1103 - Cereal groats, meal and pellets:

HTS 1103 encompasses cereal groats, meal, and pellets. Groats are the hulled grains of cereals that have been broken into smaller pieces, while meal is a finer product resulting from the grinding of cereal grains. Pellets are formed by compressing these grains or meals into small, uniform shapes. This category is specifically for products derived from the milling of cereals intended for consumption or further processing, excluding whole grains or unmilled forms.

This classification is distinct from other categories within Chapter 11, such as flours (HTS 1101-1102) which are typically much finer powders, or malt (HTS 1107) which involves a germinating and drying process. While siblings at higher levels (Section II) might also cover vegetable products, HTS 1103 is precisely defined by its milling process and the resulting physical form of the cereal.

Within HTS 1103, further subdivisions distinguish between groats and meal (which fall under a broader subheading not explicitly listed here for detail) and pellets. This distinction is crucial for tariff purposes, allowing for specific duty rates based on the manufacturing process and intended use. The classification relies on the physical form and the milling process to accurately categorize these cereal derivatives.