0404 - Whey, whether or not concentrated or containing added sugar or other sweetening matter; products consisting of natural milk constituents, whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter, not elsewhere specified or included:
Sub-classifications
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0404 90
Overview
This HTS category, 0404, encompasses whey and other products derived from natural milk constituents, excluding those specifically categorized elsewhere. This includes concentrated whey, whether or not sweetened, and any preparations primarily composed of natural milk solids that do not fit into more specific headings. The key characteristic for inclusion here is the origin from milk, but the absence of a more precise classification based on specific processing or composition.
Unlike sibling categories within Chapter 4, which deal with specific dairy products such as butter (0405), cheese (0406), or milk and cream (0401-0403), this heading serves as a residual category for whey-based items and other milk-derived products that do not conform to those more defined classifications. For instance, while whey is a component of cheese production, this heading specifically addresses whey as a standalone product or as a primary constituent in other mixtures.
The subcategories within 0404.10 and 0404.90 further refine these distinctions. 0404.10 specifically addresses whey and modified whey, delineating between variations based on concentration and the addition of sweeteners. The residual category, 0404.90, covers all other products consisting of natural milk constituents not classified under 0404.10 or any other HTS chapter, emphasizing the "not elsewhere specified or included" aspect of this broad heading.