4405.00.00.00 - Wood wool (excelsior); wood flour

This HTS classification, 4405.00.00.00, specifically covers "Wood wool (excelsior)" and "wood flour." Wood wool, commonly known as excelsior, consists of long, thin shavings or strands of wood, typically produced by machines. It is often used as packing material or for decorative purposes. Wood flour, on the other hand, is a finely ground powder made from wood, serving as a filler or additive in various manufacturing processes, such as in the production of plastics, linoleum, and composite wood products.

It is important to distinguish this category from other wood-related classifications. While Chapter 44 encompasses a broad range of wood and articles of wood, this particular heading is reserved for these specific processed forms of wood. It does not include raw timber, sawn lumber, manufactured wood products like furniture or plywood, nor does it cover wood charcoal, which is classified separately. The defining characteristic is the transformation of wood into either long, flexible strands (wood wool) or a fine particulate powder (wood flour).

As this classification is a leaf node within the HTS, there are no further subcategories. Therefore, the focus for accurate classification rests on the physical form and intended use of the product. Importers and exporters should ensure that the goods precisely match the descriptions of wood wool (excelsior) or wood flour to fall under this heading, as other forms of processed wood will be classified elsewhere in Chapter 44 or other relevant sections of the HTS.