Animal — HTS 1516
Animal, vegetable or microbial fats and oils and their fractions, partly or wholly hydrogenated, inter-esterified, re-esterified or elaidinized, whether or not refined, but not further prepared
Chapter 15 › Heading 1516
2026 HTS Rev 19 Synced Rules verified Operational
Written to help non-specialists understand this page. Rates, dates, and legal facts come from the official records above and on the linked source.
HTS heading 1516 is a broad product category for animal, vegetable, or microbial fats and oils that have been chemically modified by processes such as hydrogenation, inter-esterification, re-esterification, or elaidinization. The goods may be refined, but they must not be further prepared into a different food or industrial product. The heading can cover the modified fat or oil itself and its fractions.
To reach the correct 8-digit HTSUS code, first identify the source and composition—such as animal, vegetable, or microbial origin—and then determine the specific type or material described by the subheading. Confirm the product’s processing, whether it is a fraction, and whether any additional preparation moves it outside heading 1516. The product’s technical specifications, formulation, and intended form may be important; a customs broker or classification specialist may be needed for borderline cases.
What to check
- Review the supplier’s specification sheet, formulation, and manufacturing description to confirm the source and modification process.
- Determine whether the product is hydrogenated, inter-esterified, re-esterified, or elaidinized, and whether it is only refined or has been further prepared.
- Check whether the goods are a whole oil or fat, or a fraction, and use the subheading language that matches that distinction.
- Compare the product’s actual composition with the relevant 8-digit HTSUS descriptions; do not classify by marketing name alone.
- Keep supporting records, and obtain customs-broker or classification advice when the processing, source, or intended use creates uncertainty.
HTS heading 1516 summary
Animal is a 4-digit product category containing 2 published product-code lines in this snapshot. A heading does not carry one universal duty rate; classification must be narrowed to the line matching the product facts.
How to find your code in this category
A heading is a product category. To get the exact duty, narrow from this 4-digit heading to a sub-category (usually by material), then open the 8-digit code that matches your product.
Open any code in the tables below to see its exact duty rate, a duty calculator (enter your shipment value → estimated duty and landed cost), the rate-change history chart, and the country-by-country breakdown (including Section 301/232 add-on duties).
Why you have to click in: a single category can contain products with very different duties. The rate depends on the specific product — its material and construction — and on the country of origin, and those only get pinned down at the 8-digit code level. That is why this page points you to codes instead of showing one rate for the whole category.
Sub-categories
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 1516.20 | Vegetable fats and oils and their fractions |
Product codes & duty rates
👇 Each row is a specific product code — click a blue code to open its full page with exact duty rates by country, the rate-history chart, and a duty calculator. 👉
| Code | Description | General (MFN) | Special | Column 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1516.10.00.00 👉 | Animal fats and oils and their fractions | 7¢/kg | Free | 11¢/kg |
| 1516.30.00.00 👉 | Microbial fats and oils and their fractions | 8.8¢/kg | Free | 11¢/kg |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 1516?
Animal, vegetable or microbial fats and oils and their fractions, partly or wholly hydrogenated, inter-esterified, re-esterified or elaidinized, whether or not refined, but not further prepared. To classify a specific item you must pick the matching sub-category and 8-digit code above; the right choice usually depends on the material and construction of the product.
How do I choose the right code within this category?
Start from the sub-categories (typically divided by material—for example cotton versus man-made fibers), then open the active 8- or 10-digit code that matches the product. When unsure, a licensed customs broker or a CBP binding ruling can confirm the classification.
Reference information only, not customs, legal, or classification advice. Confirm the current code and rate against the official HTS before you import.