4501.90 - Other:

This HTS category, "Other," under code 4501.90, encompasses forms of cork that are not raw or simply prepared natural cork. It serves as a residual category for cork materials that have undergone processing beyond the initial stages of preparation but do not fit into the specific subcategories of waste, crushed, granulated, or ground cork. The primary characteristic of items falling under this "Other" designation would be their classification as cork material derived from the cork oak tree (Quercus suber) or other species of the genus Quercus, but not in a form that is directly usable as natural cork closures or simple processed sheets.

Distinguishing this category from its sibling, 4501.10.00.00 (Natural cork, raw or simply prepared), is crucial. The sibling category focuses on cork that is in its most basic state, such as unshaped pieces or sheets that have undergone minimal treatment like boiling or steaming to make them pliable, but have not been further processed into distinct forms or waste materials. 4501.90, conversely, captures cork that has been transformed beyond this basic preparation, often through methods that result in material that is no longer considered "natural cork, raw or simply prepared."

The subcategories within 4501.90 provide further clarity on the types of processed cork that are classified here. These include waste cork, which refers to offcuts, scraps, and by-products generated during the processing of natural cork. Additionally, crushed, granulated, or ground cork are distinct subdivisions, indicating cork that has been mechanically broken down into smaller particles of varying sizes. These subcategories address specific forms of processed cork, allowing for more precise classification than a general "other" designation would permit if they were not separately defined.