Vegetable materials and vegetable waste, vegetable residues and by-products, whether or not in the form of pellets, of a kind used in animal feeding, not elsewhere specified or included

CN code 230800 covers vegetable materials, vegetable waste and vegetable residues and by-products of a kind used in animal feeding, not elsewhere specified or included. This heading covers acorns, chestnuts intended for feed purposes, fruit waste, vegetable marc, beet leaves and other plant waste used in animal nutrition. This heading is residual in nature and covers plant-origin feed materials not classified in more specific headings of chapter 23 or chapters 7 to 14. Acorns are traditionally used in Iberian pig farming in Spain and Portugal, where they form a key dietary element in the montanera system. Chestnuts failing to meet quality standards for human consumption may be classified under this code as feed material.

Import of plant feed materials under CN code 230800 may be subject to phytosanitary requirements under Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, depending on the product type and country of origin. Acorns and chestnuts may be carriers of quarantine organisms, requiring verification by phytosanitary services. As feed materials, these products are subject to Regulation (EC) No 767/2009 regarding labelling and marketing and Directive 2002/32/EC regarding undesirable substances. Particular attention should be paid to the presence of mycotoxins and tannins, which in excessive quantities can be harmful to animals. The producer or importer of feed material must hold registration or approval under Regulation (EC) No 183/2005. An appropriate quality control system should include monitoring of undesirable substances in each batch of delivered material.

For customs clearance of feed materials under CN code 230800, a customs declaration is required along with the commercial invoice and transport documents. The product description should precisely indicate the type of plant material, for example cork oak acorns or chestnuts, and its feed purpose. Where a phytosanitary certificate is required, it must be obtained from the phytosanitary authorities of the exporting country before shipment. Plant waste from food processing classified under this code may include fruit pomace, beet pulp after sugar extraction and other residues not covered by more specific CN codes. It is advisable to check whether the feed material is listed in the EU Catalogue of Feed Materials maintained under Regulation (EC) No 767/2009, which facilitates correct product labelling.

Acorns and horse chestnuts for feed under CN 2308 00 enter duty-free at 0%.