Chapter notes
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Revision 29 (2025)
Annotated for Statistical Reporting Purposes
CHAPTER 4
DAIRY PRODUCE; BIRDS' EGGS; NATURAL HONEY; EDIBLE PRODUCTS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN,
NOT ELSEWHERE SPECIFIED OR INCLUDED
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Notes
1. The expression "milk" means full cream milk or partially or completely skimmed milk.
2. For the purposes of heading 0403, yogurt may be concentrated or flavored and may contain added sugar or other sweetening
matter, fruit, nuts, cocoa, chocolate, spices, coffee or coffee extracts, plants, parts of plants, cereals or bakers’ wares, provided
that any added substance is not used for the purpose of replacing, in whole or in part, any milk constituent, and the product
retains the essential character of yogurt.
3. For the purposes of heading 0405:
(a) The term "butter" means natural butter, whey butter or recombined butter (fresh, salted or rancid, including canned butter)
derived exclusively from milk, with a milkfat content of 80 percent or more but not more than 95 percent by weight, a maximum
milk solids-not-fat content of 2 percent by weight and a maximum water content of 16 percent by weight. Butter does not
contain added emulsifiers, but may contain sodium chloride, food colors, neutralizing salts and cultures of harmless
lactic-acid-producing bacteria.
(b) The expression "dairy spreads" means a spreadable emulsion of the water-in-oil type, containing milkfat as the only fat in
the product, with a milkfat content of 39 percent or more but less than 80 percent by weight.
4. Products obtained by the concentration of whey and with the addition of milk or milkfat are to be classified as cheese in heading
0406 provided that they have the three following characteristics:
(a) A milkfat content, by weight of the dry matter, of 5 percent or more;
(b) A dry matter content, by weight, of at least 70 percent but not exceeding 85 percent; and
(c) They are molded or capable of being molded.
5. This chapter does not cover:
(a) Non-living insects, unfit for human consumption (heading 0511);
(b) Products obtained from whey, containing by weight more than 95 percent lactose, expressed as anhydrous lactose calculated
on the dry matter (heading 1702);
(c) Products obtained from milk by replacing one or more of its natural constituents (for example, butyric fats) by another
substance (for example, oleic fats) (heading 1901 or 2106); or
(d) Albumins (including concentrates of two or more whey proteins, containing by weight more than 80 percent whey proteins,
calculated on the dry matter) (heading 3502) or globulins (heading 3504).
6. For the purposes of heading 0410, the term “insects” means edible non-living insects, whole or in parts, fresh, chilled, frozen,
dried, smoked, salted or in brine, as well as flours and meals of insects, fit for human consumption. However, it does not cover
edible non-living insects, otherwise prepared or preserved (generally section IV).
Subheading Notes
1. For the purposes of subheading 0404.10, the expression "modifiedwhey" means products consisting of whey constituents, that
is, whey from which all or part of the lactose, proteins or minerals have been removed, whey to which natural whey constituents
have been added, and products obtained by mixing natural whey constituents.
2. For the purposes of subheading 0405.10 the term "butter" does not include dehydrated butter or ghee (subheading 0405.90).
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Additional U.S. Notes
1. For the purposes of this schedule, the term "dairy products described in additional U.S. note 1 to chapter 4" means any of the
following goods: malted milk, and articles of milk or cream (except (a) white chocolate and (b) inedible dried milk powders certified
to be used for calibrating infrared milk analyzers); articles containing over 5.5 percent by weight of butterfat which are suitable
for use as ingredients in the commercial production of edible articles (except articles within the scope of other import quotas
provided for in additional U.S. notes 2 and 3 to chapter 18); or, dried milk, whey or buttermilk (of the type provided for in
subheadings 0402.10, 0402.21, 0403.90 or 0404.10) which contains not over 5.5 percent by weight of butterfat and which is
mixed with other ingredients, including but not limited to sugar, if such mixtures contain over 16 percent milk solids by weight,
are capable of being further processed or mixed with similar or other ingredients and are not prepared for marketing to the
ultimate consumer in the identical form and package in which imported.
2. For the purposes of this schedule, the expression "EU 27" refers to articles the product of one of the following: Austria, Belgium,
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Hungary,
Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Slovenia, the
Slovak Republic or Sweden.
