Glycerol classifies under subheading 290545 regardless of whether it is crude or refined. However, crude glycerol with significant impurities may be classified differently at the 10-digit US tariff-line level than refined glycerol. The degree of purification and the glycerol content by weight are the key specification details to confirm with a customs broker.

Lauryl (C12), cetyl (C16), and stearyl (C18) alcohols are long-chain fatty alcohols derived primarily from natural fats and oils, and they have their own dedicated subheading (290517). Shorter-chain saturated monohydric alcohols not specifically named elsewhere in the heading fall under the residual subheading 290519. Chain length and the carbon number are the practical classification criteria.