Sunflower seeds Hs Code

Sunflower seeds harmonized system code

Product Overview Sunflower seeds classified under HS Code 120600 are the shelled or unshelled seeds harvested from Helianthus annuus L., primarily cultivated for oil extraction and direct consumption. These seeds exhibit a characteristic oblong shape, typically measuring 6-12 mm in length, with a hard outer shell that may be removed depending on processing level. Quality attributes include moisture content generally maintained below 8%, high oil content ranging from 40% to 50%, and low impurity levels to meet food-grade standards. The HS Code 120600 encompasses various subcategories, including raw seeds, dehulled kernels, and seeds prepared for sowing, each differentiated by processing extent and end-use suitability. Commercially, sunflower seeds serve diverse applications spanning snack food production, confectionery ingredients, bakery inclusions, and extraction of edible sunflower oil. Their positioning in the global commodity market is underscored by their versatility, nutritional profile, and adaptability to large-scale processing, making them a critical raw material for food manufacturers, oil processors, and export-import enterprises. HS Code Classification & Trade Specifications The HS Code 120600 falls under Chapter 12 (Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits), Heading 1206 (Sunflower seeds, whether or not broken), with the six-digit structure precisely identifying sunflower seeds for customs and trade compliance purposes. This classification is justified by the botanical origin, physical form, and primary functional use of the seeds in oil extraction and food processing sectors. Trade protocols typically mandate packaging in moisture-resistant, food-grade sacks or bulk containers with net weights ranging from 25 to 50 kilograms to preserve seed integrity and prevent contamination. Preservation methods prioritize controlled atmosphere storage with relative humidity below 65% and temperatures maintained between 10°C and 15°C to inhibit microbial growth and rancidity. International quality standards require adherence to Codex Alimentarius guidelines and conformity with WTO SPS measures, ensuring seeds are free from quarantine pests, chemical residues, and meet specified purity thresholds. Documentation accompanying shipments must accurately reflect HS classification, batch quality certificates, and phytosanitary certifications to facilitate seamless customs clearance and compliance with global trade regulations.

Sunflower 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.