Seed potatoes are used for planting and can introduce soil-borne pests and diseases — such as potato cyst nematode and bacterial ring rot — into US agricultural areas. USDA APHIS therefore requires phytosanitary certificates, variety approval, and in some cases pre-export inspections for seed potato shipments, requirements that do not apply in the same form to table-stock potatoes.

Heading 0701 covers only potatoes that are fresh or chilled — not frozen, dried, or otherwise processed. Frozen potatoes (including french fries) move to a different heading in Chapter 7, and potato flour, flakes, or starch are classified in later chapters. The fresh-or-chilled condition at time of import is the controlling factor.