Chapter 15 covers animal and vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products, prepared edible fats, animal and vegetable waxes. It includes primary oils and fats extracted from animal and vegetable raw materials, refined oils and fats, modified oils and fats, and by-products of oil and fat processing, such as crude oil, refined oil, hydrogenated oil, fatty acids, glycerol, etc. This chapter is an important basic raw material classification chapter for the food, chemical, and daily chemical industries. Heading 1513 covers coconut oil, palm kernel oil, babassu oil, and their fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified. It includes virgin coconut oil, refined coconut oil, coconut stearin, coconut fatty acids, etc. Products under this heading are mainly derived from copra or coconut meat and are important edible and industrial oils and fats in tropical regions. The first 2 digits 15: indicates Chapter 15, animal and vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products. The 3rd-4th digits 13: indicates heading 1513, specifically coconut oil, palm kernel oil, babassu oil, and their fractions. The 5th-6th digits 11: indicates subheading 1513.11, namely virgin coconut oil. Here 'virgin' refers to oil obtained from coconut raw materials for the first time by pressing or solvent extraction, etc., without further refining, retaining natural color and flavor. The entire code 151311 precisely identifies the specific commodity of virgin coconut oil. Virgin coconut oil is classified under 151311 because it is coconut oil and is virgin. It differs from refined coconut oil (151319) in degree of processing: virgin is unrefined and retains natural components; refined has undergone decolorization, deodorization, etc. It differs from palm kernel oil (151321) in raw material: coconut oil comes from coconut meat, palm kernel oil comes from oil palm kernels. Therefore, based on raw material and processing method, virgin coconut oil is accurately classified under this code.
Chapter
Chapter 15 covers animal and vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products, prepared edible fats, animal and vegetable waxes. It includes primary oils and fats extracted from animal and vegetable raw materials, refined oils and fats, modified oils and fats, and by-products of oil and fat processing, such as crude oil, refined oil, hydrogenated oil, fatty acids, glycerol, etc. This chapter is an important basic raw material classification chapter for the food, chemical, and daily chemical industries.
Heading
Heading 1513 covers coconut oil, palm kernel oil, babassu oil, and their fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified. It includes virgin coconut oil, refined coconut oil, coconut stearin, coconut fatty acids, etc. Products under this heading are mainly derived from copra or coconut meat and are important edible and industrial oils and fats in tropical regions.
Digit Breakdown
The first 2 digits 15: indicates Chapter 15, animal and vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products. The 3rd-4th digits 13: indicates heading 1513, specifically coconut oil, palm kernel oil, babassu oil, and their fractions. The 5th-6th digits 11: indicates subheading 1513.11, namely virgin coconut oil. Here 'virgin' refers to oil obtained from coconut raw materials for the first time by pressing or solvent extraction, etc., without further refining, retaining natural color and flavor. The entire code 151311 precisely identifies the specific commodity of virgin coconut oil.
Classification Basis
Virgin coconut oil is classified under 151311 because it is coconut oil and is virgin. It differs from refined coconut oil (151319) in degree of processing: virgin is unrefined and retains natural components; refined has undergone decolorization, deodorization, etc. It differs from palm kernel oil (151321) in raw material: coconut oil comes from coconut meat, palm kernel oil comes from oil palm kernels. Therefore, based on raw material and processing method, virgin coconut oil is accurately classified under this code.
📝 Declaration Elements
Product Name: The specific name of the declared commodity, which should accurately reflect the product attributes, such as 'virgin coconut oil'. Avoid using vague general terms. Processing Method: Explain the extraction process of the oil, such as cold pressing, hot pressing, centrifugal separation, etc., to prove it is virgin. Whether Virgin: Clearly declare whether it is virgin. Virgin refers to oil obtained for the first time without refining. Component Content: Declare the main fatty acid composition or purity, such as lauric acid content, to distinguish different oils and fats. Packaging Specifications: Explain the packaging form and net weight, such as drum, bottle, which affects classification and regulatory conditions. Brand: Declare the brand of the commodity. If no brand, indicate 'no brand'. Use: Explain the main use, such as edible, cosmetic, industrial. Different uses may affect regulation. Product Name: Virgin Coconut Oil; Processing Method: Cold Pressed Virgin; Whether Virgin: Yes; Component Content: Lauric Acid ≥48%, Moisture ≤0.1%; Packaging Specifications: 200 kg/iron drum; Brand: No Brand; Use: Edible. Declaring refined coconut oil as virgin, leading to classification errors and tariff differences. Processing method description not specific, unable to prove virgin process, may be questioned. Component content not providing characteristic indicators, difficult to distinguish from palm kernel oil.
