Lobster Meal for Soups
Lobster meal for soups is a coarsely ground, dehydrated lobster product used as a base for instant soups and bisques, fit for direct human consumption. It qualifies as a meal of crustaceans under this tariff item, distinct from flours or pellets, and is not excluded by chapter notes as unfit for human use.
Import Duty Rates by Country of Origin
| Origin Country | MFN Tariff | Surtaxes | Total Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇳China | 5% | — | 5% |
| 🇲🇽Mexico | 5% | — | 5% |
| 🇺🇸United States | 5% | +25.0% | 30% |
| 🇩🇪Germany | 5% | — | 5% |
| 🇯🇵Japan | 5% | — | 5% |
More Specific Codes
This product may fall under a more specific subheading:
Alternative Classifications
This product could be classified differently depending on its characteristics or intended use.
If the meal includes other aquatic invertebrates in addition to crustaceans
This covers other aquatic invertebrate meals fit for human consumption.
If the lobster meal is cooked or otherwise prepared beyond simple drying
Prepared or preserved crustaceans fall under Chapter 16.
Not sure which classification is right?
The Tariff Assistant works through the GRI rules on your specific product to reach the right tariff item — and can price the duty on it in the same conversation.
Import Tips & Compliance
• Confirm the product is not smoked, as smoked crustacean meals may be classified elsewhere
• Keep records of the dehydration process to prove it is not a live or fresh product
• Check if the meal contains added salt or preservatives, which could affect classification
Related Products under Tariff item 0309.90.10
Chilled Crab Meal
Coarse meal produced by grinding chilled crab meat, intended for human consumption in soups, patties, or as a protein supplement. Classified under tariff item 0309.10.00 as a meal of crustaceans fit for human consumption.
Chilled Prawn Flour
Ultra-fine flour from chilled prawns, used in Asian cuisine for tempura batter or nutritional shakes, safe for direct human ingestion. Classified under tariff item 0309.10.00 as a flour of crustaceans fit for human consumption.
Crab Flour for Noodle Making
Ultra-fine flour from ground crab shells and meat, used in Asian noodle production for umami flavor and nutrition. Classified under tariff item 0309.10.00 as a flour of crustaceans fit for human consumption.
Dried Shrimp Meal Powder
Dried shrimp meal powder is a finely milled powder obtained by dehydrating and grinding shrimp, intended for use in human dietary supplements or as a culinary thickening agent. It is classified under this tariff item as a flour of crustaceans fit for human consumption, per the chapter notes that exclude products unfit for human use.
Fresh Crawfish Meal Powder
Powdered meal from fresh crawfish (crayfish), a staple in Cajun cooking for gumbos, fit for human consumption without preservation. Classified under tariff item 0309.10.00 as a meal of crustaceans fit for human consumption.
Fresh Lobster Pellet Meal
Pellets agglomerated from fresh lobster using minimal binder, designed as a human-consumable ingredient for seafood stocks or supplements. Classified under tariff item 0309.10.00 as pellets of crustaceans fit for human consumption.