CLA-2 CO:R:C:M 952559 DFC
Area Director of Customs
U.S. Customs Service
6 World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
RE: Protest 1001-92-101902; Lamp, clip; Flashlights;
Subheading 9018.90.80; EN 85.13; Chapter 90, Note 1(g);
GRIs 2(a) and 3(b); All Channel Products; Quon Quon
Company; E. Green & Son (New York), Inc.; Additional U.S.
Rule of Interpretation 1(a); HRLs 084852 and 950001
Dear Ms. Maguire:
This is in response to the Application for Further Review of
Protest no. 1001-92-101902, dated March 13, 1992, covering a
shipment of portable electric lamps manufactured in Germany. A
sample was submitted for examination.
FACTS:
The merchandise is a plastic battery operated, portable
electric lamp known as a clip lamp. It is rectangular in shape
and measures approximately 3-1/2 inches in length, 1-1/4 inches
in width and 1/2 inch in thickness. An advertisement is printed
on the plastic housing for a dermatological cream. The clip lamp
consists of a filament bulb, an on-and-off switch, and a built-
in clip 2 inches in length and 1-1/4 inch in width. According to
the protestant, the built-in clip is designed to hold a wood
tongue depressor for oral examinations. Ten individually wrapped
wood tongue depressors are purchased domestically and distributed
with the clip lamp to dermatologists to promote recognition and
use of the dermatological cream.
The entry covering this merchandise was liquidated under
subheading 8513.10.20, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United
States (HTSUS), as portable electric lamps designed to function
by their own source of energy (for example, dry batteries,
storage batteries, magnetos), other than lighting equipment of
heading 8512, lamps, flashlights. The applicable rate of duty
for this provision is 25% ad valorem.
-2-
Protestant claims that this merchandise is properly
classifiable under subheading 9018.90.80, HTSUS, as instruments
and appliances used in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary
sciences, including scintigraphic apparatus, other electro-
medical apparatus and sight-testing instruments; parts and
accessories thereof, other instruments and appliances and parts
and accessories thereof, other, other. The applicable rate of
duty for this provision is 7.9% ad valorem.
ISSUE:
Whether the clip lamps are classifiable under subheading
8513.10.20, HTSUS, as flashlights or under subheading
9018.90.80, HTSUS, as other medical instruments and appliances.
LAW AND ANALYSIS:
Classification of goods under the HTSUS is governed by the
General Rules of Interpretation (GRIs). GRI 1 provides that
"classification shall be determined according to the terms of
the headings and any relative section or chapter notes, and,
provided such headings or notes do not otherwise require,
according to [the remaining GRIs taken in order]" In other
words, classification is governed first by the terms of the
headings of the tariff and any relative section or chapter notes.
Protestant claims that the article is "more than" a portable
electric lamp. In support of this position he cites the case of
E. Green & Son (New York), Inc. v. United States, 64 Cust. Ct.
241, C.D. 3985 (1970), which held that if an article is "more
than" the article provided for in a particular tariff provision,
it is necessary to ascertain the common meaning of the provision
and compare it with the merchandise in question. Protestant
argues that the article's exclusive function to hold the
depressor causes it to become an examination device which makes
it "more than" a portable electric lamp.
Protestant also cites the case of All Channel Products v.
United States, 1 CIT 128 (1981), as support for the position that
the special grooved and dimensional tooling of the clip lamp to
accommodate the wood tongue depressors for medical examinations
would preclude classification as portable electric lamps. In
further support of his position protestant cites the case of
United States v. Quon Quon Company, 46 CCPA 70, C.A.D. 699
(1959), which held that the use of an article is important even
though an eo nomine provision is involved. Following the court's
rationale protestant asserts that the use of the clip lamp as an
instrument in dermatological examinations of the oral cavity
mandates its classification under heading 9018, HTSUS.
-3-
The protestant's arguments set forth above suggest that the
clip lamp is a composite good. The classification of composite
goods is governed by GRI 3(b), HTSUS, which reads as follows:
3. When by application of rule 2(b) or for any other
reason, goods are, prima facie, classifiable under two
or more headings, classification shall be effected as
follows:
(b) Mixtures, composite goods consisting of different
materials or made up of different components, . .
which cannot be classified by reference to 3(a),
shall be classified as if they consisted of the
material or component which gives them their
essential character, insofar as this criterion is
applicable.
The Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System
Explanatory Notes to the HTSUS (EN), although not dispositive,
should be looked to for the proper interpretation of the HTSUS.
SEE 54 FR 35128 (August 23, 1989). EN (IX) to GRI 3(b), at page
4, reads as follows:
(IX) For the purposes of this Rule, composite goods made up
of different components shall be taken to mean not only
those in which the components are attached to each
other to form a practically inseparable whole but also
those with separable components, provided these
components are adapted one to the other and are
mutually complementary and that together they form a
whole which would not normally be offered for sale in
separate parts.
Composite goods are classifiable as if they consisted of the
component which gives them their essential character. EN VIII to
GRI 3(b), at page 4, reads as follows:
(VIII) The factor which determines essential character
will vary as between different kids of goods. It
may, for example, be determined by the nature of
the materials or component, its bulk, quantity,
weight or value, or by the role of a constituent
material in relation to the use of the goods.
-4-
It is our observation that the essential character of the
article is derived from the flashlight. Our reason for this
conclusion is that the primary function of the clip lamp is to
provide light. The function of the clip as a holder for a wooden
tongue depressor is secondary to its function as a flashlight.
Furthermore, we note that the clip portion of the article is
suitable for attaching the clip lamp to one's belt or pocket. It
is most likely that this function is the principal function of
the clip even though it may also be suitable for holding the
tongue depressor.
Note 1(g) to Chapter 90, HTSUS, reads as follows:
1. This chapter does not cover:
(g) Searchlights or spotlights of a kind used for cycles or
motor vehicles (heading No. 85.12); portable electric
lamps of heading no. 85.13 . . . . (Emphasis added.)
EN 85.13 reads, in pertinent part at page 1351, as follows:
This heading covers portable electric lamps designed to
function by means of a self-contained source of electricity
(e.g. dry cell, accumulator or magneto).
* * *
The lamps of this heading include:
* * *
(6) Fancy torches in the shape of pistols, pens, etc.
Composite articles composed of a lamp or torch and
a pen, screwdriver, key ring, etc., remain
classified here only if the main function of the
whole is the provision of light.
It is our view that the clip lamp falls within the above
cited portion of EN 85.13 in that the main function is the
provision of light. Thus, it is precluded from classification
under Chapter 90, HTSUS.
Finally, we are not persuaded that the built-in clip of the
clip lamp which accommodates the wood tongue depressors should
preclude classification under heading 8513, HTSUS. It is our
opinion that the clip lamp is not similar to instruments and
appliances used in the medical profession. It is our
understanding as stated previously that the principal use of this
article would be as a flashlight with a pocket clip. See
Additional U.S. Rule of Interpretation 1(a), HTSUS.
-5-
Protestant maintains that the clip lamp has the essential
character of the complete or finished article by virtue of GRI
2(a), HTSUS. He contends that the clip lamp as imported is a
lighting device which holds a wood tongue depressor and that it
is specially designed for use by physicians in the performance of
oral examinations.
GRI 2(a) is not applicable here. The clip lamp as imported
is a complete or finished article. The essential character of
the clip lamp is that of a flashlight The built-in clip does
not preclude classification of the clip lamp as a portable
electric lamp because it can be held in the hand or clipped to a
pocket or belt. The article's primary function is as a source
of illumination, not to hold wood tongue depressors.
Customs has defined flashlights as small battery operated
portable electric lights normally held in the hand by the housing
itself, the primary function of which is to project a beam of
light. See, Headquarters Ruling Letter (HRL) 084852 dated March
28, 1990, and HRL 950001 dated September 11, 1991. The clip lamp
meets this definition of a flashlight under subheading
8513.10.20, HTSUS, because it projects a beam of light, is
battery operated and will be held in the hand by its housing.
It is our position that the clip lamp is dutiable at the
rate of 25% ad valorem under subheading 8513.10.20, HTSUS, as
flashlights.
HOLDING:
The protest should be denied. A copy of the decision should
be attached to the Customs Form 19 and provided to the protestant
as part of the notice of action on the protest.
Sincerely,
John Durant, Director
Commercial Rulings Division