Seeds — HTS 1209
Seeds, fruits and spores of a kind used for sowing
Chapter 12 › Heading 1209
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 1209 covers seeds, fruits, and spores intended for sowing or planting. It is a broad product category for propagation materials—not generally seeds, fruits, or spores sold as food, animal feed, or for oil extraction. The heading can include items such as seed used to grow crops, garden plants, flowers, trees, or other vegetation, subject to the exact tariff wording and any exclusions.
To reach the correct 8-digit HTS code, start with the product’s botanical identity and intended use, then follow the more specific subheadings and statistical breakouts under heading 1209. The code may distinguish the material or plant type—for example, whether it is a particular crop, vegetable, flower, tree, or other seed category. Review the full description, unit of quantity, and any applicable notes; do not choose a code based only on a common commercial name.
What to check
- Confirm that the goods are actually intended for sowing or planting, rather than for food, feed, oil production, processing, or decoration.
- Identify the plant precisely, using the botanical name, variety, and the part being imported—such as seed, fruit, or spore.
- Read every subheading and 8-digit statistical description under heading 1209, including residual categories such as “other,” before selecting a code.
- Check the seed’s treatment, coating, mixture, packaging, and condition; these facts may affect whether the listed description fits.
- Verify agriculture, plant-health, seed-certification, and admissibility requirements separately from tariff classification, and ask a customs broker or seek a binding ruling if the facts are uncertain.
HTS heading 1209 summary
Seeds 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1209.10.00.00 👉 | Sugar beet seeds | Free | — | Free |
| 1209.30.00 👉 | Seeds of herbaceous plants cultivated principally for their flowers | 1¢/kg | Free | 13.2¢/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 1209?
Seeds, fruits and spores of a kind used for sowing. 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.