Chapter 15 is the HS classification category for 'Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes.' This chapter covers fats and oils extracted from animal and vegetable raw materials and their processed products, including virgin and refined fats and oils, as well as fats and oils modified by hydrogenation, interesterification, etc. This chapter does not include unrefined crude oils (e.g., virgin soybean oil is classified under 1507) and chemically modified fats and oils (e.g., hydrogenated oils are classified under 1516). Chapter 15 is an important classification chapter in multiple fields such as food, chemicals, and energy. Heading 1507 covers 'Soya-bean oil and its fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified.' Specifically, it includes virgin soybean oil (150710) and refined soybean oil (150790). Refined soybean oil refers to soybean oil that has undergone degumming, deacidification, decolorization, deodorization, and other processes, meeting edible standards. This heading does not include chemically modified soybean oil such as hydrogenated or interesterified oil (classified under 1516) or crude extracted soybean oil (classified under 1507 but in a different subheading). The first 2 digits '15' represent Chapter 15: Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes. The 3rd-4th digits '07' represent heading 1507: Soya-bean oil and its fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified. The 5th-6th digits '90' represent subheading 150790: Other soya-bean oil and its fractions, i.e., refined soybean oil other than virgin. Note: Subheading 150710 is virgin soybean oil, and 150790 is refined soybean oil. If chemically modified, it is classified under 1516. Therefore, 150790 specifically refers to refined soybean oil that has not been chemically modified. Refined soybean oil is classified under 150790 because it has been refined but not chemically modified, consistent with the description of heading 1507 'whether or not refined.' If virgin, it is classified under 150710; if chemically modified such as hydrogenated or interesterified, it is classified under 1516; if crude but unrefined, it is also classified under 1507 but in a different subheading. Therefore, the core distinction lies in the degree of processing and whether it has been chemically modified.
Chapter
Chapter 15 is the HS classification category for 'Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes.' This chapter covers fats and oils extracted from animal and vegetable raw materials and their processed products, including virgin and refined fats and oils, as well as fats and oils modified by hydrogenation, interesterification, etc. This chapter does not include unrefined crude oils (e.g., virgin soybean oil is classified under 1507) and chemically modified fats and oils (e.g., hydrogenated oils are classified under 1516). Chapter 15 is an important classification chapter in multiple fields such as food, chemicals, and energy.
Heading
Heading 1507 covers 'Soya-bean oil and its fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified.' Specifically, it includes virgin soybean oil (150710) and refined soybean oil (150790). Refined soybean oil refers to soybean oil that has undergone degumming, deacidification, decolorization, deodorization, and other processes, meeting edible standards. This heading does not include chemically modified soybean oil such as hydrogenated or interesterified oil (classified under 1516) or crude extracted soybean oil (classified under 1507 but in a different subheading).
Digit Breakdown
The first 2 digits '15' represent Chapter 15: Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes. The 3rd-4th digits '07' represent heading 1507: Soya-bean oil and its fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified. The 5th-6th digits '90' represent subheading 150790: Other soya-bean oil and its fractions, i.e., refined soybean oil other than virgin. Note: Subheading 150710 is virgin soybean oil, and 150790 is refined soybean oil. If chemically modified, it is classified under 1516. Therefore, 150790 specifically refers to refined soybean oil that has not been chemically modified.
Classification Basis
Refined soybean oil is classified under 150790 because it has been refined but not chemically modified, consistent with the description of heading 1507 'whether or not refined.' If virgin, it is classified under 150710; if chemically modified such as hydrogenated or interesterified, it is classified under 1516; if crude but unrefined, it is also classified under 1507 but in a different subheading. Therefore, the core distinction lies in the degree of processing and whether it has been chemically modified.
📝 Declaration Elements
Product Name: The specific name of the declared commodity, such as 'Refined Soybean Oil' or 'Soybean Oil (Refined)'. Processing Method: Indicate whether it has been refined, such as 'refined', 'degummed, deacidified, decolorized, deodorized'. Whether Chemically Modified: Clearly state whether it has undergone chemical modification such as hydrogenation or interesterification, e.g., 'not chemically modified'. Composition and Content: Main components and content, such as 'Soybean oil ≥99%, moisture ≤0.1%'. Packaging Specifications: Packaging form and net weight, such as '190kg/drum' or 'bulk'. Brand: Brand or manufacturer name, such as 'Jinlongyu'. Use: Main use, such as 'edible', 'raw material for food processing'. Product Name: Refined Soybean Oil; Processing Method: Refined (degummed, deacidified, decolorized, deodorized); Whether Chemically Modified: Not chemically modified; Composition and Content: Soybean oil ≥99.5%, moisture ≤0.1%; Packaging Specifications: 190kg/drum; Brand: XXX; Use: Edible. Failure to indicate whether chemically modified may lead to misclassification under 1516. Confusing refined soybean oil with virgin soybean oil, resulting in incorrect subheading. Composition and content declared not specific, such as only writing 'soybean oil'.
