0204.21.00.00 - Carcasses and half-carcasses

This HTS category, 0204.21.00.00, specifically encompasses carcasses and half-carcasses of sheep or goats that are fresh or chilled. This classification is applied to the complete or partially divided body of the animal, prepared for consumption, but prior to further cutting or processing into specific retail or foodservice portions. The key criterion is the unprocessed state of the entire animal or its halves, excluding any cuts that have been separated.

It is important to distinguish this category from its siblings. Category 0204.22 covers "Other cuts with bone in," meaning individual cuts of sheep or goat meat that still contain bone but are not full carcasses or half-carcasses. Similarly, category 0204.23 applies to "Boneless" cuts, which are individual portions of sheep or goat meat that have had the bone removed. Therefore, 0204.21.00.00 is exclusively for the whole or halved animal.

As this is a leaf node within the HTS classification, there are no further subcategories. The focus for classification under 0204.21.00.00 is solely on identifying complete or half-carcasses of sheep or goats that are presented in a fresh or chilled condition, distinguishing them from pre-cut or processed meat products.