1605.57 - Abalone:

This HTS category, 1605.57, specifically covers abalone that has been prepared or preserved. This includes various forms of abalone such as canned, smoked, dried, or otherwise processed for consumption or preservation. The focus is on the abalone itself as the primary component of the preparation, distinguishing it from mixed dishes or other complex food preparations.

Unlike its sibling categories which classify other types of molluscs (e.g., oysters, scallops, mussels, cuttle fish, squid, and octopus), 1605.57 isolates abalone. This distinction is crucial for accurate tariff application, as different species of molluscs may be subject to varying duties or import regulations even when prepared in similar ways. The classification hinges on the identification of abalone as the principal ingredient.

The subcategories within 1605.57 further refine the classification. 1605.57.05.00 is designated for products where abalone is present alongside fish meat or within prepared meals, indicating a more complex foodstuff where abalone is not the sole aquatic invertebrate. The residual category, 1605.57.60.00, encompasses all other prepared or preserved abalone products that do not fall into the more specific subcategory.