9902.12.70 - Camel hair, not processed in any manner beyond the degreased or carbonized condition (provided for in subheading 5102.19.20)

This Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classification, 9902.12.70, specifically covers camel hair that has undergone limited processing. The permissible treatments include degreasing, which removes natural oils and impurities, and carbonizing, a process that eliminates vegetable matter. Crucially, any further processing beyond these basic steps would place the material into a different HTS category. This provision is designed to accommodate camel hair in a relatively raw or semi-processed state as defined by the referenced subheading 5102.19.20.

Distinguishing this category from its immediate siblings within the HTS database is vital for accurate classification. While siblings such as live animals (Chapters 01) or other raw animal materials may appear in close proximity within the HTS, this specific code is dedicated to the hair of camels and only after the described minimal processing. The focus is not on live animals, nor on more extensively processed textile fibers which would fall under different chapters or subheadings. The strict definition of permissible processing is the key differentiator.

As a leaf node within the HTS structure, HTS 9902.12.70 does not have further subcategories. Therefore, the classification hinges entirely on meeting the precise criteria outlined in its description: camel hair that is either degreased or carbonized, but not subjected to any subsequent manufacturing or processing steps that would alter its fundamental form or prepare it for direct textile use beyond these initial treatments. Importers must ensure that the camel hair they declare meets these narrow specifications to correctly utilize this temporary tariff provision.