Chapter 09 covers coffee, tea, maté and spices, including coffee beans, tea leaves, various spices (such as pepper, chili, cinnamon, cloves, anise, etc.) and their processed products (such as grinding, mixing). Goods in this chapter are mainly used for food seasoning, beverage preparation or essential oil extraction, and are common agricultural product categories in international trade. Heading 0909 includes seed spices such as star anise, fennel, coriander, caraway, cumin, etc., whether or not ground or crushed. These spices are commonly used for culinary seasoning, food processing and traditional medicine. This heading is subdivided into different types of seed spices, among which 0909.4 is fennel seeds (small fennel), further divided according to whether ground or not. The first 2 digits 09 indicate Chapter 9 (coffee, tea, spices). Digits 3-4 09 indicate heading 0909 (seed spices such as star anise, fennel, coriander, caraway, cumin). Digits 5-6 42 indicate subheading 0909.42, i.e., ground fennel seeds (small fennel seeds, ground or crushed). The complete code is 090942, where 42 is the subheading number, specifically referring to ground fennel seeds, distinguished from unground 0909.41. This product is ground fennel seeds, a processed product of fennel seeds. Since fennel seeds under heading 0909 are divided into subheadings according to whether ground or not, ground ones should be classified under 0909.42, while unground ones under 0909.41. It cannot be classified under 0909.50 (other seed spices) or 0910 (ginger, saffron, etc.), because fennel seeds have a dedicated subheading.
Chapter
Chapter 09 covers coffee, tea, maté and spices, including coffee beans, tea leaves, various spices (such as pepper, chili, cinnamon, cloves, anise, etc.) and their processed products (such as grinding, mixing). Goods in this chapter are mainly used for food seasoning, beverage preparation or essential oil extraction, and are common agricultural product categories in international trade.
Heading
Heading 0909 includes seed spices such as star anise, fennel, coriander, caraway, cumin, etc., whether or not ground or crushed. These spices are commonly used for culinary seasoning, food processing and traditional medicine. This heading is subdivided into different types of seed spices, among which 0909.4 is fennel seeds (small fennel), further divided according to whether ground or not.
Digit Breakdown
The first 2 digits 09 indicate Chapter 9 (coffee, tea, spices). Digits 3-4 09 indicate heading 0909 (seed spices such as star anise, fennel, coriander, caraway, cumin). Digits 5-6 42 indicate subheading 0909.42, i.e., ground fennel seeds (small fennel seeds, ground or crushed). The complete code is 090942, where 42 is the subheading number, specifically referring to ground fennel seeds, distinguished from unground 0909.41.
Classification Basis
This product is ground fennel seeds, a processed product of fennel seeds. Since fennel seeds under heading 0909 are divided into subheadings according to whether ground or not, ground ones should be classified under 0909.42, while unground ones under 0909.41. It cannot be classified under 0909.50 (other seed spices) or 0910 (ginger, saffron, etc.), because fennel seeds have a dedicated subheading.
📝 Declaration Elements
Product name: Fill in the product name, which should be specifically "ground fennel seeds" or "fennel powder", avoiding generic terms such as "spices". Processing method: State whether ground, crushed, and the degree of grinding (such as coarse grinding, fine grinding), used to determine the subheading. Ingredient content: Fill in the main ingredients and content, such as fennel seed purity, whether mixed with other substances. Packaging specifications: Fill in the packaging form (such as bagged, boxed) and net weight, used for statistics and inspection. Use: State the use, such as edible seasoning, food industry raw material, medicinal, etc. Brand: Fill in the brand name; if no brand, write "none". Origin: Fill in the country/region of production or processing, affecting tariffs and trade policies. Product name: Ground fennel seeds (fennel powder); Processing method: Ground, fineness 80 mesh; Ingredient content: 100% fennel seeds; Packaging specifications: 25 kg/bag, net weight 25 kg; Use: Food seasoning; Brand: ABC; Origin: India. Failure to distinguish ground from unground, mistakenly classified under 0909.41. Fennel seeds mixed with other spices still declared as a single spice. Ignoring packaging specifications and net weight, leading to inspection failure.
