3205.00.40.40 - Blue

This HTS subcategory, 3205.00.40.40, specifically classifies "Blue" color lakes and related preparations. These are coloring agents derived from specific chemical processes, where a soluble dye is precipitated or adsorbed onto an insoluble substance to create a pigment. The classification under "Color lakes" indicates these are not the soluble dyes themselves, but rather insoluble pigments derived from them, suitable for a wide range of applications requiring a blue hue.

Distinguishing this category from its siblings, 3205.00.40.10 (Yellow) and 3205.00.40.20 (Red), is solely based on the specific color imparted by the pigment. While all fall under the broader heading of color lakes and preparations, this subcategory is exclusively for those products exhibiting a blue color. The "Other" sibling (3205.00.40.55) would encompass color lakes and preparations of other colors not specifically enumerated.

As a leaf node, there are no further subdivisions. Therefore, classification within 3205.00.40.40 requires confirmation that the product is indeed a color lake or preparation based on color lakes and that its characteristic color is blue. Examples include pigments used in inks, paints, plastics, or textiles where a blue coloration is desired.