0408 - Birds' eggs, not in shell, and egg yolks, fresh, dried, cooked by steaming or by boiling in water, molded, frozen or otherwise preserved, whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter:

This HTS category, 0408, specifically addresses birds' eggs and their yolks when they are removed from their shells. This includes a wide range of preparations for both whole eggs and separated yolks, such as fresh, dried, steamed, boiled, molded, frozen, or preserved in any other manner. Importantly, products classified under 0408 may also contain added sugar or other sweetening matter.

Distinguishing 0408 from its siblings in Chapter 4 is crucial. While other categories in Chapter 4 might cover shelled eggs (if such a specific category existed, which it doesn't directly at this level) or dairy products, 0408 is exclusively for *unshelled* egg products. It differs significantly from categories in Chapter 1, which deal with live animals such as poultry or other livestock, by focusing solely on the processed or prepared egg commodity itself, not the live animal.

Within the 0408 classification, further distinctions are made based on the specific part of the egg being classified. The subcategories allow for the precise identification of either egg yolks, which are covered under a specific subdivision, or "other" unshelled egg products, which would encompass the whole egg contents or any other preparation not specifically designated as yolk. This granular breakdown ensures accurate tariff application based on the composition and form of the processed egg product.