HS Code for Coffee chaff

Coffee chaff, also known as the silverskin or the integument of the coffee bean, is classified under HS code 0901.90. This code falls within Chapter 09, which encompasses coffee and its related products. Heading 0901 includes not only the beans themselves but also the byproducts of the coffee processing cycle. Subheading 0901.90 is a broad category that covers coffee husks and skins, as well as coffee substitutes containing coffee in any proportion. Chaff is the thin, papery skin that is shed from the coffee bean during the roasting process. Because it is a part of the coffee fruit (the skin/husk), it is specifically directed to this subheading rather than being classified as waste or animal feed in other chapters. The classification is driven by the botanical origin of the material and its direct relationship to the coffee bean processing industry. Even though chaff is often considered a byproduct or waste material, the Harmonized System provides a specific place for it within the coffee heading to ensure uniform global tracking of all coffee-related biomass.

Products Included

• Coffee silverskin
• Coffee husks
• Dried coffee skins
• Coffee chaff from roasting
• Coffee parchment (endocarp)
• Coffee substitutes containing coffee

Common Misclassification

Coffee chaff is sometimes misclassified under HS code 2308.00, which covers vegetable materials and vegetable waste, vegetable residues and by-products used in animal feeding. However, because heading 0901 specifically mentions "husks and skins," GRI 1 dictates that the more specific heading takes precedence. It may also be confused with 1404.90 (vegetable products not elsewhere specified), but the direct association with coffee keeps it in Chapter 09.

FAQ

What is the HS code for coffee chaff?

The HS code for coffee chaff, husks, and skins is 0901.90.

Can coffee chaff be classified as fertilizer?

While coffee chaff is used as fertilizer, for customs purposes, it remains under 0901.90 as a coffee byproduct unless it has been significantly processed or mixed with other fertilizing minerals to fall under Chapter 31.