3912.31.00.90 - Other

This HTS category, 3912.31.00.90, encompasses carboxymethylcellulose and its salts that do not meet the specific criteria for other, more precisely defined subcategories. Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) is a derivative of cellulose, a natural polymer found in plants, which has been chemically modified to include carboxymethyl groups. Its salts, such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose, are commonly used due to their excellent solubility and binding properties. These materials are typically in powder, granular, or liquid forms and serve a wide range of industrial applications, including as thickeners, binders, emulsifiers, and stabilizers in food products, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, detergents, and paper manufacturing.

This specific "Other" designation is critical for distinguishing it from sibling categories. For instance, it is differentiated from classifications that specify a particular purity or concentration of carboxymethylcellulose, such as those containing a minimum percentage of the active ingredient. When a shipment of carboxymethylcellulose or its salts has characteristics that don't align with other defined subheadings at this level, including those based on specific weight percentages or purity, it falls under this residual category. The key is to ensure that all other more specific classifications have been considered and ruled out.

As this is a leaf node within the HTS structure, there are no further subcategories to introduce. Therefore, the focus remains on the practical classification of goods that fit the broad definition of carboxymethylcellulose and its salts but are not otherwise specified. Importers and exporters should carefully review the full product specifications, including any analytical data on purity, intended use, and physical form, to accurately determine if their goods belong in this "Other" classification, ensuring compliance with customs regulations.