HS Code for Locust bean gum

Locust bean gum is classified under HS code 1302.32 as a vegetable mucilage or thickener. Chapter 13 encompasses vegetable saps and extracts, including pectic substances and agar-agar. Heading 1302 specifically covers vegetable saps and extracts, as well as mucilages and thickeners derived from vegetable products. Subheading 1302.32 is dedicated to mucilages and thickeners derived from locust beans, locust bean seeds, or guar seeds, whether or not they have been modified. The classification depends on the extraction and processing of the endosperm of the seeds. Even if the gum has been modified (for example, by etherification or esterification) to improve its thickening properties or solubility, it remains within this code as long as it retains its character as a vegetable-derived thickener. This classification is guided by Note 1 to Chapter 13, which distinguishes between extracts and other vegetable products. Because locust bean gum is a mucilage obtained from the seeds, it is specifically named in the 1302.32 subheading, which also includes guar gum. The technical nature of the product as a hydrocolloid used in food and industrial applications defines its placement here.

Products Included

• Refined locust bean gum powder
• Modified locust bean gum
• Guar gum (endosperm flour)
• Modified guar gum
• Mucilages derived from Carob seeds
• Thickeners derived from locust bean seeds

Common Misclassification

Locust bean gum is frequently misclassified under 1212.91, which covers the actual locust beans (carob) themselves. However, once the beans are processed to extract the gum from the endosperm, the product must be moved to Chapter 13. Another common error is using 1302.31, which is specifically for agar-agar, or 1302.39, which is for other mucilages like carrageenan. It is vital to distinguish the botanical source (locust bean or guar) to apply 1302.32 correctly.

FAQ

What is the HS code for locust bean gum?

The HS code for locust bean gum is 1302.32, which also includes guar gum.

Is modified locust bean gum classified differently?

No, subheading 1302.32 specifically includes these mucilages and thickeners "whether or not modified," meaning chemical modifications for industrial use do not change the HS code.