Chapter 23 covers residues and waste from the food industries and prepared animal fodder. This chapter includes vegetable feed residues such as oilseed meal and soybean meal, as well as animal feed materials such as fish meal and meat-and-bone meal. These commodities are mostly by-products of food processing or oil extraction, used for animal feeding rather than for direct human consumption. This chapter is clearly distinguished from Chapter 12 (oil seeds and oleaginous fruits) and Chapter 2 (meat and edible meat offal), with the core distinction being the degree of processing and the intended use. Heading 2301 covers flours, meals and pellets of meat, meat offal, fish, crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates, unfit for human consumption, as well as greaves. Specifically, it includes meat meal, meat-and-bone meal, fish meal, crustacean meal, etc. These products are typically made through drying, grinding and other processes, are not suitable for human consumption, and are exclusively used for animal feed. First 2 digits 23: represents Chapter 23, i.e., residues and waste from the food industries and prepared animal fodder. Digits 3-4, 01: represents heading 2301, i.e., flours, meals and pellets for animal feed. Digits 5-6, 20: represents subheading 230120, specifically fish meal. The full code 230120 indicates fish meal, i.e., feed meal made from processed fish or aquatic invertebrates. Fish meal is classified under 230120 because it is feed meal made from processed fish, consistent with the description of heading 2301. Unlike Chapter 2 (meat and edible meat offal), fish meal has been dried and ground and is not for human consumption; unlike Chapter 12 (oil seeds and oleaginous fruits), fish meal is of animal origin. Therefore, based on the processing method and intended use, it is correctly classified under 230120.
Chapter
Chapter 23 covers residues and waste from the food industries and prepared animal fodder. This chapter includes vegetable feed residues such as oilseed meal and soybean meal, as well as animal feed materials such as fish meal and meat-and-bone meal. These commodities are mostly by-products of food processing or oil extraction, used for animal feeding rather than for direct human consumption. This chapter is clearly distinguished from Chapter 12 (oil seeds and oleaginous fruits) and Chapter 2 (meat and edible meat offal), with the core distinction being the degree of processing and the intended use.
Heading
Heading 2301 covers flours, meals and pellets of meat, meat offal, fish, crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates, unfit for human consumption, as well as greaves. Specifically, it includes meat meal, meat-and-bone meal, fish meal, crustacean meal, etc. These products are typically made through drying, grinding and other processes, are not suitable for human consumption, and are exclusively used for animal feed.
Digit Breakdown
First 2 digits 23: represents Chapter 23, i.e., residues and waste from the food industries and prepared animal fodder. Digits 3-4, 01: represents heading 2301, i.e., flours, meals and pellets for animal feed. Digits 5-6, 20: represents subheading 230120, specifically fish meal. The full code 230120 indicates fish meal, i.e., feed meal made from processed fish or aquatic invertebrates.
Classification Basis
Fish meal is classified under 230120 because it is feed meal made from processed fish, consistent with the description of heading 2301. Unlike Chapter 2 (meat and edible meat offal), fish meal has been dried and ground and is not for human consumption; unlike Chapter 12 (oil seeds and oleaginous fruits), fish meal is of animal origin. Therefore, based on the processing method and intended use, it is correctly classified under 230120.
📝 Declaration Elements
Product Name: The declared commodity name should be filled in with a standardized Chinese product name, such as 'fish meal'. Brand Type: Fill in the manufacturer or brand name; if there is no brand, fill in 'none'. Composition and Content: Declare the main components and their contents, such as percentages of protein, fat, moisture, etc. Raw Material Source: State the species of raw fish, such as anchovy, sardine, etc. Processing Method: Briefly describe the processing technique, such as cooking, pressing, drying, grinding. Packaging Specifications: Fill in the packaging method and weight per package, such as bagged 50kg. Purpose: Declare the intended use, such as 'for animal feed'. Product Name: fish meal; Brand Type: none; Composition and Content: protein >= 65%, fat <= 10%, moisture <= 10%; Raw Material Source: anchovy; Processing Method: cooking, pressing, drying, grinding; Packaging Specifications: woven bag, 50kg/bag; Purpose: for animal feed. False declaration of composition and content, such as inflated protein content, may raise doubts about classification. Vague filling of raw material source without specifying fish species affects quarantine approval. Processing method mistakenly filled in as 'fermentation' when it is actually physical processing, leading to classification errors.
