0307.31.00 - Live, fresh or chilled

This HTS classification, 0307.31.00, specifically encompasses live, fresh, or chilled mussels. This means the mussels are either alive and intended for immediate consumption or culinary preparation, or they have been harvested and preserved through refrigeration but not frozen. The classification is concerned with the immediate post-harvest state of the product, emphasizing its perishable nature and the methods of preservation used to maintain its quality for consumption.

It is important to distinguish this category from its sibling, 0307.32.00.00, which covers mussels that have been frozen. The distinction hinges on the temperature treatment: frozen mussels have undergone a process to lower their internal temperature to below freezing point, significantly altering their texture and shelf life compared to fresh or chilled specimens. Additionally, the sibling category 0307.39.01.00 covers "Other" mussels not fitting the live, fresh, chilled, or frozen criteria, which might include dried or salted preparations, for example.

Within this classification for live, fresh, or chilled mussels, further subdivisions exist to provide more granular detail. The subcategory 0307.31.00.10 addresses mussels that have been farmed, differentiating them from those that are wild-caught. The remaining mussels within this group fall under the "Other" subcategory, 0307.31.00.90, for any live, fresh, or chilled mussels that do not meet the criteria for being farmed. This allows for a more precise accounting and tariff application based on the origin of the product.