Chapter 09 covers coffee, tea, maté and spices, including coffee beans, tea leaves, pepper, chili, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, etc. These goods are mostly tropical or subtropical agricultural products, used for food seasoning or drinking after preliminary processing (such as drying, grinding). Goods under this chapter are traded in large quantities in international trade and are tariff-sensitive. When classifying, attention should be paid to the degree of processing (unmilled/milled) and the state of mixing. Heading 0916 specifically refers to cinnamon and cinnamon tree flowers, including both unmilled and milled forms. Cinnamon is the bark of the cinnamon tree of the Lauraceae family, which after drying curls into rolls or is ground into powder, and is widely used in cooking, baking and the spice industry. Under this heading, it is subdivided into unmilled cinnamon (091611) and milled cinnamon (091620), with the key distinction being whether it has undergone grinding processing. Code 091620 has 6 digits: the first 2 digits 09 represent Chapter 9 (coffee, tea, spices); digits 3-4, 16, represent heading 0916 (cinnamon and cinnamon tree flowers); digits 5-6, 20, represent subheading 091620 (milled cinnamon). Among them, the 5th digit 2 indicates milled, and the 6th digit 0 is the subheading sequence number. Therefore, the complete meaning of this code is: under Chapter 9, within heading 0916, cinnamon that has undergone grinding processing. This commodity is classified under 091620 rather than 091611 (unmilled cinnamon), with the core difference being the processing state: milled cinnamon has been ground into powder or fine particles, while unmilled cinnamon remains in its original form (such as roll-shaped, block-shaped). In addition, if cinnamon is mixed with other spices, it may be classified under 0910 (mixed spices) or 2103 (seasonings), but pure cinnamon powder, even if ground, is still classified under 091620.
Chapter
Chapter 09 covers coffee, tea, maté and spices, including coffee beans, tea leaves, pepper, chili, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, etc. These goods are mostly tropical or subtropical agricultural products, used for food seasoning or drinking after preliminary processing (such as drying, grinding). Goods under this chapter are traded in large quantities in international trade and are tariff-sensitive. When classifying, attention should be paid to the degree of processing (unmilled/milled) and the state of mixing.
Heading
Heading 0916 specifically refers to cinnamon and cinnamon tree flowers, including both unmilled and milled forms. Cinnamon is the bark of the cinnamon tree of the Lauraceae family, which after drying curls into rolls or is ground into powder, and is widely used in cooking, baking and the spice industry. Under this heading, it is subdivided into unmilled cinnamon (091611) and milled cinnamon (091620), with the key distinction being whether it has undergone grinding processing.
Digit Breakdown
Code 091620 has 6 digits: the first 2 digits 09 represent Chapter 9 (coffee, tea, spices); digits 3-4, 16, represent heading 0916 (cinnamon and cinnamon tree flowers); digits 5-6, 20, represent subheading 091620 (milled cinnamon). Among them, the 5th digit 2 indicates milled, and the 6th digit 0 is the subheading sequence number. Therefore, the complete meaning of this code is: under Chapter 9, within heading 0916, cinnamon that has undergone grinding processing.
Classification Basis
This commodity is classified under 091620 rather than 091611 (unmilled cinnamon), with the core difference being the processing state: milled cinnamon has been ground into powder or fine particles, while unmilled cinnamon remains in its original form (such as roll-shaped, block-shaped). In addition, if cinnamon is mixed with other spices, it may be classified under 0910 (mixed spices) or 2103 (seasonings), but pure cinnamon powder, even if ground, is still classified under 091620.
📝 Declaration Elements
Product name: The specific name of the declared commodity, such as 'cinnamon powder' or 'milled cinnamon', which must be consistent with the actual goods. Processing method: Indicate whether it has been ground, such as 'ground into powder' or 'unmilled', which directly affects classification. Ingredient content: The purity of the cinnamon and whether other substances have been added, such as 'pure cinnamon powder, no additives'. Packaging specifications: Retail packaging or bulk packaging, such as '25kg/bag' or '100g/bottle', which affects regulatory conditions. Brand: If there is a brand, the brand name must be declared; if there is no brand, 'none' may be entered. Origin: The country or region where the goods are produced, such as 'Vietnam' or 'Indonesia'. Use: Main use, such as 'food seasoning' or 'for spice industry'. Customs declaration example:
Product name: Milled cinnamon (cinnamon powder)
Processing method: Ground into powder
Ingredient content: 100% pure cinnamon powder
Packaging specifications: 25 kg/bag
Brand: None
Origin: Vietnam
Use: For food seasoning
HS code: 091620
Declaration elements: 1. Product name; 2. Processing method; 3. Ingredient content; 4. Packaging specifications; 5. Brand; 6. Origin; 7. Use. Failure to indicate the 'milled' state, resulting in classification under 091611 (unmilled cinnamon), which may have a different tariff rate. Confusing cinnamon powder with mixed spices such as five-spice powder, incorrectly classifying it under 0910 or 2103. Ignoring packaging specifications; if it is retail packaging, labeling and inspection and quarantine requirements may be involved.
