Chapter 19 covers preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk and pastry products. Specifically, it includes malt extract, starch preparations, pasta (whether or not cooked or stuffed), couscous, bread, pastry, biscuits, etc. This chapter does not include: roasted or puffed cereals (Chapter 11), preparations of meat or fish (Chapter 16), chocolate confectionery (Chapter 18), or instant soup preparations (Chapter 21). Understanding the scope of this chapter helps distinguish instant pasta from similar food products. Heading 1902 covers pasta, whether or not cooked or stuffed (with filling) or otherwise prepared, such as macaroni, spaghetti, noodles, egg noodles, vermicelli, etc., but does not include stuffed pasta (such as dumplings, wontons, etc., which should be classified under 1902.20) or couscous (1902.40). Instant pasta generally refers to pasta products that have been precooked, dried or frozen and require only simple heating before consumption, falling within the subheading scope of 1902. Code 190230 is a six-digit subheading: the first 2 digits "19" represent Chapter 19 (preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; pastry products); digits 3-4 "02" represent heading 1902 (pasta, whether or not cooked or stuffed or otherwise prepared); digits 5-6 "30" represent subheading 1902.30 (other pasta). Therefore, 190230 specifically refers to pasta other than spaghetti (1902.11), macaroni (1902.19), stuffed pasta (1902.20) and couscous (1902.40), including instant pasta. Instant pasta is generally precooked, dried or frozen and falls within the category of "other pasta." It is not classified under 1902.11 or 1902.19 because those are uncooked spaghetti or macaroni; nor under 1902.20 because it is not stuffed pasta; nor under 1902.40 because it is not couscous. If instant pasta is seasoned or made into soup preparations, it may be classified under Chapter 21, but if merely precooked and dried, it should still be classified under 190230.
Chapter
Chapter 19 covers preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk and pastry products. Specifically, it includes malt extract, starch preparations, pasta (whether or not cooked or stuffed), couscous, bread, pastry, biscuits, etc. This chapter does not include: roasted or puffed cereals (Chapter 11), preparations of meat or fish (Chapter 16), chocolate confectionery (Chapter 18), or instant soup preparations (Chapter 21). Understanding the scope of this chapter helps distinguish instant pasta from similar food products.
Heading
Heading 1902 covers pasta, whether or not cooked or stuffed (with filling) or otherwise prepared, such as macaroni, spaghetti, noodles, egg noodles, vermicelli, etc., but does not include stuffed pasta (such as dumplings, wontons, etc., which should be classified under 1902.20) or couscous (1902.40). Instant pasta generally refers to pasta products that have been precooked, dried or frozen and require only simple heating before consumption, falling within the subheading scope of 1902.
Digit Breakdown
Code 190230 is a six-digit subheading: the first 2 digits "19" represent Chapter 19 (preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; pastry products); digits 3-4 "02" represent heading 1902 (pasta, whether or not cooked or stuffed or otherwise prepared); digits 5-6 "30" represent subheading 1902.30 (other pasta). Therefore, 190230 specifically refers to pasta other than spaghetti (1902.11), macaroni (1902.19), stuffed pasta (1902.20) and couscous (1902.40), including instant pasta.
Classification Basis
Instant pasta is generally precooked, dried or frozen and falls within the category of "other pasta." It is not classified under 1902.11 or 1902.19 because those are uncooked spaghetti or macaroni; nor under 1902.20 because it is not stuffed pasta; nor under 1902.40 because it is not couscous. If instant pasta is seasoned or made into soup preparations, it may be classified under Chapter 21, but if merely precooked and dried, it should still be classified under 190230.
📝 Declaration Elements
Product Name: The specific name of the declared commodity, such as "instant spaghetti," "instant macaroni," etc., which must be consistent with the actual product. Ingredients: List the main raw materials, such as wheat flour, water, salt, eggs, etc., arranged from highest to lowest content. Production Process: Indicate whether the product has undergone precooking, drying, freezing or other treatments, such as "precooked then dried." Whether Stuffed: Clearly state whether the product contains filling, such as "unfilled" or "cheese-filled." Packaging Specifications: Declare the packaging form and net weight, such as "200g/bag, retail packaging." Brand: Declare the brand name; if no brand, write "none." Country of Origin: Declare the country of production or manufacture, such as "Italy." Product Name: Instant Spaghetti; Ingredients: Durum wheat semolina, water, salt; Production Process: Precooked then dried; Whether Stuffed: Unfilled; Packaging Specifications: 500g/bag, retail packaging; Brand: Barilla; Country of Origin: Italy. Misclassifying instant pasta under 1902.11 or 1902.19, ignoring that it has been precooked. If the product contains a seasoning packet and the seasoning packet is independently packaged, separate classification may be required, but the pasta itself is still classified under 190230. Not stating "instant" or "precooked" at declaration, causing customs to classify it as uncooked pasta.
