3808.93 - Herbicides, anti-sprouting products and plant-growth regulators:

This HTS category, 3808.93, specifically addresses herbicides, anti-sprouting products, and plant-growth regulators. These are chemical substances or mixtures designed to control or manage plant growth. Herbicides are formulated to kill or inhibit the growth of unwanted plants (weeds), while anti-sprouting products prevent the germination of seeds or the sprouting of stored crops. Plant-growth regulators are used to influence plant development processes, such as flowering, fruit set, or ripening.

Category 3808.93 is distinguished from its siblings by its focus on plant control agents. Unlike 3808.91 (insecticides) which targets insects, 3808.92 (fungicides) targets fungal diseases, or 3808.94 (disinfectants) which targets microorganisms, this category is exclusively concerned with chemical interventions for plant management. The "Other" designation within 3808.9 implies these products are not insecticides, fungicides, or disinfectants.

Within this category, further distinctions are made based on the chemical composition of the active ingredient. Subcategories exist to differentiate between herbicides, anti-sprouting products, and plant-growth regulators that contain an aromatic or modified aromatic compound, versus those that do not. This granular approach allows for precise classification based on the specific chemical nature of the plant control agent.