Lactose and Lactose Syrup, NESOI

Lower-purity lactose and lactose syrups — those falling below the 99% anhydrous lactose threshold of heading 170211 — serve primarily as food-grade sweeteners, animal feed ingredients, and general industrial inputs, classified under a single 10-digit line (1702190000). The Netherlands and New Zealand are the leading US suppliers, with France, Germany, and Japan rounding out the top sources, reflecting both European dairy processing capacity and Japan's specialty food ingredient trade. Dairy-derived products are subject to FDA admissibility review and may be subject to dairy tariff-rate quota provisions; importers should consult a licensed customs broker to confirm applicable duty treatment.