Product Name
The specific name of the declared commodity, such as 'Refined Soybean Oil' or 'Soybean Oil (Refined)'.
⚠️ Mistakenly written as 'Virgin Soybean Oil' or 'Hydrogenated Soybean Oil'.
Processing Method
Indicate whether it has been refined, such as 'refined', 'degummed, deacidified, decolorized, deodorized'.
⚠️ Only writing 'edible' without specifying the refining process.
Whether Chemically Modified
Clearly state whether it has undergone chemical modification such as hydrogenation or interesterification, e.g., 'not chemically modified'.
⚠️ Omitting this element, leading to classification errors.
Composition and Content
Main components and content, such as 'Soybean oil ≥99%, moisture ≤0.1%'.
⚠️ Only writing 'pure soybean oil' without providing specific content.
Packaging Specifications
Packaging form and net weight, such as '190kg/drum' or 'bulk'.
⚠️ Not indicating the packaging unit, affecting statistics.
Brand
Brand or manufacturer name, such as 'Jinlongyu'.
⚠️ Not filling in 'None' when there is no brand.
Use
Main use, such as 'edible', 'raw material for food processing'.
Failure to indicate whether chemically modified may lead to misclassification under 1516.
Confusing refined soybean oil with virgin soybean oil, resulting in incorrect subheading.
Composition and content declared not specific, such as only writing 'soybean oil'.
🎯 Classification Logic
The core basis for classification is the degree of processing and whether chemically modified. Refined soybean oil has undergone refining processes such as degumming, deacidification, decolorization, and deodorization but has not changed its chemical structure, so it is classified under 150790. If virgin, it is classified under 150710; if chemically modified such as hydrogenated or interesterified, it is classified under 1516. At the same time, attention must be paid to distinguishing it from other vegetable oils, such as palm oil (1511), sunflower seed oil (1512), etc. 150710 Virgin Soybean Oil: Virgin soybean oil is unrefined, dark in color, and has many impurities, classified under 150710; refined soybean oil is refined and classified under 150790. 1516 Hydrogenated Soybean Oil: Hydrogenated soybean oil is chemically modified and classified under 1516; refined soybean oil is not chemically modified and classified under 150790. 1511 Palm Oil: Palm oil is extracted from palm fruit and classified under 1511; soybean oil is extracted from soybeans and classified under 1507. 1512 Sunflower Seed Oil: Sunflower seed oil is extracted from sunflower seeds and classified under 1512; soybean oil is classified under 1507. Has it been refined? Has it been chemically modified? Is the raw material soybeans? Is it virgin? Are packaging and use clear?
Basis
The core basis for classification is the degree of processing and whether chemically modified. Refined soybean oil has undergone refining processes such as degumming, deacidification, decolorization, and deodorization but has not changed its chemical structure, so it is classified under 150790. If virgin, it is classified under 150710; if chemically modified such as hydrogenated or interesterified, it is classified under 1516. At the same time, attention must be paid to distinguishing it from other vegetable oils, such as palm oil (1511), sunflower seed oil (1512), etc.
Confused Codes：
150710 - Virgin Soybean Oil
Virgin soybean oil is unrefined, dark in color, and has many impurities, classified under 150710; refined soybean oil is refined and classified under 150790.
1516 - Hydrogenated Soybean Oil
Hydrogenated soybean oil is chemically modified and classified under 1516; refined soybean oil is not chemically modified and classified under 150790.
1511 - Palm Oil
Palm oil is extracted from palm fruit and classified under 1511; soybean oil is extracted from soybeans and classified under 1507.
1512 - Sunflower Seed Oil
Sunflower seed oil is extracted from sunflower seeds and classified under 1512; soybean oil is classified under 1507.
Self-Check：
✓ Has it been refined?
✓ Has it been chemically modified?
✓ Is the raw material soybeans?
✓ Is it virgin?
✓ Are packaging and use clear?
