Heading 4301 covers skins in their raw state — not tanned, dressed, or otherwise processed beyond basic preservation such as salting or drying. Once a skin has been tanned, pickled, or dressed, it is classified under the heading for tanned or dressed furskins.

Species covered by CITES (such as certain otters or big cats) require a CITES export permit from the country of origin and a US import permit issued by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Mink and fox from ranch operations are generally not CITES-listed, but importers should verify the species status before shipment.