Product Name
The declared commodity name should be filled in with a standardized Chinese product name, such as 'fish meal'.
⚠️ Mistakenly written as 'fish bone meal' or 'feed fish meal', leading to classification disputes.
Brand Type
Fill in the manufacturer or brand name; if there is no brand, fill in 'none'.
⚠️ Mistakenly filling in the trader's name as the brand.
Composition and Content
Declare the main components and their contents, such as percentages of protein, fat, moisture, etc.
⚠️ Only filling in 'fish meal' without listing specific components, or omitting moisture content.
Raw Material Source
State the species of raw fish, such as anchovy, sardine, etc.
⚠️ Vaguely filling in 'fish' without specifying the species.
Processing Method
Briefly describe the processing technique, such as cooking, pressing, drying, grinding.
⚠️ Mistakenly filling in 'fermentation' or 'enzymatic hydrolysis', which does not match the actual process.
Packaging Specifications
Fill in the packaging method and weight per package, such as bagged 50kg.
⚠️ Omitting net weight or gross weight.
Purpose
Declare the intended use, such as 'for animal feed'.
⚠️ Filling in 'for human consumption' or 'for industrial use', leading to classification errors.
Example： Product Name: fish meal; Brand Type: none; Composition and Content: protein >= 65%, fat <= 10%, moisture <= 10%; Raw Material Source: anchovy; Processing Method: cooking, pressing, drying, grinding; Packaging Specifications: woven bag, 50kg/bag; Purpose: for animal feed.
Common Mistakes：
False declaration of composition and content, such as inflated protein content, may raise doubts about classification.
Vague filling of raw material source without specifying fish species affects quarantine approval.
Processing method mistakenly filled in as 'fermentation' when it is actually physical processing, leading to classification errors.
🎯 Classification Logic
The core basis for classification is the commodity attributes: fish meal is a powder made from fish through cooking, pressing, drying, and grinding, exclusively used for animal feed. According to the General Rules for HS classification, heading 2301 explicitly includes fish meal. Attention must be paid to distinguishing it from Chapter 2 (meat and edible meat offal), which is for human consumption; and from Chapter 12 (oil seeds and oleaginous fruits), which is of vegetable origin. At the same time, it is necessary to confirm whether other substances have been added; if added, it may be classified under 2309 (preparations). 230110 Meat meal, meat-and-bone meal: The raw material is mammals, not fish; the composition and use are similar, but the source is different. 230990 Other preparations of a kind used in animal feeding: Fish meal is a single raw material; if mixed with other ingredients, it is classified under 230990. 030510 Fish meal fit for human consumption: For human consumption, finely processed, meeting food hygiene standards. 121190 Other vegetable products: Vegetable raw materials, such as seaweed meal, different from animal-origin fish meal. Confirm the raw material is fish, not other animals. Confirm the processing method is cooking, drying, grinding, not fermentation. Confirm the purpose is animal feed, not for human consumption. Confirm no other substances have been added, maintaining a single raw material. Confirm the composition and content meet fish meal standards, such as protein content.
Basis
The core basis for classification is the commodity attributes: fish meal is a powder made from fish through cooking, pressing, drying, and grinding, exclusively used for animal feed. According to the General Rules for HS classification, heading 2301 explicitly includes fish meal. Attention must be paid to distinguishing it from Chapter 2 (meat and edible meat offal), which is for human consumption; and from Chapter 12 (oil seeds and oleaginous fruits), which is of vegetable origin. At the same time, it is necessary to confirm whether other substances have been added; if added, it may be classified under 2309 (preparations).
Confused Codes：
230110 - Meat meal, meat-and-bone meal
The raw material is mammals, not fish; the composition and use are similar, but the source is different.
