Imports of milk and cream under this heading are subject to TRQ administration, meaning a set volume may enter at a lower in-quota duty rate, while quantities above that threshold face a higher over-quota rate. TRQ allocations are managed by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), and importers must obtain a license or certificate to claim the in-quota rate. Timing and quota fill rates vary by period, so monitoring USTR announcements is important for planning shipments.

All fluid milk imported into the US must be pasteurized in accordance with FDA's Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) standards or an equivalent foreign standard recognized by FDA. Raw (unpasteurized) milk cannot be legally imported for human consumption. Labels must comply with FDA food labeling regulations, including accurate fat-content declarations that also determine the correct HTS subheading.