HS code · 4-digit heading
HS Code 12.08 – Flours and meals of oil seeds or oleaginous fruits; other than those of mustard
What HS 12.08 covers
Heading 1208 encompasses flours and meals derived from oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, with the specific exclusion of those made from mustard. This classification is crucial for products processed from seeds like soybeans, peanuts, sunflowers, and linseed, where the primary oil has often been extracted, leaving a protein-rich meal or flour. These products serve as vital ingredients in the animal feed industry, particularly for livestock and aquaculture, due to their high protein content. They also find applications in human food products, such as soy flour in baking or as a protein additive. The scope of this heading is limited to the basic ground or milled forms; it does not extend to highly processed food preparations or residues from oil extraction that fall under Chapter 23 (e.g., oilcakes). The classification within Chapter 12, which covers oil seeds and various industrial or medicinal plants, highlights the raw material origin and initial processing stage of these goods. Proper classification is paramount for importers and exporters, as duties, import restrictions, and food safety regulations can vary significantly. Misclassification can lead to costly delays, penalties, and compliance issues. Historically, the trade of these commodities has been central to global agriculture and food security, supporting large-scale animal farming and contributing to protein supply chains worldwide.
- Covers
- Soybean flour
- Defatted soybean meal
- Peanut flour
- Partially defatted peanut meal
- Sunflower seed flour
- High-protein sunflower meal
- Linseed flour
- Low-fat linseed meal
- Rapeseed meal (excluding mustard)
- Cottonseed meal
- Sesame seed flour
- Palm kernel meal
- Coconut meal
- Safflower meal
- Ground flaxseed meal
- Hemp seed meal (defatted)
- Grapeseed flour
- Pumpkin seed flour
- Almond meal (defatted)
- Walnut meal (defatted)
- Hazelnut meal (defatted)
- Pecan meal (defatted)
- Pistachio meal (defatted)
- Macadamia nut meal (defatted)
- Castor bean meal (detoxified).
- Examples
A major animal feed manufacturer in the Netherlands imports large quantities of defatted soybean meal from Brazil via the Atlantic shipping route to formulate livestock feed. Similarly, a pet food company in Japan sources high-protein sunflower seed meal from Ukraine, transported by sea through the Suez Canal, to enhance the nutritional value of its products. In North America, a health food company in Canada imports organic flaxseed flour from the United States for use in gluten-free baking mixes, often transported by truck across the border. An agricultural cooperative in Spain exports olive kernel meal to Morocco, where it is used as a supplementary animal feed component, utilizing short-sea shipping across the Mediterranean. Furthermore, South Korea frequently imports various defatted oilseed flours from China for both human consumption and animal feed applications.
Subheadings under 12.08 2
Codes often confused with 12.08
Common mistake. Common misclassifications for products under HS 1208 often involve confusing them with the unprocessed oil seeds themselves (headings 1201-1207), which are raw materials for oil extraction. For instance, whole soybeans (1201) should not be classified as soybean meal (1208). Another common error is classifying oilcakes and other residues from the extraction of vegetable fats or oils (Chapter 23), which are distinct industrial by-products, often with different compositions and end-uses. For example, 'soybean oilcake' falls under 2304, not 1208, even though it originates from soybeans. Lastly, cereal flours (Chapter 11) might be confused if the product's origin isn't clearly identified, but 1208 is strictly for oilseed flours. The key distinction lies in the raw material (oil seeds vs. cereals) and the degree of processing (meal/flour vs. oilcake/residue).
Top exporters and importers of HS code 1208, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 1208 in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 65% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the Dominican Republic, with 17% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 United States $1.1B 65% of world exports
- 2 Italy $183M 11% of world exports
- 3 Nigeria $63M 3.9% of world exports
World total: $1.6B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Dominican Republic $154M 17% of world imports
- 2 Canada $132M 15% of world imports
- 3 Belgium $76M 8.5% of world imports
World total: $884M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
How these figures are built
109 countries reported 2025 trade to UN Comtrade in HS 2022, and their own totals are used. Countries that did not report are estimated from what other countries recorded trading with them. Those estimates miss trade with other non-reporting countries, so they can be low, and a non-reporting country can rank higher than shown or be missing from the list. World totals add both and leave out trade between two non-reporting countries. Figures are in current US dollars; reported imports are mostly valued CIF and exports FOB, and exports include re-exports. The UN Comtrade links show the underlying records; they can also list a few reporters left out here (regional groups and older HS editions).
Source: UN Comtrade (United Nations Statistics Division), 2025 annual data.
EU Regulatory Requirements
This product category is subject to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Importers must provide due diligence statements proving the product was not produced on deforested land after December 31, 2020.
Questions about HS 12.08
What is HS code 1208?
HS code 1208 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Flours and meals of oil seeds or oleaginous fruits; other than those of mustard. Heading 1208 encompasses flours and meals derived from oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, with the specific exclusion of those made from mustard. This classification is crucial for products processed from seeds like soybeans, peanuts, sunflowers, and linseed, where the primary oil has often been extracted, leaving a protein-rich meal or flour. These products serve as vital ingredients in the animal feed industry, particularly for livestock and aquaculture, due to their high protein content. They also find applications in human food products, such as soy flour in baking or as a protein additive. The scope of this heading is limited to the basic ground or milled forms; it does not extend to highly processed food preparations or residues from oil extraction that fall under Chapter 23 (e.g., oilcakes). The classification within Chapter 12, which covers oil seeds and various industrial or medicinal plants, highlights the raw material origin and initial processing stage of these goods. Proper classification is paramount for importers and exporters, as duties, import restrictions, and food safety regulations can vary significantly. Misclassification can lead to costly delays, penalties, and compliance issues. Historically, the trade of these commodities has been central to global agriculture and food security, supporting large-scale animal farming and contributing to protein supply chains worldwide.
What products fall under HS code 1208?
Soybean flour, defatted soybean meal, peanut flour, partially defatted peanut meal, sunflower seed flour, high-protein sunflower meal, linseed flour, low-fat linseed meal, rapeseed meal (excluding mustard), cottonseed meal, sesame seed flour, palm kernel meal, coconut meal, safflower meal, ground flaxseed meal, hemp seed meal (defatted), grapeseed flour, pumpkin seed flour, almond meal (defatted), walnut meal (defatted), hazelnut meal (defatted), pecan meal (defatted), pistachio meal (defatted), macadamia nut meal (defatted), castor bean meal (detoxified).
What are common misclassifications for HS code 1208?
Common misclassifications for products under HS 1208 often involve confusing them with the unprocessed oil seeds themselves (headings 1201-1207), which are raw materials for oil extraction. For instance, whole soybeans (1201) should not be classified as soybean meal (1208). Another common error is classifying oilcakes and other residues from the extraction of vegetable fats or oils (Chapter 23), which are distinct industrial by-products, often with different compositions and end-uses. For example, 'soybean oilcake' falls under 2304, not 1208, even though it originates from soybeans. Lastly, cereal flours (Chapter 11) might be confused if the product's origin isn't clearly identified, but 1208 is strictly for oilseed flours. The key distinction lies in the raw material (oil seeds vs. cereals) and the degree of processing (meal/flour vs. oilcake/residue).
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 1208?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 1208 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($1.1B, 65% of world exports), Italy ($183M) and Nigeria ($63M). World exports came to about $1.6B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Which countries are the top importers of goods under HS code 1208?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 1208 in UN Comtrade data were the Dominican Republic ($154M, 17% of world imports), Canada ($132M) and Belgium ($76M). World imports came to about $884M, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
How is HS code 1208 structured?
HS code 1208 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 12 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (12) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (08) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.