Requests are accepted by March 15, for HTS and Schedule B provisions to take effect on the following July 1, and July 15, for HTS and Schedule B provisions to take effect on the following January 1. Some requests may be delayed from one meeting to the next while more information is gathered.

The basic elements of a 484(f) request include: the reason for the request, the proposed language for each requested statistical annotation and the names of importers and exporters of the articles in the annotation. Please note that requests for such provisions should describe products based on their physical characteristics whenever possible but may rely on other criteria such as unit value or specified and accepted standards (such as those of the U.S. Department of Agriculture) when appropriate; and in some instances, permanent labeling or other widely understood criteria may be acceptable. No confidential information should be included in any submission.

The Committee would also appreciate the following information:

• An explanation of how the good(s) affected by the change is (are) used and not used
• A key ingredients list for the good(s) affected by the change
• An illustration (or photo or schematic) of the good(s) affected by the change
• An explanation of any standards the affected product(s) meet
• A list of the primary country or countries of origin for the product(s)

Requests for provisions that would appear only in Schedule B for exports should be clearly marked; such requests normally relate to products of particular U.S. export interest where more descriptive detail is desired.

Requests must be submitted according to the four-digit HTS heading. For example, if you are requesting four statistical reporting numbers under heading 0801, they may be submitted as a single request. However, if you are requesting new statistical reporting numbers under headings 0801, 0804, 0808, and 0814, each should be submitted as a separate request. Implementing this format will allow the committee to more efficiently review and process requests.

Please submit requests for statistical modifications and any other inquiries electronically to 484f@usitc.gov and consult the Preface to the current official Basic HTS for more information on the Committee.

After the March 15 and July 15 submission dates have passed, the Committee sets a meeting date. Meetings are usually held in May and October. The Committee may seek additional input from requesters or other entities about each proposed change before or after its semiannual meetings. The requested language may need to be modified to ensure accurate reporting and to enable Customs administration; sometimes, provisions may need to be aggregated to avoid disclosure or to minimize the reporting burden. Feedback on the Committee’s processing of requests and on the outcomes will be provided to each requesting party after the Committee meeting. Follow-up discussions can be arranged. If a request is denied, it can be resubmitted for a future meeting with appropriate modifications that take into account the basis of the denial.

Due to the recent government shutdown that affected the date of the Fall 2025 484(f) Committee meeting, the effective date of approved statistical reporting numbers in the HTS are delayed from the usual January 1 effective date. The current target effective date for any approved changes in the HTS is February 1, 2026. However, changes that were approved in the Fall 2025 cycle for Schedule B will still be effective on January 1, 2026. Thus, please note that the posted list of recently approved numbers for the Fall 2025 cycle is only composed of Schedule B numbers. Statistical reporting numbers for the HTS will be posted in mid-January 2026.