Product name
Fill in the product name, which should be specifically "ground fennel seeds" or "fennel powder", avoiding generic terms such as "spices".
⚠️ Writing only "fennel" or "spices" without distinguishing whether ground or not.
Processing method
State whether ground, crushed, and the degree of grinding (such as coarse grinding, fine grinding), used to determine the subheading.
⚠️ Omitting the processing method, leading to classification errors.
Ingredient content
Fill in the main ingredients and content, such as fennel seed purity, whether mixed with other substances.
⚠️ Declaring a mixture as pure fennel seeds without indicating additives.
Packaging specifications
Fill in the packaging form (such as bagged, boxed) and net weight, used for statistics and inspection.
⚠️ Incomplete packaging specifications, such as writing only "bagged" without net weight.
Use
State the use, such as edible seasoning, food industry raw material, medicinal, etc.
⚠️ Use filled in too generally, such as "edible".
Brand
Fill in the brand name; if no brand, write "none".
⚠️ Brand inconsistent with actual or omitted.
Origin
Fill in the country/region of production or processing, affecting tariffs and trade policies.
Failure to distinguish ground from unground, mistakenly classified under 0909.41.
Fennel seeds mixed with other spices still declared as a single spice.
Ignoring packaging specifications and net weight, leading to inspection failure.
🎯 Classification Logic
The core basis for classification is the hierarchical structure of the HS code: Chapter 9 is coffee, tea, spices; heading 0909 is seed spices; subheading 0909.42 is ground fennel seeds. When determining, it is necessary to confirm that the product is fennel seeds (small fennel) and has been ground or crushed. If unground, classify under 0909.41; if other seed spices, classify under 0909.50; if mixed spices, may be classified under 0910. 090941 Unground fennel seeds: The difference from 090942 lies in whether ground. Unground fennel seeds are classified under 090941, ground under 090942. 090950 Other seed spices: 090950 covers other seed spices, whether unground or ground (such as coriander, caraway, cumin), but does not include fennel seeds, which have a dedicated subheading. 091091 Mixed spices: 091091 is a mixture of spices from different headings; if fennel seeds are mixed with other spices, it is classified under 0910 rather than 0909. 090611 Cinnamon: Cinnamon belongs to heading 0906, different from fennel seeds, distinguished by type. Is it confirmed to be fennel seeds (small fennel)? Has it been ground or crushed? Is it a single ingredient, not mixed with other spices? Are the packaging specifications and net weight accurate? Is the origin clear?
Basis
The core basis for classification is the hierarchical structure of the HS code: Chapter 9 is coffee, tea, spices; heading 0909 is seed spices; subheading 0909.42 is ground fennel seeds. When determining, it is necessary to confirm that the product is fennel seeds (small fennel) and has been ground or crushed. If unground, classify under 0909.41; if other seed spices, classify under 0909.50; if mixed spices, may be classified under 0910.
Confused Codes：
090941 - Unground fennel seeds
The difference from 090942 lies in whether ground. Unground fennel seeds are classified under 090941, ground under 090942.
090950 - Other seed spices
090950 covers other seed spices, whether unground or ground (such as coriander, caraway, cumin), but does not include fennel seeds, which have a dedicated subheading.
091091 - Mixed spices
091091 is a mixture of spices from different headings; if fennel seeds are mixed with other spices, it is classified under 0910 rather than 0909.
090611 - Cinnamon
Cinnamon belongs to heading 0906, different from fennel seeds, distinguished by type.
Self-Check：
✓ Is it confirmed to be fennel seeds (small fennel)?
✓ Has it been ground or crushed?
✓ Is it a single ingredient, not mixed with other spices?
