HS Code for Cereal meal

Cereal meal is classified under HS code 1103.19. Heading 1103 covers cereal groats, meal, and pellets. The classification of milling products depends heavily on the particle size and the ability of the product to pass through specific sieves. According to Note 2 to Chapter 11, for a product to be considered a "meal," it must meet specific percentage requirements when passed through a metal wire cloth sieve with a specified mesh aperture (usually 315 or 500 microns depending on the grain). Subheading 1103.19 is the residual category for meals derived from cereals other than wheat (1103.11) or maize/corn (1103.13). This includes meals made from rye, barley, oats, or sorghum. The meal is coarser than flour but finer than groats, representing a specific stage of the milling process.

Products Included

• Oatmeal (not prepared for immediate consumption)
• Barley meal
• Rye meal
• Sorghum meal
• Millet meal

Common Misclassification

The primary misclassification occurs with HS code 1102, which covers cereal flours. The distinction between meal (1103) and flour (1102) is strictly technical, based on the sieve test defined in Chapter 11 Note 2. If the product is too fine, it is flour; if it meets the coarser criteria, it is meal. Another error is confusing 1103.19 with 1904.10 (prepared breakfast cereals). If the meal has been pre-cooked, toasted, or otherwise prepared, it moves from the milling chapter (11) to the prepared foodstuffs chapter (19). Finally, 1103.11 should be used specifically for wheat meal, not 1103.19.

FAQ

What is the HS code for Cereal meal?

For cereals other than wheat or corn, the HS code for cereal meal is 1103.19.

What is the difference between cereal meal and cereal flour?

The difference is based on particle size. Under Chapter 11 notes, meal is coarser than flour and must meet specific sieve-passing percentages (e.g., passing through a 315 or 500-micron mesh).