1301.90 - Other:

This HTS category, 1301.90, encompasses "Other" lac, natural gums, resins, gum-resins, and oleoresins not specifically listed elsewhere within Chapter 13. It captures a diverse range of vegetable saps and extracts that serve various industrial, medicinal, and artisanal purposes. These substances are typically derived from plants, such as the exudates of trees or other flora, and are characterized by their sticky or solid, amorphous nature and their solubility in certain solvents.

Distinguishing 1301.90 from its sibling, 1301.20 (Gum Arabic), is crucial. Gum Arabic is a highly specific type of gum derived from the acacia tree and possesses distinct physical and chemical properties. Category 1301.90, conversely, is a residual category for all other similar vegetable saps and extracts that do not fall under the more precisely defined classifications like Gum Arabic, often due to variations in their botanical origin, processing, or intended use.

Within 1301.90, further subdivisions exist to provide more granular classification. The subcategory 1301.90.40 specifically addresses "Turpentine gum," which is the oleoresinous exudate obtained from living trees, such as pine trees. This highlights a key distinction where specific oleoresins with a known source and common industrial application, like turpentine gum, are separated from a broader "Other" classification. The remaining subcategories, such as 1301.90.91, capture the residual diversity of vegetable saps and extracts that do not fit the more specific subheadings, underscoring the comprehensive nature of Chapter 13's coverage of these natural products.