Carob pods and locust beans — the seed-bearing fruit of Ceratonia siliqua — are traded as a natural sweetener substitute, a source of locust bean gum (a widely used food thickener), and a livestock feed ingredient, with Spain the dominant supplier reflecting the Mediterranean basin's near-monopoly on commercial carob cultivation. The single US tariff line (1212920000) covers the commodity in fresh, chilled, frozen, or dried form, meaning the same line applies whether the product arrives as whole dried pods or as cleaned seeds destined for gum extraction. FDA oversight applies to carob destined for food or food-ingredient use, and importers should ensure country-of-origin labeling and any organic certification claims are supported by appropriate documentation. Locust bean gum extracted from carob seeds classifies separately under Chapter 13 once processed.

AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.