1605.56 - Clams, cockles and arkshells:

This HTS category, 1605.56, specifically covers prepared or preserved clams, cockles, and arkshells. These are aquatic bivalve molluscs that have undergone processing beyond simple cleaning or packaging. The preparation can include cooking, canning, freezing, or incorporation into other food products, as long as the primary characteristic remains the mollusc itself. This classification is situated within Chapter 16, which deals with preparations of meat, fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and other aquatic invertebrates.

Category 1605.56 is distinct from its sibling categories within the "Molluscs" subdivision of 1605.5 by focusing exclusively on clams, cockles, and arkshells. For instance, it does not encompass oysters (1605.51), scallops (1605.52), mussels (1605.53), cuttle fish and squid (1605.54), or octopus (1605.55). While all fall under the broader scope of prepared or preserved molluscs, the specific species are differentiated at this level of the tariff schedule.

The subcategories within 1605.56 further refine the classification based on the nature of the preparation. For example, 1605.56.05.00 distinguishes products that contain fish meat or are prepared meals, indicating a complex composition. The subsequent "Other" designation captures all other preparations of clams, cockles, and arkshells not otherwise specified, allowing for a comprehensive classification of diverse products derived from these molluscs.