Water Pipe Tobacco (Hookah Tobacco)

Water pipe tobacco — commonly known as hookah or shisha — is defined by Subheading Note 1 to Chapter 24 and classified exclusively under a single US tariff line (2403110000), distinguishing it from other smoking tobacco by its characteristic partial combustion in a water-filtered device and typically high molasses or glycerin content. The United Arab Emirates and Turkey are the dominant suppliers, with Russia, Jordan, and Spain also present — a geographic pattern consistent with the product's strong cultural roots in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean. FDA Center for Tobacco Products regulates water pipe tobacco as a tobacco product, and importers must ensure that foreign manufacturers comply with applicable FDA registration and listing requirements prior to shipment.