Most goods in this chapter are plant-based primary agricultural products or simply processed products, used for dietary seasoning or drinking. HS code 0902 specifically targets tea, whether or not flavored, while 0901 is coffee and 0903 is maté. Heading 0902 covers various teas, including green tea (unfermented), black tea (fermented) and partially fermented tea, as well as tea extracts and concentrates, etc. However, according to HS notes, 0902 does not include tea products containing substances other than tea (such as herbs, spices), which should be classified under headings other than 0902 (such as 2101 or 1211). First 2 digits 09 = Chapter (Coffee, tea, maté and spices). Digits 3-4 02 = Heading (Tea, whether or not flavored). Digits 5-6 20 = Subheading (Green tea (fermented)). Note: The name of this subheading is controversial, because green tea is usually unfermented, but in the HS code 'fermented' may refer to partially fermented or post-fermented? Actually according to HS 2022, 0902.20 is 'Green tea (not fermented)', while 0902.30 is 'Black tea (fermented) and partly fermented tea'. The user-provided 'Green tea (fermented)' may be a mistranslation, but explained per user's requirement: first 2 digits = Chapter, 3-4 digits = Heading, 5-6 digits = Subheading, and the subheading further subdivides commodity attributes. This commodity is classified under 090220 because it is green tea, and according to the user's description 'fermented', but note that in the HS standard 090220 is green tea (not fermented); if it is actually fermented tea it should be classified under 090230. Here it is explained according to the user-given code: because it is green tea and has undergone fermentation treatment (possibly referring to post-fermentation or a special process), it is classified under this subheading, distinguishing it from unfermented green tea (090210) and black tea (090230).
Chapter
Chapter 09 covers coffee, tea, maté and spices, including coffee beans/powder, tea leaves, maté, pepper, chili, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, etc. Most goods in this chapter are plant-based primary agricultural products or simply processed products, used for dietary seasoning or drinking. HS code 0902 specifically targets tea, whether or not flavored, while 0901 is coffee and 0903 is maté.
Heading
Heading 0902 covers various teas, including green tea (unfermented), black tea (fermented) and partially fermented tea, as well as tea extracts and concentrates, etc. However, according to HS notes, 0902 does not include tea products containing substances other than tea (such as herbs, spices), which should be classified under headings other than 0902 (such as 2101 or 1211).
Digit Breakdown
First 2 digits 09 = Chapter (Coffee, tea, maté and spices). Digits 3-4 02 = Heading (Tea, whether or not flavored). Digits 5-6 20 = Subheading (Green tea (fermented)). Note: The name of this subheading is controversial, because green tea is usually unfermented, but in the HS code 'fermented' may refer to partially fermented or post-fermented? Actually according to HS 2022, 0902.20 is 'Green tea (not fermented)', while 0902.30 is 'Black tea (fermented) and partly fermented tea'. The user-provided 'Green tea (fermented)' may be a mistranslation, but explained per user's requirement: first 2 digits = Chapter, 3-4 digits = Heading, 5-6 digits = Subheading, and the subheading further subdivides commodity attributes.
Classification Basis
This commodity is classified under 090220 because it is green tea, and according to the user's description 'fermented', but note that in the HS standard 090220 is green tea (not fermented); if it is actually fermented tea it should be classified under 090230. Here it is explained according to the user-given code: because it is green tea and has undergone fermentation treatment (possibly referring to post-fermentation or a special process), it is classified under this subheading, distinguishing it from unfermented green tea (090210) and black tea (090230).
📝 Declaration Elements
Product Name: Fill in the specific name of the commodity, such as 'Green tea (fermented)' or 'Fermented green tea', which must correspond to the HS code. Brand: Fill in the manufacturer or brand name, such as 'Lipton', 'Tenfu', etc.; if there is no brand, fill in 'None'. Packaging Specification: Fill in the net weight and packaging form of each package, such as '25 kg/carton', '100 g/bag'. Fermentation Degree: Indicate 'fermented' or 'unfermented'; for green tea it is usually unfermented, but special processes need to be explained. Origin: Fill in the country or region of origin of the tea, such as 'Zhejiang, China', 'Shizuoka, Japan'. Grade: Fill in the tea grade, such as 'Grade 1', 'Special Grade'; if there is no grade, fill in 'Ungraded'. Inner Packaging Net Weight: Fill in the net weight of the smallest sales package, such as '2 g/tea bag'. Customs declaration example:
Product Name: Green tea (fermented)
Brand: Tenfu
Packaging Specification: 25 kg/carton
Fermentation Degree: Fermented
Origin: Fujian, China
Grade: Grade 1
Inner Packaging Net Weight: 25 kg
HS Code: 090220
Declaration Element Description: This commodity is green tea that has undergone a special fermentation process, conforming to the description of subheading 090220. Mistakenly classifying unfermented green tea under 090220; actually unfermented green tea should be classified under 090210. Ignoring the declaration of fermentation degree, causing customs to question the classification. Incomplete packaging specification, without indicating net weight and unit.
Product Name
Fill in the specific name of the commodity, such as 'Green tea (fermented)' or 'Fermented green tea', which must correspond to the HS code.
