0712 - Dried vegetables, whole, cut, sliced, broken or in powder, but not further prepared:
Sub-classifications
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0712 20
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0712 2020 00
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Overview
This HTS category, 0712, encompasses a wide array of dried vegetables that have undergone processing such as being whole, cut, sliced, broken, or reduced to powder. Crucially, the vegetables classified here are not further prepared beyond these basic drying and size reduction methods. This means products that have been cooked, seasoned, or incorporated into more complex food preparations would typically fall under different HTS headings.
Distinguishing this category from its siblings at the root level is essential. Chapter 07 of the HTS broadly covers edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers. However, 0712 specifically addresses *dried* vegetables, whereas sibling categories at the same high level might cover live animals (e.g., 0101, 0102) or fresh or chilled vegetables (which would be found in earlier chapters or sections). The key differentiator is the state of preservation – dried versus fresh, live, or processed in a way that changes its fundamental character beyond drying and simple cutting or powdering.
Within this category, the HTS provides further subdivisions to refine classification based on the specific type of dried vegetable. Subheadings like 0712.20 for dried onions allow for precise identification. Other subcategories, such as those for mushrooms, wood ears, jelly fungi, and truffles, and a general "other vegetables; mixtures of vegetables" category (0712.90), acknowledge the diversity of dried vegetable products and the need for detailed classification based on their botanical origin or composition.