Product Name
The specific name of the declared commodity, such as "instant spaghetti," "instant macaroni," etc., which must be consistent with the actual product.
⚠️ Writing only "pasta" or "instant noodles," which is too general and does not reflect the instant characteristics.
Ingredients
List the main raw materials, such as wheat flour, water, salt, eggs, etc., arranged from highest to lowest content.
⚠️ Omitting additives or seasonings, leading to classification errors.
Production Process
Indicate whether the product has undergone precooking, drying, freezing or other treatments, such as "precooked then dried."
⚠️ Not stating precooking, resulting in misclassification as uncooked pasta.
Whether Stuffed
Clearly state whether the product contains filling, such as "unfilled" or "cheese-filled."
⚠️ Declaring an unfilled product as stuffed, leading to classification under 1902.20.
Packaging Specifications
Declare the packaging form and net weight, such as "200g/bag, retail packaging."
⚠️ Not stating retail packaging, affecting subheading determination.
Brand
Declare the brand name; if no brand, write "none."
⚠️ Brand inconsistent with the actual product, leading to customs questioning.
Country of Origin
Declare the country of production or manufacture, such as "Italy."
⚠️ Incorrectly filling in the exporting country or transit country.
Example： Product Name: Instant Spaghetti; Ingredients: Durum wheat semolina, water, salt; Production Process: Precooked then dried; Whether Stuffed: Unfilled; Packaging Specifications: 500g/bag, retail packaging; Brand: Barilla; Country of Origin: Italy.
Common Mistakes：
Misclassifying instant pasta under 1902.11 or 1902.19, ignoring that it has been precooked.
If the product contains a seasoning packet and the seasoning packet is independently packaged, separate classification may be required, but the pasta itself is still classified under 190230.
Not stating "instant" or "precooked" at declaration, causing customs to classify it as uncooked pasta.
🎯 Classification Logic
The core basis for classification is the processing state and ingredients of the product. Instant pasta must undergo precooking, drying or freezing treatments so that it can be consumed without further cooking. If the product is only simply dried but not precooked, it should be classified under 1902.11 or 1902.19. If the product is stuffed, it is classified under 1902.20. If the product is couscous, it is classified under 1902.40. In addition, if the pasta and seasoning packet are mixed in packaging and the seasoning packet constitutes the essential character, it may be classified under Chapter 21. 190211 Uncooked spaghetti: 190211 is uncooked, unfilled spaghetti, while 190230 is instant pasta that has been precooked or otherwise prepared. 190219 Other uncooked pasta: 190219 covers other uncooked pasta, such as uncooked noodles, while 190230 requires precooking or other treatments. 190220 Stuffed pasta: 190220 is stuffed pasta, such as dumplings, wontons, whether or not cooked; 190230 is unfilled instant pasta. 190240 Couscous: 190240 is couscous, a special type of pasta product; 190230 is other instant pasta. 210410 Soups and preparations therefor: 210410 is soup or soup preparations; if the seasoning packet in instant pasta constitutes the essential character, it may be classified under this code. Has the product undergone precooking or drying or other instant processing? Is the product unfilled? Is the product couscous? Does the product contain a seasoning packet? Is the seasoning packet independently packaged? Does the product consist only of the pasta body, or is it mixed with other ingredients?
Basis
The core basis for classification is the processing state and ingredients of the product. Instant pasta must undergo precooking, drying or freezing treatments so that it can be consumed without further cooking. If the product is only simply dried but not precooked, it should be classified under 1902.11 or 1902.19. If the product is stuffed, it is classified under 1902.20. If the product is couscous, it is classified under 1902.40. In addition, if the pasta and seasoning packet are mixed in packaging and the seasoning packet constitutes the essential character, it may be classified under Chapter 21.
Confused Codes：
190211 - Uncooked spaghetti
190211 is uncooked, unfilled spaghetti, while 190230 is instant pasta that has been precooked or otherwise prepared.
190219 - Other uncooked pasta
190219 covers other uncooked pasta, such as uncooked noodles, while 190230 requires precooking or other treatments.
190220 - Stuffed pasta
190220 is stuffed pasta, such as dumplings, wontons, whether or not cooked; 190230 is unfilled instant pasta.
190240 - Couscous
190240 is couscous, a special type of pasta product; 190230 is other instant pasta.
210410 - Soups and preparations therefor
210410 is soup or soup preparations; if the seasoning packet in instant pasta constitutes the essential character, it may be classified under this code.
Self-Check：
✓ Has the product undergone precooking or drying or other instant processing?
✓ Is the product unfilled?
✓ Is the product couscous?
✓ Does the product contain a seasoning packet? Is the seasoning packet independently packaged?
