Poppy seeds Hs Code

Poppy seeds harmonized system code

Product Overview Poppy seeds classified under HS Code 120791 refer to the dried seeds of the opium poppy plant (Papaver somniferum), primarily used as a culinary ingredient and in food manufacturing. These seeds are small, kidney-shaped, and typically range from 0.8 to 1.2 mm in diameter, exhibiting a characteristic gray-blue or black coloration. They undergo cleaning and dehulling processes to remove impurities and husks, ensuring compliance with food safety and quality standards such as maximum moisture content (<8%) and absence of foreign matter. The HS Code 120791 encompasses subcategories differentiated by seed origin and processing state, including hulled versus unhulled seeds, and seeds prepared for sowing. Commercially, these seeds are extensively utilized in bakery products, confectionery, dairy items, and spice blends, valued for their nutty flavor and high oil content (up to 50%). Their versatility supports applications across retail packaging, bulk food processing, and specialty ingredient supply chains. Market positioning emphasizes consistent quality, traceability, and adherence to phytosanitary regulations, providing importers and exporters with a reliable commodity for international food trade. HS Code Classification & Trade Specifications The full HS Code 120791 breaks down as follows: Chapter 12 (Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits), Heading 07 (Other oil seeds and oleaginous fruits), Subheading 91 (Poppy seeds). This classification is based on the botanical origin and intended commercial use of the seeds, distinguishing them from other oilseeds under different subheadings. Poppy seeds under 120791 are categorized due to their edible nature and oil extraction potential, complying with World Customs Organization (WCO) Harmonized System nomenclature. Trade considerations include packaging in moisture-resistant sacks or bulk containers ranging from 25 to 50 kilograms, often vacuum-sealed or nitrogen-flushed to preserve seed integrity and prevent rancidity during transit. Preservation methods focus on maintaining moisture below 8% and preventing microbial contamination. Shipping typically requires adherence to phytosanitary certificates and compliance with international food safety standards such as Codex Alimentarius. Quality parameters monitored include seed purity (>99%), oil content, absence of aflatoxins, and adherence to maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides, facilitating smooth customs clearance and conformity with WTO trade agreements.

Poppy 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.