HS Code for processed flax fiber

HS code 5301.21 is designated for flax fibers that have undergone specific mechanical processing steps but have not yet reached the stage of being spun into yarn. The two primary processes mentioned in the HS description are breaking and scutching. Breaking is the initial mechanical step where the retted flax straw is passed through fluted rollers to break the woody inner core, known as the shive, into small fragments. Scutching follows this, where the broken straw is subjected to a beating or scraping action to separate the valuable long fibers from the broken shives. This code represents an intermediate stage of production. It is distinct from raw flax (5301.10), which is either pulled from the ground or retted (soaked to loosen fibers) but not yet mechanically cleaned. The fibers classified under 5301.21 are generally clean but remain in a relatively coarse state. They have not yet undergone hackling or combing, which are the processes used to align the fibers and remove shorter tow fibers to prepare them for fine spinning. This distinction is crucial for the textile industry, as the value and intended use of the fiber change significantly at each stage of processing.

Products Included

• Scutched flax fibers
• Broken flax straw (mechanically processed)
• Cleaned flax fiber ready for hackling
• Flax fiber separated from the shive but not spun

Common Misclassification

Processed flax fiber is frequently misclassified under HS code 5301.10 (raw or retted flax) or 5301.29 (flax that has been hackled or otherwise further processed). It is also sometimes confused with flax yarn under heading 5306, which applies only once the fiber has been spun.

FAQ

What is the HS code for processed flax fiber?

The HS code for flax that is broken or scutched but not spun is 5301.21.

What does scutched mean in textile classification?

Scutched refers to the mechanical process of beating the flax straw to separate the textile fibers from the woody parts of the plant.