Black sesame seeds Hs Code

Black sesame seeds harmonized system code

Product Overview Black sesame seeds, classified under HS Code 120740, are the small, oil-rich seeds derived from the Sesamum indicum plant. These seeds are characterized by their dark black coloration, oval shape, and a smooth, glossy surface. Typically, black sesame seeds are cleaned, hulled or unhulled, and subjected to minimal processing such as drying and grading to ensure uniform moisture content below 8%, thereby maintaining optimal shelf life and quality. Under HS Code 120740, the product is categorized into subtypes including whole seeds, hulled seeds, and processed sesame (e.g., roasted or ground), each meeting stringent quality parameters such as purity levels above 99% and low foreign matter content. Commercially, black sesame seeds are widely utilized in food service and retail sectors as ingredients in bakery, confectionery, and seasoning applications, as well as in the production of sesame oil and pastes. Their high oil content (approximately 50%) and distinctive flavor profile position them competitively in both commodity and specialty markets, offering value through nutritional benefits and culinary versatility. HS Code Classification & Trade Specifications The HS Code 120740 is structured as follows: Chapter 12 (Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits), Heading 07 (Sesamum seeds), and Subheading 40 (Sesame seeds, whether or not broken). This classification is assigned based on the botanical origin, seed type, and processing status, aligning with the Harmonized System nomenclature maintained by the World Customs Organization (WCO). Black sesame seeds meet the classification criteria due to their unprocessed or minimally processed state and specific varietal identity. For international trade, packaging typically involves hermetically sealed polypropylene bags or jute sacks with net weights ranging from 25 kg to 50 kg to ensure protection against moisture, pests, and contamination. Preservation methods focus on maintaining moisture below 8%, controlled atmosphere storage, and use of fumigation treatments compliant with ISPM 15 standards. Quality standards adhere to Codex Alimentarius guidelines and ISO norms (e.g., ISO 11286 for sesame seeds), ensuring parameters such as aflatoxin levels below 10 ppb and foreign matter limits under 2%. This classification and accompanying specifications facilitate accurate customs clearance, tariff application, and regulatory compliance in global sesame seed trade.

Black sesame seeds Chapter Note

1.- Heading 12.07 applies, inter alia, to palm nuts and kernels, cotton seeds, castor oil seeds, sesamum seeds, mustard seeds, safflower seeds, poppy seeds and shea nuts (karite nuts). It does not apply to products of heading 08.01 or 08.02 or to olives (Chapter 7 or Chapter 20). 2.- Heading 12.08 applies not only to non-defatted flours and meals but also to flours and meals which have been partially defatted or defatted and wholly or partially refatted with their original oils. It does not, however, apply to residues of headings 23.04 to 23.06. 3.- For the purposes of heading 12.09, beet seeds, grass and other herbage seeds, seeds of ornamental flowers, vegetable seeds, seeds of forest trees, seeds of fruit trees, seeds of vetches (other than those of the species Vicia faba) or of lupines are to be regarded as “seeds of a kind used for sowing”. Heading 12.09 does not, however, apply to the following even if for sowing : (a) Leguminous vegetables or sweet corn (Chapter 7); (b) Spices or other products of Chapter 9; (c) Cereals (Chapter 10); or (d) Products of headings 12.01 to 12.07 or 12.11. 4.- Heading 12.11 applies, inter alia, to the following plants or parts thereof : basil, borage, ginseng, hyssop, liquorice, all species of mint, rosemary, rue, sage and wormwood. Heading 12.11 does not, however, apply to : (a) Medicaments of Chapter 30; (b) Perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations of Chapter 33; or (c) Insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, disinfectants or similar products of heading 38.08. 5.- For the purposes of heading 12.12, the term “seaweeds and other algae” does not include : (a) Dead single-cell micro-organisms of heading 21.02; (b) Cultures of micro-organisms of heading 30.02; or (c) Fertilisers of heading 31.01 or 31.05.