Hand sieves and hand riddles
1 declarable lines
Heading 9604 covers hand sieves and hand riddles: mesh or perforated-bottom tools worked by hand to sift, grade or separate loose material such as flour, grain, sand, soil or ash. The heading has a single declarable line, 9604.00.00.00, so every article that qualifies is classified there at the same rate. The distinction that matters is hand operation, since powered screening and sorting machinery sits outside this heading.
Products in this heading
- Round hand sieve with a wooden rim and wire mesh, used for sifting flour or meal
- Garden riddle with a metal frame and coarse mesh for sieving soil or compost
- Hand sieve for grading sand, gravel or aggregate on a small scale
- Kitchen hand sieve used to strain and aerate dry ingredients
- Hand riddle for sifting ash or charcoal fines
- Small hand-held sieve for sampling grain or seed
- Perforated-plate hand riddle used to break up clumps of powder
How to choose the right subheading
- Hand operation: the sieve or riddle must be worked directly by hand, with no motor or mechanism.
- Sifting surface: wire mesh, perforated plate or woven screen, and its mesh or hole size.
- Frame material: wood, metal or plastic rim, which affects the product description but not the code here.
- Size and grip: whether it is held in one hand or used with two hands over a bin or barrow.
- Intended material: flour and dry food, grain and seed, soil and compost, sand and aggregate, or ash.
Often confused with
- Heading 8474Powered or vibrating screening and sorting machines
Machine-driven screening equipment is machinery of heading 8474, not a hand tool.
- Heading 7323Metal kitchen colanders and strainers
Kitchen strainers for draining food are household articles of iron or steel.
- Heading 3924Plastic household strainers and colanders
Plastic tableware and kitchenware is classified in heading 3924.
- Heading 9603Brooms, brushes and hand-operated mechanical floor sweepers
Sweeping and brushing tools belong to heading 9603 even though they are hand operated.
Frequently asked questions
What is the HTS code for a hand sieve or hand riddle?
Hand sieves and hand riddles are classified under 9604.00.00.00. That single line covers the whole heading, whether the rim is wood, metal or plastic.
What is the duty on hand sieves and hand riddles?
The general (MFN) rate for 9604.00.00.00 is 4.9%. This is the only declarable line in heading 9604, so the rate does not vary by mesh size, frame material or use.
How do I classify a garden riddle used for sieving soil?
A hand-held garden riddle with a mesh or perforated bottom is classified as 9604.00.00.00 at a general (MFN) rate of 4.9%. If the unit is a powered or vibrating screening machine rather than a hand tool, it is not covered by this heading.
Guide written from the official schedule text. Rates quoted are general (MFN) rates; check the line page for trade agreement rates and the classification of your exact product.