Green Coffee, Not Roasted, Decaffeinated

The decaffeination method does not change the HTS classification — all unroasted decaffeinated coffee classifies under heading 0901.12 regardless of process. However, FDA admissibility is affected: methylene chloride (a solvent used in some decaffeination processes) has a strict FDA residue tolerance in finished coffee, and shipments may be subject to examination or sampling. Importers sourcing solvent-processed decaf should request residue test data from suppliers and be prepared to provide it to FDA upon request.

Germany is home to major industrial decaffeination facilities that process green coffee sourced from origin countries and re-export the decaffeinated beans globally. For HTS and country-of-origin purposes, the country of substantial transformation — where the decaffeination processing occurs — may determine the declared origin, though this analysis depends on the specific facts. Importers should work with a customs broker to confirm the correct origin declaration when sourcing from processing intermediaries.