Product Name
The specific name of the declared commodity, which should accurately reflect the product attributes, such as 'virgin coconut oil'. Avoid using vague general terms.
⚠️ Misreported as 'coconut oil' or 'edible oil and fat', without indicating virgin.
Processing Method
Explain the extraction process of the oil, such as cold pressing, hot pressing, centrifugal separation, etc., to prove it is virgin.
⚠️ Only filling in 'pressed', without distinguishing virgin from refined.
Whether Virgin
Clearly declare whether it is virgin. Virgin refers to oil obtained for the first time without refining.
⚠️ Misreporting refined coconut oil as virgin.
Component Content
Declare the main fatty acid composition or purity, such as lauric acid content, to distinguish different oils and fats.
⚠️ Failure to provide characteristic components, leading to classification disputes.
Packaging Specifications
Explain the packaging form and net weight, such as drum, bottle, which affects classification and regulatory conditions.
⚠️ Unclear packaging specifications, such as 'bulk packaging'.
Brand
Declare the brand of the commodity. If no brand, indicate 'no brand'.
⚠️ Brand inconsistent with actual or omitted.
Use
Explain the main use, such as edible, cosmetic, industrial. Different uses may affect regulation.
⚠️ Use declaration too general, such as 'industrial use'.
Declaring refined coconut oil as virgin, leading to classification errors and tariff differences.
Processing method description not specific, unable to prove virgin process, may be questioned.
Component content not providing characteristic indicators, difficult to distinguish from palm kernel oil.
🎯 Classification Logic
The core basis for classification is the commodity's raw material and processing method. Virgin coconut oil must meet: raw material is coconut (coconut meat), processing is first extraction and unrefined. According to HS notes, virgin oil refers to oil obtained for the first time from raw materials by pressing, centrifugation, or solvent extraction, etc., only subjected to simple treatments such as washing, settling, filtration, without refining processes such as decolorization, deodorization, deacidification. Therefore, when declaring, proof of processing technology is required. 151319 Refined Coconut Oil: Refined coconut oil has undergone refining treatments such as decolorization, deodorization, deacidification, changing color and flavor, while virgin coconut oil is unrefined and retains natural flavor. 151321 Virgin Palm Kernel Oil: Palm kernel oil comes from oil palm kernels. Its fatty acid composition is similar to coconut oil but lauric acid content is slightly lower, can be distinguished by component analysis. 151311 Virgin Coconut Oil (this question): This code specifically refers to virgin coconut oil, distinguished from refined coconut oil and palm kernel oil. 151329 Refined Palm Kernel Oil: Refined palm kernel oil comes from oil palm kernels and is refined, different from virgin coconut oil in both raw material and processing. Is the raw material only coconut (coconut meat)? Is the processing first extraction and unrefined? Is proof of virgin process provided? Is the lauric acid content in the components typical? Are packaging and use consistent with virgin oil?
Basis
The core basis for classification is the commodity's raw material and processing method. Virgin coconut oil must meet: raw material is coconut (coconut meat), processing is first extraction and unrefined. According to HS notes, virgin oil refers to oil obtained for the first time from raw materials by pressing, centrifugation, or solvent extraction, etc., only subjected to simple treatments such as washing, settling, filtration, without refining processes such as decolorization, deodorization, deacidification. Therefore, when declaring, proof of processing technology is required.
Confused Codes：
151319 - Refined Coconut Oil
Refined coconut oil has undergone refining treatments such as decolorization, deodorization, deacidification, changing color and flavor, while virgin coconut oil is unrefined and retains natural flavor.
151321 - Virgin Palm Kernel Oil
Palm kernel oil comes from oil palm kernels. Its fatty acid composition is similar to coconut oil but lauric acid content is slightly lower, can be distinguished by component analysis.
151311 - Virgin Coconut Oil (this question)
This code specifically refers to virgin coconut oil, distinguished from refined coconut oil and palm kernel oil.
151329 - Refined Palm Kernel Oil
Refined palm kernel oil comes from oil palm kernels and is refined, different from virgin coconut oil in both raw material and processing.
Self-Check：
✓ Is the raw material only coconut (coconut meat)?
✓ Is the processing first extraction and unrefined?
✓ Is proof of virgin process provided?
✓ Is the lauric acid content in the components typical?
✓ Are packaging and use consistent with virgin oil?