3. For the purposes of this chapter, the term "soft ripened cow's milk cheese" means cheese which:
(a) Has a prominent crust formed on the exterior surface as a result of curing or ripening by biological curing agents such as
molds, yeasts or other microorganisms;
(b) Visibly cures or ripens from the surface toward the center;
(c) Has a fat content by weight (on a moisture-free basis) of not less than 50 percent; and
(d) Has a moisture content (calculated by weight of the non-fatty matter) of not less than 65 percent, but does not include cheese
with mold distributed throughout its interior.
4. For the purposes of this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) the term "capable of being processed or mixed with similar or other ingredients" means that the imported product is in such
condition or container as to be subject to any additional preparation, treatment or manufacture or be blended or combined
with any additional ingredient, including water or any other liquid, other than processing or mixing with other ingredients
performed by the ultimate consumer prior to consumption of the product;
(b) the term "prepared for marketing to the ultimate consumer in the identical form and package in which imported" means that
the product is imported in packaging of such sizes and labelling as to be readily identifiable as being intended for retail sale
to the ultimate consumer without any alteration in the form of the product or its packaging; and
(c) the term "ultimate consumer" does not include institutions such as hospitals, prisons and military establishments or food
service establishments such as restaurants, hotels, bars or bakeries.
5. The aggregate quantity of milk and cream, fluid or frozen, fresh or sour, containing over 6 percent but not over 45 percent by
weight of butterfat, the foregoing goods entered under subheadings 0401.40.05, 0401.50.05 and 0403.90.04 in any calendar
year shall not exceed 6,694,840 liters (articles the product of Mexico shall not be permitted or included under the aforementioned
quantitative limitation and no such articles shall be classifiable therein).
Of the quantitative limitations provided for in this note, New Zealand shall have access to a quantity of not less than 5,678,117
liters.
6. The aggregate quantity of butter, and fresh or sour cream containing over 45 percent by weight of butterfat, the foregoing goods
entered under subheadings 0401.50.50, 0403.90.74 and 0405.10.10 in any calendar year shall not exceed 6,977,000 kilograms
(articles the product of Mexico shall not be permitted or included under the aforementioned quantitative limitation and no such
articles shall be classifiable therein).
Imports under these provisions require import licenses, in accordance with terms and conditions provided in regulations issued
by the Secretary of Agriculture, subject to the approval of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).The regulations may
provide for the reallocation among supplying countries or areas of unfilled quantities, subject to USTR approval.
7. The aggregate quantity of dried milk, whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter, entered under subheadings
0402.10.10 and 0402.21.05 in any calendar year shall not exceed 5,261,000 kilograms (articles the product of Mexico shall not
be permitted or included under the aforementioned quantitative limitation and no such articles shall be classifiable therein).
Imports under these provisions require import licenses, in accordance with terms and conditions provided in regulations issued
by the Secretary of Agriculture, subject to the approval of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).The regulations may
provide for the reallocation among supplying countries or areas of unfilled quantities, subject to USTR approval.
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Additional U.S. Notes (con.)
8. The aggregate quantity of dried milk and dried cream, whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter, the
foregoing goods entered under subheadings 0402.21.30 and 0403.90.51 in any calendar year shall not exceed 3,321,300
kilograms (articles the product of Mexico shall not be permitted or included under the aforementioned quantitative limitation and
no such articles shall be classifiable therein).
Imports under these provisions require import licenses, in accordance with terms and conditions provided in regulations issued
by the Secretary of Agriculture, subject to the approval of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).The regulations may
provide for the reallocation among supplying countries or areas of unfilled quantities, subject to USTR approval.
9. The aggregate quantity of dried milk and dried cream, whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter, the
foregoing goods entered under subheadings 0402.21.75 and 0403.90.61 in any calendar year shall not exceed 99,500 kilograms
(articles the product of Mexico shall not be permitted or included under the aforementioned quantitative limitation and no such
articles shall be classifiable therein).
10. The aggregate quantity of dairy products described in additional U.S. note 1 to chapter 4, entered under subheadings 0402.29.10,
0402.99.70, 0403.20.10, 0403.90.90, 0404.10.11, 0404.90.30, 0405.20.60, 1517.90.50, 1704.90.54, 1806.20.81, 1806.32.60,
1806.90.05, 1901.10.21,1901.10.41,1901.10.54,1901.10.64, 1901.20.05, 1901.20.45, 1901.90.61, 1901.90.64, 2105.00.30,
2106.90.06, 2106.90.64, 2106.90.85 and 2202.99.24 in any calendar year shall not exceed 4,105,000 kilograms (articles the
product of Mexico shall not be permitted or included under the aforementioned quantitative limitation and no such articles shall
be classifiable therein).