230990 - Other preparations of a kind used in animal feeding
Fish meal is a single raw material; if mixed with other ingredients, it is classified under 230990.
030510 - Fish meal fit for human consumption
For human consumption, finely processed, meeting food hygiene standards.
121190 - Other vegetable products
Vegetable raw materials, such as seaweed meal, different from animal-origin fish meal.
Self-Check：
✓ Confirm the raw material is fish, not other animals.
✓ Confirm the processing method is cooking, drying, grinding, not fermentation.
✓ Confirm the purpose is animal feed, not for human consumption.
✓ Confirm no other substances have been added, maintaining a single raw material.
✓ Confirm the composition and content meet fish meal standards, such as protein content.
❓ FAQ
What is the HS code for fish meal? The HS code for fish meal is 230120. The first two digits 23 represent Chapter 23, 01 represents the heading, and 20 represents the subheading. This code applies to fish meal for animal feed. How to distinguish fish meal from meat-and-bone meal? Fish meal is made from fish, while meat-and-bone meal is made from mammals. Their HS codes are different: fish meal is 230120, meat-and-bone meal is 230110. Proof of raw material source is required for declaration. What declaration elements are required for importing fish meal? Product name, brand type, composition and content, raw material source, processing method, packaging specifications, purpose, etc. must be declared. Composition and content should list protein, fat, moisture, etc. in detail. Can fish meal be classified under 0305? 0305 is fish meal for human consumption, while 230120 is for animal feed. If the fish meal meets human consumption standards, it is classified under 0305; otherwise, under 230120. How to check the tax rate for fish meal? The tax rate must be checked according to the latest customs tariff. The import duty and VAT rate for 230120 can be checked through the General Administration of Customs website or the declaration system. What are the common errors in fish meal declaration? Common errors include: false declaration of composition and content, vague raw material source, incorrect processing method, wrong purpose, etc. Ensure the declared information is consistent with the actual situation. Does fish meal require quarantine approval? Yes, fish meal is an animal-origin feed and requires an import animal and plant quarantine permit upon import, and must comply with the quarantine requirements of the exporting country and China. What is the difference in HS codes between fish meal and fish oil? Fish meal is 230120, while fish oil is usually classified under 1504. Fish oil is oil, and fish meal is powdered feed; their processing and uses are different.
Q: What is the HS code for fish meal?
A: The HS code for fish meal is 230120. The first two digits 23 represent Chapter 23, 01 represents the heading, and 20 represents the subheading. This code applies to fish meal for animal feed.
Q: How to distinguish fish meal from meat-and-bone meal?
A: Fish meal is made from fish, while meat-and-bone meal is made from mammals. Their HS codes are different: fish meal is 230120, meat-and-bone meal is 230110. Proof of raw material source is required for declaration.
Q: What declaration elements are required for importing fish meal?
A: Product name, brand type, composition and content, raw material source, processing method, packaging specifications, purpose, etc. must be declared. Composition and content should list protein, fat, moisture, etc. in detail.
Q: Can fish meal be classified under 0305?
A: 0305 is fish meal for human consumption, while 230120 is for animal feed. If the fish meal meets human consumption standards, it is classified under 0305; otherwise, under 230120.
Q: How to check the tax rate for fish meal?
A: The tax rate must be checked according to the latest customs tariff. The import duty and VAT rate for 230120 can be checked through the General Administration of Customs website or the declaration system.
Q: What are the common errors in fish meal declaration?
A: Common errors include: false declaration of composition and content, vague raw material source, incorrect processing method, wrong purpose, etc. Ensure the declared information is consistent with the actual situation.
Q: Does fish meal require quarantine approval?
A: Yes, fish meal is an animal-origin feed and requires an import animal and plant quarantine permit upon import, and must comply with the quarantine requirements of the exporting country and China.
Q: What is the difference in HS codes between fish meal and fish oil?
A: Fish meal is 230120, while fish oil is usually classified under 1504. Fish oil is oil, and fish meal is powdered feed; their processing and uses are different.
⚠️ 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.