❓ FAQ
What is the difference in HS codes between virgin coconut oil and refined coconut oil? Virgin coconut oil is classified under 151311, refined coconut oil under 151319. The key difference is the processing method: virgin oil is unrefined and retains natural components; refined oil has undergone decolorization, deodorization, etc. When declaring, provide process description to avoid confusion. How to determine if coconut oil is 'virgin'? According to HS notes, virgin refers to oil obtained for the first time from raw materials by pressing, centrifugation, or solvent extraction, etc., only subjected to simple treatments such as washing, settling, filtration, without refining processes such as decolorization, deodorization, deacidification. Enterprises can keep production process records as proof. How to distinguish virgin coconut oil from palm kernel oil? Their HS codes are different: virgin coconut oil is 151311, virgin palm kernel oil is 151321. The distinction is mainly based on raw material: coconut oil comes from coconut meat, palm kernel oil from oil palm kernels. In addition, fatty acid composition differs, with coconut oil typically having higher lauric acid content. What declaration elements are required for declaring virgin coconut oil? Need to provide product name, processing method, whether virgin, component content, packaging specifications, brand, use, etc. Processing method and whether virgin are key, should be detailed to prove correct classification. Virgin coconut oil can be used in cosmetics, will the HS code change? HS code is based on the commodity's own attributes and does not change due to use. Virgin coconut oil is still classified under 151311, but if further processed into cosmetics, it is classified under Chapter 33. When declaring, use can be for reference, but classification is based on the virgin property of the oil. How to check the tariff rate for virgin coconut oil? Tariff rates may change. It is recommended to check the latest rates through the General Administration of Customs website, China International Trade Single Window, or consult a customs broker. Note that preferential rates under different trade agreements may vary. If moisture and impurities in virgin coconut oil exceed standards, will it affect classification? Usually not, as long as it is still virgin coconut oil, even if moisture and impurities are slightly high, it is still classified under 151311. But if composition changes due to deterioration or treatment, classification may be affected. It is recommended to meet standards. For cross-border e-commerce retail of virgin coconut oil, is the HS code the same? Yes, HS code does not change due to trade mode. Virgin coconut oil for cross-border e-commerce retail is still classified under 151311, but attention should be paid to the cross-border e-commerce retail import commodity list and regulatory conditions.
Q: What is the difference in HS codes between virgin coconut oil and refined coconut oil?
A: Virgin coconut oil is classified under 151311, refined coconut oil under 151319. The key difference is the processing method: virgin oil is unrefined and retains natural components; refined oil has undergone decolorization, deodorization, etc. When declaring, provide process description to avoid confusion.
Q: How to determine if coconut oil is 'virgin'?
A: According to HS notes, virgin refers to oil obtained for the first time from raw materials by pressing, centrifugation, or solvent extraction, etc., only subjected to simple treatments such as washing, settling, filtration, without refining processes such as decolorization, deodorization, deacidification. Enterprises can keep production process records as proof.
Q: How to distinguish virgin coconut oil from palm kernel oil?
A: Their HS codes are different: virgin coconut oil is 151311, virgin palm kernel oil is 151321. The distinction is mainly based on raw material: coconut oil comes from coconut meat, palm kernel oil from oil palm kernels. In addition, fatty acid composition differs, with coconut oil typically having higher lauric acid content.
Q: What declaration elements are required for declaring virgin coconut oil?
A: Need to provide product name, processing method, whether virgin, component content, packaging specifications, brand, use, etc. Processing method and whether virgin are key, should be detailed to prove correct classification.
Q: Virgin coconut oil can be used in cosmetics, will the HS code change?
A: HS code is based on the commodity's own attributes and does not change due to use. Virgin coconut oil is still classified under 151311, but if further processed into cosmetics, it is classified under Chapter 33. When declaring, use can be for reference, but classification is based on the virgin property of the oil.
Q: How to check the tariff rate for virgin coconut oil?
A: Tariff rates may change. It is recommended to check the latest rates through the General Administration of Customs website, China International Trade Single Window, or consult a customs broker. Note that preferential rates under different trade agreements may vary.
Q: If moisture and impurities in virgin coconut oil exceed standards, will it affect classification?
A: Usually not, as long as it is still virgin coconut oil, even if moisture and impurities are slightly high, it is still classified under 151311. But if composition changes due to deterioration or treatment, classification may be affected. It is recommended to meet standards.
Q: For cross-border e-commerce retail of virgin coconut oil, is the HS code the same?
A: Yes, HS code does not change due to trade mode. Virgin coconut oil for cross-border e-commerce retail is still classified under 151311, but attention should be paid to the cross-border e-commerce retail import commodity list and regulatory conditions.
⚠️ 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.