HS Code for Starch

Starch, when classified as a natural polymer in primary forms, falls under HS code 3913.90. While many food-grade starches are found in Chapter 11, heading 3913 is reserved for natural polymers and modified natural polymers that are not elsewhere specified or included. This classification typically applies to starches that have been chemically modified or are presented in 'primary forms' as defined by Note 6 to Chapter 39. Primary forms include liquids and pastes, blocks of irregular shape, lumps, powders, granules, and flakes. The classification under 3913.90 is often used for specialized industrial starches, such as amylopectin or certain hardened proteins, which serve as raw materials for the plastics or adhesives industries. The General Rules of Interpretation require that if a product is a polymer in a primary form and is not specifically named in other chapters (like 3505 for dextrins), it must be placed in the residual category of the plastics chapter. This ensures that chemically complex natural substances used in industrial manufacturing are consistently categorized based on their chemical structure as polymers.

Products Included

• Amylopectin in primary forms
• Modified natural polymers (other than alginic acid)
• Hardened proteins in primary forms
• Chemical derivatives of natural starch for industrial use
• Natural polymers in granules or powders

Common Misclassification

Starch is most commonly misclassified under HS code 1108.12 (maize starch) or 1108.13 (potato starch), which are for unmodified food starches. It is also often confused with 3505.10, which covers dextrins and other modified starches used as glues. The distinction lies in the degree of chemical modification and the intended industrial application as a polymer resin.

FAQ

What is the HS code for starch (as a polymer)?

When treated as a natural polymer in primary forms, the HS code is 3913.90.

How does 3913.90 differ from Chapter 11 starch?

Chapter 11 covers basic agricultural starch, while 3913.90 covers starches that are chemically treated or categorized as industrial natural polymers.