Of the quantitative limitations provided for in this note, Australia shall have access to a quantity of not less than 1,016,046
kilograms, and Belgium and Denmark (aggregated) shall have access to a quantity of not less than 154,221 kilograms.
11. The aggregate quantity of milk and cream, condensed or evaporated, the foregoing goods entered under subheadings 0402.91.10,
0402.91.30, 0402.99.10 and 0402.99.30 in any calendar year shall not exceed 6,857,300 kilograms (articles the product of
Mexico shall not be permitted or included under the aforementioned quantitative limitation and no such articles shall be classifiable
therein).
Of the quantitative limitations provided for in this note, the countries listed below shall have access to not less than the quantities
specified below:
Quantity
(kg)
Australia:
condensed, in airtight containers 91,625
Canada:
evaporated, in airtight containers 31,751
condensed, in airtight containers 994,274
other condensed 2,267
Denmark:
evaporated, in airtight containers 4,989
condensed, in airtight containers 605,092
Germany:
evaporated, in airtight containers 9,979
Netherlands:
evaporated, in airtight containers 548,393
condensed, in airtight containers 153,314
12. The aggregate quantity of dried milk, dried cream and dried whey, the foregoing whether or not containing added sugar or other
sweetening matter and entered under subheadings 0403.90.41 and 0404.10.50 in any calendar year shall not exceed 296,000
kilograms (articles the product of Mexico shall not be permitted or included under the aforementioned quantitative limitation and
no such articles shall be classifiable therein).
Imports under these provisions not in excess of 224,981 kilograms in any calendar year require import licenses, in accordance
with terms and conditions provided in regulations issued by the Secretary of Agriculture, subject to the approval of the United
States Trade Representative (USTR).The regulations may provide for the reallocation among supplying countries or areas of
unfilled quantities, subject to USTR approval.
13. For purposes of subheading 0404.90.10, the term "milk protein concentrate" means any complete milk protein (casein plus
lactalbumin) concentrate that is 40 percent or more protein by weight.
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Additional U.S. Notes (con.)
14. The aggregate quantity of butter substitutes containing over 45 percent by weight of butterfat, entered under subheadings
0405.20.20, 0405.90.10, 2106.90.24 and 2106.90.34 and butter oil however provided for in this schedule in any calendar year
shall not exceed 6,080,500 kilograms (articles the product of Mexico shall not be permitted or included under the aforementioned
quantitative limitation and no such articles shall be classifiable therein).
Imports under these provisions require import licenses, in accordance with terms and conditions provided in regulations issued
by the Secretary of Agriculture, subject to the approval of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).The regulations may
provide for the reallocation among supplying countries or areas of unfilled quantities, subject to USTR approval.
15. No allowance in weight shall be made for inedible, not readily removable, protective coverings of cheese.
16. The aggregate quantity of cheeses and substitutes for cheese (except (i) cheese not containing cow's milk; (ii) soft ripened cow's
milk cheese; (iii) cheese (except cottage cheese) containing 0.5 percent or less by weight of butterfat; and, (iv) articles within
the scope of other import quotas provided for in additional U.S. notes 17 through 25, inclusive, to this chapter), the foregoing
goods entered under subheadings 0406.10.04, 0406.10.84, 0406.20.89, 0406.30.89 and 0406.90.95 in any calendar year shall
not exceed the quantities specified in this note (articles the product of Mexico shall not be permitted or included under the
aforementioned quantitative limitation and no such articles shall be classifiable therein).
Quantity
(kg)
Argentina 100,000
Australia 3,050,000
Canada 1,141,000
Costa Rica 1,550,000
EU 27 25,632,850
Iceland 323,000
Israel 673,000
New Zealand 11,322,000
Norway 150,000
Switzerland 1,720,000
United Kingdom 2,213,374
Uruguay 250,000
Other countries or areas 201,635
Any country 300,000
Of the quantitative limitations provided for in this note for the EU 27, Portugal shall have access to a quantity of not less than
353,000 kilograms.
Of the quantitative limitations provided for in this note for Israel, no more than 160,000 kilograms shall contain more than 3 percent
by weight of butterfat.
Imports under these provisions require import licenses, in accordance with terms and conditions provided in regulations issued
by the Secretary of Agriculture, subject to the approval of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).The regulations may
provide for the reallocation among supplying countries or areas of unfilled quantities, subject to USTR approval.
