Edible Food Products of Animal Origin (NES)

Products that commonly land here include certain rendered animal fats not classified elsewhere, edible blood products, specialty glandular extracts used as food ingredients, and other processed animal-derived items that lack a dedicated SITC heading. The key criterion is that the product must be edible and of animal origin but not fit a named category such as meat, dairy, eggs, or seafood.

USDA FSIS has jurisdiction over products derived from livestock and poultry when they meet the statutory definition of a 'meat food product' or 'poultry product.' FDA governs most other edible animal-origin ingredients, including seafood-derived products and certain rendered fats. When the regulatory pathway is unclear, importers should consult with a licensed customs broker and consider submitting a pre-import inquiry to the relevant agency before the first shipment.