Lactic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Citric Acid & Their Salts and Esters

Citric acid used as a food additive or pharmaceutical excipient must meet applicable purity standards (e.g., FCC or USP grade) and originate from a facility registered with FDA. Shipments may be subject to FDA examination at the port of entry; importers should maintain supplier audit records and certificates of analysis to support admissibility. Classification as food-grade vs. technical-grade also affects labeling and documentation requirements.

Both bio-based and petrochemical-derived lactic acid are classified under the same SITC heading, as classification is based on chemical identity rather than production route. However, buyers in the bioplastics sector (e.g., polylactic acid production) often specify fermentation-derived L-lactic acid by optical purity and source, which should be captured in purchase specifications and certificates of analysis rather than in the customs classification.