In Detail
Definitional notes appear throughout the HTSUS and resolve term ambiguity before it can affect heading comparison. When a heading uses a term that might be understood in more than one way, a definitional note in the chapter or section establishes precisely which meaning applies for classification purposes. This meaning governs regardless of how the term is used outside the HTSUS.
The scope of a definitional note is strictly limited to the chapter or section where it appears. A definition in Chapter 84 does not apply to the same term appearing in Chapter 85. This is particularly important for terms like "machine," "apparatus," "instrument," and "device," which appear across many chapters and may carry different definitions in different contexts.
Definitional notes interact directly with heading text analysis under GRI 1. Once a definitional note is identified, the heading is no longer read using the term's ordinary meaning — it is read using the note's definition. A product that would not ordinarily match a heading's description may nonetheless be classified there if a definitional note extends the term's meaning to cover it. Conversely, a product that ordinarily fits a term may be excluded if the note's definition is narrower than its common usage.
Some definitional notes define terms that appear in multiple headings throughout the chapter, effectively reshaping the coverage of multiple provisions simultaneously.
Classification Significance
A classifier who reads heading text without identifying applicable definitional notes may misinterpret the scope of every heading in the chapter that uses the defined term. Definitional notes are especially consequential in chapters with broad, recurring terms — like "parts," "accessories," "apparatus," and "preparations" — where the chapter-specific definition may diverge materially from commercial or dictionary usage.
How Kanon Handles This
Kanon's corpus parser extracts definitional notes and applies their definitions when evaluating heading text against product attributes. For every heading that uses a term defined by a chapter or section note, Kanon substitutes the note's definition for the term's ordinary meaning before comparing the heading to product attributes. This substitution and its basis are documented in the Classification Support Package.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a definitional note override the common commercial meaning of a term?
Yes — within the chapter or section where it appears, the definitional note's meaning controls over common commercial meaning and ordinary meaning.
If a term is defined differently in two chapters, which definition applies?
The definition in the chapter where the goods are being classified governs. Definitions are chapter-specific and do not carry across the schedule.