Partly fermented tea refers to tea that has undergone partial oxidation during processing — oolong tea is the primary commercial example, with oxidation levels typically ranging from 15% to 85% depending on style. For classification under this heading, the key criterion is that the tea is neither fully unfermented (green tea) nor fully fermented (black tea), and that it is packed in immediate packings not exceeding 3 kg. Borderline products should be reviewed by a licensed customs broker with supporting processing documentation.

While FDA does not mandate a specific pesticide certificate for every tea shipment, importers are strongly advised to obtain third-party pesticide residue test reports — ideally tested against both US EPA tolerances and the importing buyer's internal specifications — before shipment. FDA has detained tea shipments for pesticide violations, and a prior test report can expedite release if FDA selects the shipment for examination. Establishing a testing protocol with the foreign supplier is a standard risk-management practice for regular tea importers.