Product name
The specific name of the declared commodity, such as 'cinnamon powder' or 'milled cinnamon', which must be consistent with the actual goods.
⚠️ Mistakenly written as 'cassia powder' or 'cinnamon' without indicating the milled state.
Processing method
Indicate whether it has been ground, such as 'ground into powder' or 'unmilled', which directly affects classification.
⚠️ Only writing 'dried' without indicating grinding, resulting in classification under the unmilled subheading.
Ingredient content
The purity of the cinnamon and whether other substances have been added, such as 'pure cinnamon powder, no additives'.
⚠️ Ignoring additives; if sugar or starch is mixed in, it may be classified under other tariff codes.
Packaging specifications
Retail packaging or bulk packaging, such as '25kg/bag' or '100g/bottle', which affects regulatory conditions.
⚠️ Confusing retail packaging with non-retail packaging, leading to misjudgment of license requirements.
Brand
If there is a brand, the brand name must be declared; if there is no brand, 'none' may be entered.
⚠️ Failing to declare the brand, leading to customs intellectual property protection issues.
Origin
The country or region where the goods are produced, such as 'Vietnam' or 'Indonesia'.
⚠️ Misreporting as a trade transit place, affecting tariff preferences.
Use
Main use, such as 'food seasoning' or 'for spice industry'.
⚠️ Writing 'edible' in general terms without distinguishing industrial from retail use.
Failure to indicate the 'milled' state, resulting in classification under 091611 (unmilled cinnamon), which may have a different tariff rate.
Confusing cinnamon powder with mixed spices such as five-spice powder, incorrectly classifying it under 0910 or 2103.
Ignoring packaging specifications; if it is retail packaging, labeling and inspection and quarantine requirements may be involved.
🎯 Classification Logic
The core criteria for classification are processing state and composition. First, confirm that the commodity is cinnamon (the bark of the cinnamon tree of the Lauraceae family), rather than other similar spices (such as cassia bark or cinnamon twig). Second, determine whether it has been ground: milled cinnamon must have been ground into powder or fine particles, otherwise it is classified under the unmilled subheading. Finally, check whether it is mixed with other substances: if it is pure cinnamon powder, classify under 091620; if mixed with sugar, starch, etc., it may be classified under 2103 (seasonings) or under other tariff codes. 091611 Unmilled cinnamon: Unmilled cinnamon remains in its original form (rolls, blocks), while 091620 is ground powder or particles. Processing state is the only difference. 0910 Mixed spices: 0910 covers mixtures of multiple spices, such as cinnamon mixed with cloves or pepper; while 091620 is only pure cinnamon powder, not mixed with other spices. 2103 Seasonings: 2103 includes mixed seasonings, such as cinnamon sugar or cinnamon powder mixed with other additives; while 091620 is pure cinnamon powder with no additives. 121190 Other plant products: 121190 includes plant products not elsewhere specified, such as cinnamon leaves or cinnamon twigs; while 091620 specifically refers to powder ground from cinnamon bark. 330190 Essential oils: 330190 is cinnamon essential oil, which is an extract; while 091620 is physically ground powder, not an extract. Is the commodity cinnamon bark? Has it been ground into powder? Is it mixed with other spices or additives? Is the packaging retail packaging? Is the origin clear?
Basis
The core criteria for classification are processing state and composition. First, confirm that the commodity is cinnamon (the bark of the cinnamon tree of the Lauraceae family), rather than other similar spices (such as cassia bark or cinnamon twig). Second, determine whether it has been ground: milled cinnamon must have been ground into powder or fine particles, otherwise it is classified under the unmilled subheading. Finally, check whether it is mixed with other substances: if it is pure cinnamon powder, classify under 091620; if mixed with sugar, starch, etc., it may be classified under 2103 (seasonings) or under other tariff codes.
Confused Codes：
091611 - Unmilled cinnamon
Unmilled cinnamon remains in its original form (rolls, blocks), while 091620 is ground powder or particles. Processing state is the only difference.
0910 - Mixed spices
0910 covers mixtures of multiple spices, such as cinnamon mixed with cloves or pepper; while 091620 is only pure cinnamon powder, not mixed with other spices.