17. The aggregate quantity of blue-mold cheese (except Stilton produced in the United Kingdom) and cheese and substitutes for
cheese containing, or processed from, blue-mold cheese, the foregoing goods entered under subheadings 0406.10.14, 0406.20.24,
0406.20.61, 0406.30.14, 0406.30.61, 0406.40.54, 0406.40.58 and 0406.90.72 in any calendar year, shall not exceed the quantities
specified in this note (articles the product of Mexico shall not be permitted or included under the aforementioned quantitative
limitation and no such articles shall be classifiable therein).
Quantity
(kg)
Argentina 2,000
Chile 80,000
EU 27 2,805,383
United Kingdom 23,617
Other countries or areas 1
Imports under these provisions require import licenses, in accordance with terms and conditions provided in regulations issued
by the Secretary of Agriculture, subject to the approval of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).The regulations may
provide for the reallocation among supplying countries or areas of unfilled quantities, subject to USTR approval.
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Additional U.S. Notes (con.)
18. (a) The aggregate quantity of Cheddar cheese and cheese and substitutes for cheese containing, or processed from Cheddar
cheese, the foregoing goods entered under subheadings 0406.10.24, 0406.20.31, 0406.20.65, 0406.30.24, 0406.30.65,
0406.90.08 and 0406.90.76 in any calendar year shall not exceed the quantities specified in this note (articles the product
of Mexico shall not be permitted or included under the aforementioned quantitative limitation and no such articles shall be
classifiable therein).
Quantity
(kg)
Australia 2,450,000
Canada 833,417
Chile 220,000
EU 27 417,052
New Zealand 8,200,000
United Kingdom 895,948
Other countries or areas 139,889
Any country 100,000
(b) Except as provided in (c), imports under these provisions require import licenses, in accordance with terms and conditions
provided in regulations issued by the Secretary of Agriculture, subject to the approval of the United States Trade Representative
(USTR).The regulations may provide for the reallocation among supplying countries or areas of unfilled quantities, subject
to USTR approval.
(c) No license shall be required under subheadings 0406.20.31 and 0406.90.08 for an aggregate quantity of up to 833,417
kilograms per quota year of natural Cheddar cheese, the product of Canada, which was made from unpasteurized milk and
aged not less than 9 months, and which prior to exportation has been certified as meeting such requirements by an official
of the Canadian government.
19. The aggregate quantity of American-type cheese, including Colby, washed curd and granular cheese (but not including Cheddar
cheese), and cheese and substitutes for cheese containing, or processed from, such American-type cheese, the foregoing goods
entered under subheadings 0406.10.34, 0406.20.36, 0406.20.69, 0406.30.34, 0406.30.69, 0406.90.52 and 0406.90.82 in any
calendar year shall not exceed the quantities specified in this note (articles the product of Mexico shall not be permitted or
included under the aforementioned quantitative limitation and no such articles shall be classifiable therein).
Quantity
(kg)
Australia 1,000,000
EU 27 354,000
New Zealand 2,000,000
Other countries or areas 168,556
Imports under these provisions require import licenses, in accordance with terms and conditions provided in regulations issued
by the Secretary of Agriculture, subject to the approval of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).The regulations may
provide for the reallocation among supplying countries or areas of unfilled quantities, subject to USTR approval.
20. The aggregate quantity of Edam and Gouda cheeses and of cheese and substitutes for cheese containing, or processed from,
Edam and Gouda cheese, the foregoing goods entered under subheadings 0406.10.44, 0406.20.44, 0406.20.73, 0406.30.44,
0406.30.73, 0406.90.16 and 0406.90.86 in any calendar year shall not exceed the quantities specified in this note (articles the
product of Mexico shall not be permitted or included under the aforementioned quantitative limitation and no such articles shall
be classifiable therein).
Quantity
(kg)
Argentina 235,000
EU 27 6,389,000
Norway 167,000
Other countries or areas 25,402
Imports under these provisions require import licenses, in accordance with terms and conditions provided in regulations issued
by the Secretary of Agriculture, subject to the approval of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).The regulations may
provide for the reallocation among supplying countries or areas of unfilled quantities, subject to USTR approval.
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Additional U.S. Notes (con.)