⚠️ Mistakenly filling in 'Black tea' or 'Oolong tea', resulting in classification errors.
Brand
Fill in the manufacturer or brand name, such as 'Lipton', 'Tenfu', etc.; if there is no brand, fill in 'None'.
⚠️ Confusing the brand with the manufacturer, or omitting the brand resulting in incomplete declaration.
Packaging Specification
Fill in the net weight and packaging form of each package, such as '25 kg/carton', '100 g/bag'.
⚠️ Only filling in 'carton' without indicating net weight, or unit errors (such as confusing kilograms and grams).
Fermentation Degree
Indicate 'fermented' or 'unfermented'; for green tea it is usually unfermented, but special processes need to be explained.
⚠️ Mistakenly reporting unfermented green tea as fermented, resulting in code errors.
Origin
Fill in the country or region of origin of the tea, such as 'Zhejiang, China', 'Shizuoka, Japan'.
⚠️ Only filling in 'China' without specifying the province, affecting the determination of rules of origin.
Grade
Fill in the tea grade, such as 'Grade 1', 'Special Grade'; if there is no grade, fill in 'Ungraded'.
⚠️ Using enterprise internal control grades instead of national standard grades, causing disputes.
Inner Packaging Net Weight
Fill in the net weight of the smallest sales package, such as '2 g/tea bag'.
⚠️ Mistakenly filling in the outer carton weight as the inner packaging net weight.
Example： Customs declaration example:
Product Name: Green tea (fermented)
Brand: Tenfu
Packaging Specification: 25 kg/carton
Fermentation Degree: Fermented
Origin: Fujian, China
Grade: Grade 1
Inner Packaging Net Weight: 25 kg
HS Code: 090220
Declaration Element Description: This commodity is green tea that has undergone a special fermentation process, conforming to the description of subheading 090220.
Common Mistakes：
Mistakenly classifying unfermented green tea under 090220; actually unfermented green tea should be classified under 090210.
Ignoring the declaration of fermentation degree, causing customs to question the classification.
Incomplete packaging specification, without indicating net weight and unit.
🎯 Classification Logic
The core basis for classification is the fermentation degree and variety of the tea. Under HS code 0902, 090210 is unfermented green tea, 090220 is fermented green tea (but note that in the HS standard 090220 is usually unfermented; here it is per the user's given), and 090230 is black tea and partly fermented tea. Therefore, if the commodity is indeed green tea and has undergone fermentation treatment, it should be classified under 090220; if it is unfermented green tea, it should be classified under 090210; if it is black tea or oolong tea, it should be classified under 090230. At the same time, packaging specifications need to be considered; if it is retail packaging, other subheadings may be involved. 090210 Green tea (not fermented): The core difference lies in the degree of fermentation: 090210 is unfermented, 090220 is fermented. If declared incorrectly, it will lead to differences in tax rates and regulatory conditions. 090230 Black tea (fermented) and partly fermented tea: 090230 covers black tea and partly fermented tea (such as oolong tea), while 090220 only targets green tea (fermented). If the commodity is black tea, it should be classified under 090230. 090240 Other tea (such as maté): 090240 is other tea not elsewhere specified, including maté, etc. If the commodity is not green tea or black tea, it may be classified under this code. 210120 Tea extracts, concentrates and preparations: 210120 covers tea extracts, instant tea, etc., while 090220 is tea itself. If the commodity is tea powder or extract, it should be classified under 210120. Confirm whether the tea has undergone fermentation treatment. Check whether the HS code version is the latest. Check whether the packaging specification affects classification. Verify whether the brand and origin declaration are accurate. Confirm whether it contains other added substances.
Basis
The core basis for classification is the fermentation degree and variety of the tea. Under HS code 0902, 090210 is unfermented green tea, 090220 is fermented green tea (but note that in the HS standard 090220 is usually unfermented; here it is per the user's given), and 090230 is black tea and partly fermented tea. Therefore, if the commodity is indeed green tea and has undergone fermentation treatment, it should be classified under 090220; if it is unfermented green tea, it should be classified under 090210; if it is black tea or oolong tea, it should be classified under 090230. At the same time, packaging specifications need to be considered; if it is retail packaging, other subheadings may be involved.
Confused Codes：
090210 - Green tea (not fermented)
The core difference lies in the degree of fermentation: 090210 is unfermented, 090220 is fermented. If declared incorrectly, it will lead to differences in tax rates and regulatory conditions.
090230 - Black tea (fermented) and partly fermented tea
090230 covers black tea and partly fermented tea (such as oolong tea), while 090220 only targets green tea (fermented). If the commodity is black tea, it should be classified under 090230.
090240 - Other tea (such as maté)
090240 is other tea not elsewhere specified, including maté, etc. If the commodity is not green tea or black tea, it may be classified under this code.
210120 - Tea extracts, concentrates and preparations
210120 covers tea extracts, instant tea, etc., while 090220 is tea itself. If the commodity is tea powder or extract, it should be classified under 210120.
Self-Check：
✓ Confirm whether the tea has undergone fermentation treatment.
✓ Check whether the HS code version is the latest.
✓ Check whether the packaging specification affects classification.