✓ Are the packaging specifications and net weight accurate?
✓ Is the origin clear?
❓ FAQ
How to query the HS code for ground fennel seeds? You can use the customs tariff, HS code query websites, or consult a customs broker. First determine that the product is fennel seeds, then choose 090942 (ground) or 090941 (unground) based on whether ground. What is the difference in HS codes between ground fennel seeds and unground fennel seeds? Ground fennel seeds are classified under 090942, unground under 090941. The main difference is the processing state; ground fennel seeds have a different subheading, affecting tariffs and regulatory conditions. Are fennel seed powder and star anise the same HS code? No. Star anise is classified under 0909.61 (unground) or 0909.62 (ground), while fennel seeds (small fennel) are classified under 0909.41/42. They are different types with different subheadings. If fennel seeds are mixed with other spices, which code should be used? If after mixing, fennel seeds still predominate and the basic character is unchanged, it may still be classified under 0909; but if the mixture becomes a seasoning mixture, it is usually classified under 0910 (mixed spices). Specific determination depends on ingredients and use. What elements are required to declare ground fennel seeds? Product name, processing method, ingredient content, packaging specifications, use, brand, origin, etc. are required. The processing method must state "ground" to distinguish from unground products. What is the import tariff rate for ground fennel seeds? Tariff rates vary by country, trade agreement and origin. It is recommended to check the latest customs tariff or use official tariff query tools, such as the website of the General Administration of Customs of China. How to declare the HS code for cross-border e-commerce sales of fennel seed powder? Cross-border e-commerce declarations also need to follow HS rules. If in small retail packaging, still declare under 090942, but pay attention to packaging specifications and use. It is recommended to consult a professional customs broker. What are the inspection and quarantine requirements for ground fennel seeds? As a plant product, it may need to comply with the plant quarantine requirements of the importing country, such as providing fumigation certificates, certificates of origin, etc. Specific requirements depend on the destination country's regulations.
Q: How to query the HS code for ground fennel seeds?
A: You can use the customs tariff, HS code query websites, or consult a customs broker. First determine that the product is fennel seeds, then choose 090942 (ground) or 090941 (unground) based on whether ground.
Q: What is the difference in HS codes between ground fennel seeds and unground fennel seeds?
A: Ground fennel seeds are classified under 090942, unground under 090941. The main difference is the processing state; ground fennel seeds have a different subheading, affecting tariffs and regulatory conditions.
Q: Are fennel seed powder and star anise the same HS code?
A: No. Star anise is classified under 0909.61 (unground) or 0909.62 (ground), while fennel seeds (small fennel) are classified under 0909.41/42. They are different types with different subheadings.
Q: If fennel seeds are mixed with other spices, which code should be used?
A: If after mixing, fennel seeds still predominate and the basic character is unchanged, it may still be classified under 0909; but if the mixture becomes a seasoning mixture, it is usually classified under 0910 (mixed spices). Specific determination depends on ingredients and use.
Q: What elements are required to declare ground fennel seeds?
A: Product name, processing method, ingredient content, packaging specifications, use, brand, origin, etc. are required. The processing method must state "ground" to distinguish from unground products.
Q: What is the import tariff rate for ground fennel seeds?
A: Tariff rates vary by country, trade agreement and origin. It is recommended to check the latest customs tariff or use official tariff query tools, such as the website of the General Administration of Customs of China.
Q: How to declare the HS code for cross-border e-commerce sales of fennel seed powder?
A: Cross-border e-commerce declarations also need to follow HS rules. If in small retail packaging, still declare under 090942, but pay attention to packaging specifications and use. It is recommended to consult a professional customs broker.
Q: What are the inspection and quarantine requirements for ground fennel seeds?
A: As a plant product, it may need to comply with the plant quarantine requirements of the importing country, such as providing fumigation certificates, certificates of origin, etc. Specific requirements depend on the destination country's regulations.
⚠️ 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.