8422.30.91.30 - Vacuum or gas packaging

This HTS category, 8422.30.91.30, specifically encompasses machinery designed for vacuum or gas packaging. These machines are utilized to remove air or inject an inert gas into the packaging of various goods, thereby extending shelf life, preserving product quality, and protecting against spoilage. This process is critical for food products, medical supplies, and other sensitive items. The core function revolves around creating a modified atmosphere within the container before sealing it.

Distinguishing this category from its sibling, 8422.30.91.40 (Other), is crucial. While the sibling category captures a broader range of "other" filling machines not specifically defined elsewhere, this subcategory is precisely targeted at the unique function of vacuum or gas packaging. Therefore, if a machine's primary operational capability and intended use is the removal of air or the introduction of gas for packaging preservation, it falls under this specific code, rather than the more general "other" classification.

As this is a leaf node in the HTS structure, there are no further subcategories branching from 8422.30.91.30. Classification at this level is definitive for machinery exclusively or primarily performing vacuum or gas packaging operations. Practical classification will rely on the machine's operational mechanism, its intended application in creating a modified atmosphere for packaging, and its specific features related to air extraction or gas injection systems.