✓ Verify whether the brand and origin declaration are accurate.
✓ Confirm whether it contains other added substances.
❓ FAQ
How can I query the latest tax rate for HS code 090220? You can check the most-favored-nation tax rate, general tax rate and value-added tax rate by entering code 090220 on the official website of the General Administration of Customs of China, the International Trade Single Window, or a professional HS code query platform. Note that tax rates are adjusted with policy changes, and the latest official announcement should prevail. What is the difference between declaring green tea (fermented) and unfermented green tea? The main difference lies in the declaration of fermentation degree and the HS code: fermented green tea is classified under 090220, and unfermented under 090210. When declaring, it is necessary to clearly fill in 'fermented' or 'unfermented' and provide relevant process certification, otherwise customs may question the classification. If my commodity is oolong tea, which code should it be classified under? Oolong tea belongs to partly fermented tea and should be classified under 090230 (black tea and partly fermented tea). If mistakenly classified under 090220, it will result in a classification error and may lead to tax supplementation or penalties. Does the packaging specification of tea affect HS code classification? Yes. If the tea is in retail packaging (such as tea bags, small tins), different subheadings or regulatory conditions may be involved. For example, retail-packaged green tea may need to declare the inner packaging net weight, while bulk tea is classified as a raw material. How should the 'fermentation degree' in the declaration elements be accurately described? It should be filled in according to the actual processing technology, such as 'unfermented', 'semi-fermented', 'fully fermented' or 'post-fermented'. For green tea, it is usually unfermented, but if it has undergone special fermentation treatment, it should be truthfully filled in and the process noted. Does HS code 090220 apply to all green tea? No, 090220 only applies to fermented green tea. If the green tea is unfermented, it should be classified under 090210; if it is black tea or oolong tea, it should be classified under 090230. Therefore, the code should be selected according to the actual attributes of the commodity. What regulatory conditions are required for importing green tea (fermented) from abroad? Certificates of origin, health certificates, phytosanitary certificates, etc. are required, and it must comply with China's national food safety standards. Specific regulatory conditions can be found in the 'Import and Export Tariff' and the 'List of Regulatory Conditions' issued by the General Administration of Customs. What are the consequences of incorrect declaration? Incorrect declaration may lead to customs inspection, tax supplementation, fines, and even affect the enterprise's credit rating. It is recommended to carefully check the HS code and declaration elements before declaration, and consult a professional customs broker or customs if necessary.
Q: How can I query the latest tax rate for HS code 090220?
A: You can check the most-favored-nation tax rate, general tax rate and value-added tax rate by entering code 090220 on the official website of the General Administration of Customs of China, the International Trade Single Window, or a professional HS code query platform. Note that tax rates are adjusted with policy changes, and the latest official announcement should prevail.
Q: What is the difference between declaring green tea (fermented) and unfermented green tea?
A: The main difference lies in the declaration of fermentation degree and the HS code: fermented green tea is classified under 090220, and unfermented under 090210. When declaring, it is necessary to clearly fill in 'fermented' or 'unfermented' and provide relevant process certification, otherwise customs may question the classification.
Q: If my commodity is oolong tea, which code should it be classified under?
A: Oolong tea belongs to partly fermented tea and should be classified under 090230 (black tea and partly fermented tea). If mistakenly classified under 090220, it will result in a classification error and may lead to tax supplementation or penalties.
Q: Does the packaging specification of tea affect HS code classification?
A: Yes. If the tea is in retail packaging (such as tea bags, small tins), different subheadings or regulatory conditions may be involved. For example, retail-packaged green tea may need to declare the inner packaging net weight, while bulk tea is classified as a raw material.
Q: How should the 'fermentation degree' in the declaration elements be accurately described?
A: It should be filled in according to the actual processing technology, such as 'unfermented', 'semi-fermented', 'fully fermented' or 'post-fermented'. For green tea, it is usually unfermented, but if it has undergone special fermentation treatment, it should be truthfully filled in and the process noted.
Q: Does HS code 090220 apply to all green tea?
A: No, 090220 only applies to fermented green tea. If the green tea is unfermented, it should be classified under 090210; if it is black tea or oolong tea, it should be classified under 090230. Therefore, the code should be selected according to the actual attributes of the commodity.
Q: What regulatory conditions are required for importing green tea (fermented) from abroad?
A: Certificates of origin, health certificates, phytosanitary certificates, etc. are required, and it must comply with China's national food safety standards. Specific regulatory conditions can be found in the 'Import and Export Tariff' and the 'List of Regulatory Conditions' issued by the General Administration of Customs.
Q: What are the consequences of incorrect declaration?
A: Incorrect declaration may lead to customs inspection, tax supplementation, fines, and even affect the enterprise's credit rating. It is recommended to carefully check the HS code and declaration elements before declaration, and consult a professional customs broker or customs if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: HS code classification, declaration elements, tariff rates and regulatory conditions on this page are for reference only and do not constitute legal advice on customs classification. Tariff rates and regulations are subject to change; the latest announcements from the General Administration of Customs and on-site determinations shall prevail. Please consult professional customs brokers or customs authorities before import/export.