USDA APHIS may require health certificates or evidence of heat treatment for pig bristles from certain countries to mitigate swine-disease risk. Requirements vary by country of origin and whether the bristles have been processed (e.g., boiled). Importers should verify current APHIS import conditions before shipment, as requirements can change with disease-status updates. Consult a licensed customs broker or APHIS directly for current admissibility conditions.

Raw and simply cleaned badger hair classifies here as a brush-making raw material. Once the hair is assembled into a finished shaving brush — even if the handle is rudimentary — the product typically classifies as a finished brush under a separate heading. The degree of assembly and whether the hair has been mounted or bound into a usable form determines the correct heading.