2103 - Seasonings
2103 includes mixed seasonings, such as cinnamon sugar or cinnamon powder mixed with other additives; while 091620 is pure cinnamon powder with no additives.
121190 - Other plant products
121190 includes plant products not elsewhere specified, such as cinnamon leaves or cinnamon twigs; while 091620 specifically refers to powder ground from cinnamon bark.
330190 - Essential oils
330190 is cinnamon essential oil, which is an extract; while 091620 is physically ground powder, not an extract.
Self-Check：
✓ Is the commodity cinnamon bark?
✓ Has it been ground into powder?
✓ Is it mixed with other spices or additives?
✓ Is the packaging retail packaging?
✓ Is the origin clear?
❓ FAQ
How can I look up the HS code for milled cinnamon? You can use the official website of the General Administration of Customs, an HS code query platform, or consult a customs broker. Enter the keyword 'cinnamon powder' or 'milled cinnamon', and the system will show 091620. Be sure to confirm that the processing state is milled. Are the tariff rates for milled cinnamon and unmilled cinnamon different? They may be different. National tariff schedules set different rates for goods with different degrees of processing, and milled cinnamon usually has a slightly higher tariff rate. The specific rate must be checked in the importing country's latest tariff schedule. What documents are required for exporting cinnamon powder? Generally, a contract, invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate, etc. are required. If it is for food use, a health certificate may also be required. The specific requirements are subject to the importing country's regulations. Can cinnamon powder be classified under 0910? No. 0910 is for mixed spices, such as cinnamon mixed with other spices. Pure cinnamon powder, even if ground, is classified under 091620. If mixed, it is classified under 0910 or 2103. How should cinnamon powder sold via cross-border e-commerce be declared? It must be declared according to the actual commodity, providing product name, processing method, ingredients, etc. Note that retail packaging may involve labeling requirements, and confirm whether the importing country allows food entry. What are common errors in the declaration elements for cinnamon powder? Common errors include: failure to indicate milled, mistakenly reporting as mixed spices, omission of brand, and inaccurate packaging specifications. It is recommended to check item by item against the customs declaration element table. How can cinnamon and cassia be distinguished? Cinnamon is the bark of the cinnamon tree of the Lauraceae family, while cassia is a different species in the same family. Their HS codes may be the same, but the product name must be truthfully declared. If it is cassia, it can still be classified under 0916. Are there quota restrictions on importing cinnamon powder? Most countries have no quota, but it must comply with food safety standards. Some countries may require an import license. It is recommended to consult the importing country's customs or food regulatory authorities.
Q: How can I look up the HS code for milled cinnamon?
A: You can use the official website of the General Administration of Customs, an HS code query platform, or consult a customs broker. Enter the keyword 'cinnamon powder' or 'milled cinnamon', and the system will show 091620. Be sure to confirm that the processing state is milled.
Q: Are the tariff rates for milled cinnamon and unmilled cinnamon different?
A: They may be different. National tariff schedules set different rates for goods with different degrees of processing, and milled cinnamon usually has a slightly higher tariff rate. The specific rate must be checked in the importing country's latest tariff schedule.
Q: What documents are required for exporting cinnamon powder?
A: Generally, a contract, invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate, etc. are required. If it is for food use, a health certificate may also be required. The specific requirements are subject to the importing country's regulations.
Q: Can cinnamon powder be classified under 0910?
A: No. 0910 is for mixed spices, such as cinnamon mixed with other spices. Pure cinnamon powder, even if ground, is classified under 091620. If mixed, it is classified under 0910 or 2103.
Q: How should cinnamon powder sold via cross-border e-commerce be declared?
A: It must be declared according to the actual commodity, providing product name, processing method, ingredients, etc. Note that retail packaging may involve labeling requirements, and confirm whether the importing country allows food entry.
Q: What are common errors in the declaration elements for cinnamon powder?
A: Common errors include: failure to indicate milled, mistakenly reporting as mixed spices, omission of brand, and inaccurate packaging specifications. It is recommended to check item by item against the customs declaration element table.
Q: How can cinnamon and cassia be distinguished?
A: Cinnamon is the bark of the cinnamon tree of the Lauraceae family, while cassia is a different species in the same family. Their HS codes may be the same, but the product name must be truthfully declared. If it is cassia, it can still be classified under 0916.
Q: Are there quota restrictions on importing cinnamon powder?
A: Most countries have no quota, but it must comply with food safety standards. Some countries may require an import license. It is recommended to consult the importing country's customs or food regulatory authorities.
⚠️ 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.