✓ Does the product consist only of the pasta body, or is it mixed with other ingredients?
❓ FAQ
What is the difference between instant pasta and instant noodles? How are they distinguished in HS codes? Instant pasta generally refers to precooked and dried spaghetti, etc., classified under 190230; instant noodles are mostly fried or hot-air-dried strip noodles. If they contain a seasoning packet and the noodle body constitutes the essential character, they are still classified under 190230, but if the seasoning packet is independent and constitutes the essential character, they may be classified under 2104. The key lies in the processing method and ingredients. If instant pasta contains cheese filling, which code should it be classified under? Instant pasta containing cheese filling is stuffed pasta and should be classified under 190220, not 190230. 190230 applies only to unfilled instant pasta. How can one determine whether instant pasta has been precooked? Precooking means the pasta has undergone boiling or steaming during processing. Product descriptions usually indicate "precooked" or "instant." If not indicated, one may ask the manufacturer or review the process flow chart. Uncooked pasta should be classified under 190211 or 190219. In the declaration elements for instant pasta, why is it necessary to state whether it is stuffed? Because stuffed pasta (190220) and unfilled pasta (190230) have different HS codes, and tax rates and regulatory conditions may differ. It is necessary to specify whether it is stuffed at declaration to avoid classification errors. If the seasoning packet of instant pasta is independently packaged, how should it be classified? If the seasoning packet is packaged separately from the pasta body but sold together at retail, it is generally classified as a whole, with the pasta body as the essential character under 190230. If the seasoning packet constitutes the essential character (such as premium soup ingredients), it may be classified under 2104. It is recommended to judge based on the essential character. How are instant pasta and couscous distinguished in HS codes? Couscous is a specific type of pasta product classified under 190240; instant pasta, if not couscous, is classified under 190230. Couscous is typically made from durum wheat semolina and has a coarser granulation. What are common issues in customs inspection when importing instant pasta? Common issues include: non-specific product name declaration, failure to state precooking process, incomplete ingredient declaration, packaging specifications not stating retail, etc. It is recommended to provide detailed product descriptions and process flow charts to ensure accurate classification. Where can one inquire about the tax rates and regulatory conditions for 190230? One may inquire through the official website of the General Administration of Customs of China, the International Trade Single Window, or the "Import and Export Tariff of the People's Republic of China." Tax rates are subject to policy adjustments, and the latest version should be used as the reference.
Q: What is the difference between instant pasta and instant noodles? How are they distinguished in HS codes?
A: Instant pasta generally refers to precooked and dried spaghetti, etc., classified under 190230; instant noodles are mostly fried or hot-air-dried strip noodles. If they contain a seasoning packet and the noodle body constitutes the essential character, they are still classified under 190230, but if the seasoning packet is independent and constitutes the essential character, they may be classified under 2104. The key lies in the processing method and ingredients.
Q: If instant pasta contains cheese filling, which code should it be classified under?
A: Instant pasta containing cheese filling is stuffed pasta and should be classified under 190220, not 190230. 190230 applies only to unfilled instant pasta.
Q: How can one determine whether instant pasta has been precooked?
A: Precooking means the pasta has undergone boiling or steaming during processing. Product descriptions usually indicate "precooked" or "instant." If not indicated, one may ask the manufacturer or review the process flow chart. Uncooked pasta should be classified under 190211 or 190219.
Q: In the declaration elements for instant pasta, why is it necessary to state whether it is stuffed?
A: Because stuffed pasta (190220) and unfilled pasta (190230) have different HS codes, and tax rates and regulatory conditions may differ. It is necessary to specify whether it is stuffed at declaration to avoid classification errors.
Q: If the seasoning packet of instant pasta is independently packaged, how should it be classified?
A: If the seasoning packet is packaged separately from the pasta body but sold together at retail, it is generally classified as a whole, with the pasta body as the essential character under 190230. If the seasoning packet constitutes the essential character (such as premium soup ingredients), it may be classified under 2104. It is recommended to judge based on the essential character.
Q: How are instant pasta and couscous distinguished in HS codes?
A: Couscous is a specific type of pasta product classified under 190240; instant pasta, if not couscous, is classified under 190230. Couscous is typically made from durum wheat semolina and has a coarser granulation.
Q: What are common issues in customs inspection when importing instant pasta?
A: Common issues include: non-specific product name declaration, failure to state precooking process, incomplete ingredient declaration, packaging specifications not stating retail, etc. It is recommended to provide detailed product descriptions and process flow charts to ensure accurate classification.
Q: Where can one inquire about the tax rates and regulatory conditions for 190230?
A: One may inquire through the official website of the General Administration of Customs of China, the International Trade Single Window, or the "Import and Export Tariff of the People's Republic of China." Tax rates are subject to policy adjustments, and the latest version should be used as the reference.
⚠️ 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.