2401.10.48.00 - Other

This classification covers unstemmed and unstripped tobacco, specifically of the Oriental or Turkish type, that does not contain wrapper tobacco or contains wrapper tobacco not exceeding 35 percent of the total weight. This category is intended for tobacco leaves that are harvested and processed in a manner characteristic of Oriental or Turkish tobacco cultivation, which often involves air-curing and smaller leaf sizes. The key defining characteristic is the absence of stemming or stripping, meaning the central stem remains attached to the leaf.

Distinguishing this category from its sibling, 2401.10.44.00 (Cigarette leaf), is crucial. While both are unstemmed/unstripped tobacco types, "Cigarette leaf" specifically refers to tobacco varieties primarily intended and prepared for cigarette production, often implying certain curing processes and leaf characteristics tailored for that purpose. This "Oriental or Turkish type" classification focuses on the specific geographical origin and traditional curing methods associated with those tobacco types, irrespective of their ultimate use in cigarettes, cigars, or other tobacco products, as long as they meet the wrapper tobacco percentage criteria.

As this is a leaf node, there are no further subcategories. Therefore, classification within 2401.10.48.00 relies on meeting the primary criteria: being unstemmed/unstripped, of the Oriental or Turkish type, and adhering to the wrapper tobacco content limitations. Examples of tobacco that would fall here include raw, sun-cured Turkish tobacco leaves with their stems intact, as typically produced in regions like Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, and other parts of the Balkans and Eastern Mediterranean.