4101.50.10 - Not pretanned

This HTS category, 4101.50.10, specifically covers whole hides and skins of bovine (including buffalo) or equine animals that weigh more than 16 kilograms. These hides and skins are not pretanned, meaning they have undergone initial preservation treatments such as salting, drying, liming, or pickling, but have not yet progressed to the tanning stage. This preserves them for later processing into leather.

The critical distinguishing factor for this category is the weight requirement of exceeding 16 kg for whole hides and skins. Sibling categories at this level, such as "Other," would likely encompass hides and skins not fitting specific weight or animal type distinctions, or potentially those with different forms of preparation not explicitly defined elsewhere. The "Not pretanned" description ensures these are raw materials for further leather manufacturing.

Within this category, further subdivisions exist to distinguish between the types of animals. The subcategory 4101.50.10.91, "Of equine animals," separates these hides from those of bovine animals. This distinction is crucial for trade statistics and specific regulatory requirements that may apply differently to horsehides versus cattle hides.