21. The aggregate quantity of Italian-type cheeses, made from cow's milk, in original loaves (Romano made from cow's milk, Reggiano,
Parmesan, Provolone, Provoletti and Sbrinz); and Italian-type cheeses, made from cow's milk, not in original loaves (Romano
made from cow's milk, Reggiano, Parmesan, Provolone, Provoletti, Sbrinz and Goya) and of cheese and substitutes for cheese
containing, or processed from, such Italian-type cheeses, whether or not in original loaves, the foregoing goods entered under
subheading 0406.10.54, 0406.20.51, 0406.20.77, 0406.30.77, 0406.90.31, 0406.90.36, 0406.90.41 and 0406.90.66 in any
calendar year shall not exceed the quantities specified in this note (articles the product of Mexico shall not be permitted or
included under the aforementioned quantitative limitation and no such articles shall be classifiable therein).
Quantity
(kg)
Argentina 6,383,000
EU 27 5,407,000
Romania 500,000
Uruguay 1,178,000
Other countries or areas 13,064
Imports under these provisions require import licenses, in accordance with terms and conditions provided in regulations issued
by the Secretary of Agriculture, subject to the approval of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).The regulations may
provide for the reallocation among supplying countries or areas of unfilled quantities, subject to USTR approval.
22. The aggregate quantity of Swiss or Emmentaler cheese other than with eye formation, Gruyere-process cheese and of cheese
and substitutes for cheese containing, or processed from, such cheeses, the foregoing goods entered under subheadings
0406.10.64, 0406.20.81, 0406.30.51, 0406.30.81 and 0406.90.90 in any calendar year shall not exceed the quantities specified
in this note (articles the product of Mexico shall not be permitted or included under the aforementioned quantitative limitation
and no such articles shall be classifiable therein).
Quantity
(kg)
EU 27 5,925,000
Switzerland 1,850,000
Other countries or areas 79,833
Imports under these provisions require import licenses, in accordance with terms and conditions provided in regulations issued
by the Secretary of Agriculture, subject to the approval of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).The regulations may
provide for the reallocation among supplying countries or areas of unfilled quantities, subject to USTR approval.
23. The aggregate quantity of cheese, and substitutes for cheese, containing 0.5 percent or less by weight of butterfat (except articles
within the scope of other import quotas provided for in additional U.S. notes 16 through 22, inclusive, or additional U.S. notes
24 and 25 to this chapter) and margarine cheese, the foregoing goods entered under subheadings 0406.10.74, 0406.20.85,
0406.30.85, 0406.90.93 and 1901.90.34 in any calendar year shall not exceed the quantities specified in this note (articles the
product of Mexico shall not be permitted or included under the aforementioned quantitative limitation and no such articles shall
be classifiable therein).
Quantity
(kg)
EU 27 4,424,907
New Zealand 1,000,000
Israel 50,000
Other countries or areas 1
Imports under these provisions require import licenses, in accordance with terms and conditions provided in regulations issued
by the Secretary of Agriculture, subject to the approval of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).The regulations may
provide for the reallocation among supplying countries or areas of unfilled quantities, subject to USTR approval.
24. Stilton cheese, the product of the United Kingdom, the foregoing good entered under subheadings 0406.20.15, 0406.30.05,
0406.40.44 or 0406.40.48 during any calendar year shall not be subject to limits on the quantity of such cheese imported into
the United States. Stilton cheese, other than the product of the United Kingdom, shall be classified as appropriate in the
subheadings for blue-mold cheeses and is subject to any quantitative limitation on such cheeses.
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Additional U.S. Notes (con.)
25. The aggregate quantity of Swiss and Emmentaler cheese with eye formation, the foregoing goods entered under subheading
0406.90.46 in any calendar year shall not exceed the quantities specified in this note (articles the product of Mexico shall not be
permitted or included under the aforementioned quantitative limitation and no such articles shall be classifiable therein).
Quantity
(kg)
Argentina 80,000
Australia 500,000
Canada 70,000
EU 27 22,900,000
Iceland 300,000
Israel 27,000
Norway 6,883,000
Switzerland 3,630,000
Other countries or areas 85,276
Imports under these provisions require import licenses, in accordance with terms and conditions provided in regulations issued
by the Secretary of Agriculture, subject to the approval of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).The regulations may
provide for the reallocation among supplying countries or areas of unfilled quantities, subject to USTR approval.
26. The importation of eggs of wild birds is prohibited, except eggs of game birds imported for propagating purposes under regulations
prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior and specimens imported for scientific collections.
Statistical Notes
1. The unit of quantity "kg cmsc" (kilograms cows' milk solids content) includes all cows' milk components other than water.
2. For a list of approved standards for "Certified organic", see General Statistical Note 6.
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