❓ FAQ
What is the difference in HS codes between refined soybean oil and virgin soybean oil? Refined soybean oil is classified under 150790, and virgin soybean oil is classified under 150710. The difference lies in the processing method: virgin soybean oil is only obtained by pressing or solvent extraction without refining; refined soybean oil has undergone refining processes such as degumming, deacidification, decolorization, and deodorization. The processing method must be clearly stated during declaration. How to determine whether soybean oil has been chemically modified? Chemical modification refers to reactions such as hydrogenation, interesterification, and transesterification that change the chemical structure of the oil. If soybean oil has only been refined and has not undergone the above reactions, it is not chemically modified and is classified under 150790; if hydrogenated, it is classified under 1516. Process descriptions must be provided during declaration. Refined soybean oil is classified under 150790, but if used for industrial purposes, is it still classified under this code? HS classification is based on the inherent properties of the commodity, not its use. Refined soybean oil, whether for edible or industrial use, as long as it is not chemically modified, is classified under 150790. However, if industrial soybean oil undergoes further processing (such as epoxidation), it may be classified under other chapters. From the perspective of customs classification, how to distinguish refined soybean oil from palm oil? The sources are different: soybean oil is extracted from soybeans and classified under 1507; palm oil is extracted from palm fruit and classified under 1511. If oils are mixed, classification should be based on the main component. Raw materials must be indicated during declaration. How to fill in the composition and content when declaring refined soybean oil? The main components and content should be filled in, such as 'Soybean oil ≥99.5%, moisture ≤0.1%'. If antioxidants, etc., are added, the name and content must be indicated. Avoid only writing 'pure soybean oil'. If refined soybean oil is made from genetically modified soybeans, is the HS code different? The HS code does not distinguish between genetically modified and non-genetically modified, both are classified under 150790. However, some countries have special labeling requirements, and GMO certificates may need to be provided during declaration. How to check regulatory conditions when exporting refined soybean oil? Regulatory conditions for HS code 150790, such as whether an export license, inspection and quarantine are required, can be checked through the General Administration of Customs or the International Trade Single Window. Tax rates may change and need to be checked in real time. What is the difference in classification between refined soybean oil and soybean oil fractions? Soybean oil fractions refer to specific fatty acid components obtained by fractionation, and if not chemically modified, are still classified under 150790. However, if further processed, they may be classified under other codes. The fractionation process must be indicated during declaration.
Q: What is the difference in HS codes between refined soybean oil and virgin soybean oil?
A: Refined soybean oil is classified under 150790, and virgin soybean oil is classified under 150710. The difference lies in the processing method: virgin soybean oil is only obtained by pressing or solvent extraction without refining; refined soybean oil has undergone refining processes such as degumming, deacidification, decolorization, and deodorization. The processing method must be clearly stated during declaration.
Q: How to determine whether soybean oil has been chemically modified?
A: Chemical modification refers to reactions such as hydrogenation, interesterification, and transesterification that change the chemical structure of the oil. If soybean oil has only been refined and has not undergone the above reactions, it is not chemically modified and is classified under 150790; if hydrogenated, it is classified under 1516. Process descriptions must be provided during declaration.
Q: Refined soybean oil is classified under 150790, but if used for industrial purposes, is it still classified under this code?
A: HS classification is based on the inherent properties of the commodity, not its use. Refined soybean oil, whether for edible or industrial use, as long as it is not chemically modified, is classified under 150790. However, if industrial soybean oil undergoes further processing (such as epoxidation), it may be classified under other chapters.
Q: From the perspective of customs classification, how to distinguish refined soybean oil from palm oil?
A: The sources are different: soybean oil is extracted from soybeans and classified under 1507; palm oil is extracted from palm fruit and classified under 1511. If oils are mixed, classification should be based on the main component. Raw materials must be indicated during declaration.
Q: How to fill in the composition and content when declaring refined soybean oil?
A: The main components and content should be filled in, such as 'Soybean oil ≥99.5%, moisture ≤0.1%'. If antioxidants, etc., are added, the name and content must be indicated. Avoid only writing 'pure soybean oil'.
Q: If refined soybean oil is made from genetically modified soybeans, is the HS code different?
A: The HS code does not distinguish between genetically modified and non-genetically modified, both are classified under 150790. However, some countries have special labeling requirements, and GMO certificates may need to be provided during declaration.
Q: How to check regulatory conditions when exporting refined soybean oil?
A: Regulatory conditions for HS code 150790, such as whether an export license, inspection and quarantine are required, can be checked through the General Administration of Customs or the International Trade Single Window. Tax rates may change and need to be checked in real time.
Q: What is the difference in classification between refined soybean oil and soybean oil fractions?
A: Soybean oil fractions refer to specific fatty acid components obtained by fractionation, and if not chemically modified, are still classified under 150790. However, if further processed, they may be classified under other codes. The fractionation process must be indicated during declaration.
⚠️ 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.