0309.90.40 - Live, fresh or chilled

This HTS category, 0309.90.40, encompasses flours, meals, and pellets derived from molluscs that are intended for human consumption and are presented in a live, fresh, or chilled state. This includes a wide range of edible molluscs that have not undergone freezing. The emphasis is on the immediate condition of the product, making it distinct from processed or preserved forms.

It is crucial to differentiate this category from its siblings. Specifically, 0309.90.50 covers molluscan flours, meals, and pellets that are frozen, indicating a preservation method absent in this classification. Similarly, 0309.90.60.00, "Other," would likely apply to products not fitting the more specific subcategories or other listed forms within the broader Chapter 3.

Within this category, further distinctions are made. Subcategory 0309.90.40.30 specifically addresses conch preparations, while 0309.90.40.90 serves as a residual classification for all other types of molluscs presented live, fresh, or chilled in flour, meal, or pellet form. This hierarchical structure allows for precise classification based on the specific type of mollusc and its presentation.