Chapter 20 covers preparations of vegetables, fruits, nuts or other parts of plants, including products preserved by vinegar, sugar, cooking, freezing, etc. This chapter does not include goods that are only simply refrigerated, frozen or temporarily preserved (classified in Chapter 7 or Chapter 8), nor does it include miscellaneous edible preparations of Chapter 21. The core is that 'processing' goes beyond simple treatment, such as fruit and vegetable juices, jams, canned goods, etc. Heading 2009 specifically covers unfermented and non-alcoholic fruit juices (including grape juice) and vegetable juices, as well as mixtures thereof. It covers juices obtained from fresh fruits or vegetables by physical methods such as pressing, extraction, etc., whether or not sweetened with sugar or other sweetening matter, but must not contain alcohol or be fermented. The key characteristic is maintaining the basic properties of the juice, rather than being made into other food products. The first 2 digits '20' represent Chapter 20: preparations of vegetables, fruits, nuts or other parts of plants. The 3rd-4th digits '09' represent heading 2009: unfermented and non-alcoholic fruit juices and vegetable juices. The 5th-6th digits '31' represent subheading 200931: lemon juice. Among these, '3' indicates citrus fruit juice, while '31' specifically refers to lemon juice, distinguishing it from other citrus juices such as orange juice (200911), grapefruit juice (200921), etc. Therefore, 200931 precisely points to lemon juice, whether or not concentrated or sweetened. Lemon juice is a juice obtained by pressing fresh lemons, unfermented and non-alcoholic, meeting the definition of heading 2009. It is not classified under 2008 (fruit preparations) because it is not in whole fruit or pulp form; not under 2202 (beverages with water or sugar added) because it is not diluted into a beverage; nor under 0805 (fresh lemons) because it has undergone juice extraction processing. Therefore, 200931 is the only correct classification for lemon juice.

Product Name: The standard name of the declared commodity, should use 'lemon juice' or 'Lemon juice', avoiding colloquial names or brand names. Production Method: Explain how the juice is obtained, such as pressing, extraction, concentration, reconstitution, etc., and whether it has undergone sterilization, freezing, or other treatments. Ingredient Content: List the main ingredients and proportions, such as lemon juice concentrate content, water, sugar, preservatives, etc., and indicate whether sugar or other sweetening matter has been added. Packaging Specifications: Explain the packaging type and net weight, such as '200-liter aseptic bag', '1-liter PET bottle', which affects tax rates and regulatory conditions. Brand: If there is a brand, the brand name must be declared; if no brand, fill in 'no brand'. Brand does not affect classification but affects customs statistics. Production Date: Declare the production batch or date for food safety traceability, in the format YYYY-MM-DD. Storage Method: Explain the storage conditions, such as 'room temperature', 'refrigerated', 'frozen', which affects inspection and quarantine requirements. Product Name: Lemon juice; Production Method: pressed from fresh lemons, not concentrated, pasteurized; Ingredient Content: lemon juice 99.5%, vitamin C 0.5%; Packaging Specifications: 1-liter PET bottle, 12 bottles per carton; Brand: Sunny; Production Date: 2025-03-15; Storage Method: refrigerated 0-4°C. Confusing concentrated lemon juice with reconstituted lemon juice; both are classified under 200931, but the declaration elements must indicate the concentration status. Lemon juice with added sugar or sweeteners is still classified under 200931, but if made into a beverage, it is classified under 2202; attention must be paid to ingredient proportions. Mistakenly classifying lemon juice under 2008 (fruit preparations) due to not understanding that 2009 specifically refers to juices.

The core basis for classification is the explanation of 2009 in the HS Explanatory Notes: this heading covers unfermented and non-alcoholic fruit juices and vegetable juices, usually obtained by pressing or extracting fresh fruits or vegetables. Lemon juice must maintain the basic characteristics of the juice; sugar addition, concentration, freezing, and other treatments are allowed, but it must not contain alcohol or be fermented. If the juice is diluted into a beverage or other ingredients are added to make it a beverage, it is classified under 2202. If the juice is only simply refrigerated or frozen without changing its basic characteristics, it remains classified under 2009. 200911 Orange juice: Orange juice and lemon juice both belong to citrus fruit juices, but are different subheadings. 200911 is orange juice, 200931 is lemon juice, distinguished by fruit type. 200921 Grapefruit juice: Grapefruit juice is classified under 200921, belonging to citrus fruits like lemon juice but a different subheading; the fruit variety must be accurately identified during classification. 200939 Other citrus fruit juices: 200939 covers citrus fruit juices other than orange, grapefruit, and lemon, such as lime juice. If lemon juice is mixed with other citrus juices, it may be classified under 200939. 220210 Flavored beverages: 220210 covers flavored, sweetened water beverages, including lemonade. If lemon juice is diluted and sugar and water are added to make a beverage, it is classified under 2202. 200899 Other fruit preparations: 200899 includes fruit preparations not in juice form, such as lemon paste, lemon puree. Lemon juice, being a liquid juice, is classified under 2009. Confirm whether the commodity is in juice form, not pulp or jam. Confirm whether it is unfermented and no alcohol has been added. Confirm whether it may be diluted into a beverage; if already diluted, classify under 2202. Confirm whether the fruit type is lemon, not other citrus fruits. Confirm whether sugar or other sweetening matter has been added, but does not change the basic characteristics of the juice.

Are both concentrated lemon juice and reconstituted lemon juice classified under 200931? Yes, whether concentrated or reconstituted, as long as the basic characteristics of lemon juice are maintained, unfermented and non-alcoholic, they are all classified under 200931. However, the concentration status and reconstitution process must be indicated during declaration for customs statistics and inspection. Does adding sugar to lemon juice change its classification? Adding sugar or other sweetening matter does not change the classification; it remains under 200931, but the sugar content must be indicated in the declaration elements. If sugar is added and it is made into a beverage (such as lemonade), it is classified under 220210. How to distinguish lemon juice from lemon beverage? Lemon juice is undiluted juice; even with added sugar, it maintains juice characteristics. Lemon beverage is a drink made by diluting and adding sugar, water, etc., usually classified under 2202. The key is whether it has been diluted to the point of losing the basic characteristics of juice. Which code is frozen lemon juice classified under? Frozen lemon juice is still classified under 200931, because freezing is only a preservation method and does not change the basic characteristics of the juice. However, note that if frozen and made into ice cubes or mixed with other ingredients, it may affect classification. What are common misconceptions when querying the HS code for lemon juice? Common misconceptions include: mistakenly classifying under 2008 (fruit preparations), 2202 (beverages), or 0805 (fresh lemons). The correct approach is to confirm that the commodity is juice, unfermented, non-alcoholic, and not diluted into a beverage. What declaration elements are required for imported lemon juice? Product name, production method, ingredient content, packaging specifications, brand, production date, storage method, etc. must be declared. Specific elements may be slightly adjusted according to customs requirements; it is recommended to refer to the latest 'Catalogue of Specifications for Import and Export Commodities of the Customs of the People's Republic of China'. How to query the tariff rate for lemon juice? Tariff rates may change; they can be queried through the General Administration of Customs website, China International Trade Single Window, or by consulting a customs broker. Note that different countries of origin may apply agreement rates; the actual declaration shall prevail. How is mixed lemon juice (e.g., lemon + other fruits) classified? If lemon juice is the main ingredient in the mixed juice and other fruit juices play only a supplementary role, it is usually still classified under 200931. If the basic characteristics are changed after mixing, it may be classified under other subheadings of 2009 or 200990 (mixed juices).