CLA-2-RR:CTF:TCM 967796 IOR
Tariff No. 3926.90.9880
Kate Miller
Ladders to Learning, Inc.
Box 1498
Almonte, Ontario
CANADA K0A 1A0
Re: Rubbing Templates; NY G88117; modified
Dear Ms. Miller:
On March 27, 2001, this office issued to you New York (NY) G88117, classifying various products which were components of a children’s “reading activity kit” identified as “One Gray Mouse,” under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). One of the products, a plastic rubbing template, was classified as a toy under subheading 9503.90.00, HTSUS. We have reconsidered NY G88117 and have determined the classification of the rubbing template to be incorrect.
Pursuant to section 625(c), Tariff Act of 1930, (19 U.S.C. 1625(c)), as amended by section 623 of Title VI (Customs Modernization) of the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, Pub. L. 103-182, 107 Stat. 2057, 2186 (1993), notice of the proposed revocation of NY G88117 was published on November 16, 2005, in the Customs Bulletin, Volume 39, Number 47. One comment was received in response to that notice, opposing the proposed revocation. Relevant portions of the comment are discussed in the Law and Analysis section of this ruling.
FACTS:
In NY G88117, the rubbing template was described as a “Terrific Tracks
Rubbing Plate,” a plastic template to be used with pencils, crayons or the like to make rubbings depicting animal tracks.
ISSUE:
What is the classification of the “Terrific Tracks Rubbing Plate” under the HTSUS.
LAW AND ANALYSIS:
Merchandise is classifiable under the HTSUS in accordance with the General Rules of Interpretation (GRIs). The systematic detail of the HTSUS is such that most goods are classified by application of GRI 1, that is, according to the terms of the headings of the tariff schedule and any relative Section or Chapter Notes. In the event that the goods cannot be classified solely on the basis of GRI 1, and if the headings and legal notes do not otherwise require, the remaining GRIs 2 through 6 may then be applied in order.
The HTSUS provisions under consideration are as follows:
3926 Other articles of plastics and articles of other materials of
headings 3901 to 3914:
3926.90 Other:
3926.90.98 Other…………………………………………..
9017 Drawing, marking-out or mathematical calculating
instruments (for example, drafting machines, pantographs,
protractors, drawing sets, slide rules, disc calculators);
instruments for measuring length, for use in the hand (for
example, measuring rods and tapes, micrometers, calipers),
not specified or included elsewhere in this chapter; parts and
accessories thereof:
9017.20 Other drawing, marking-out or mathematical
calculating instruments:
9017.20.80 Other……………………………………
9503 Other toys; reduced-size (“scale”) models and similar
recreational models, working or not; puzzles of all kinds;
parts and accessories thereof:
9503.90.00 Other………………………………………………..
The issue before us is whether the subject rubbing template is a toy. Articles of Chapter 95, HTSUS, are not classifiable in Chapter 39, or 90, HTSUS. See Note 2(v), Chapter 39 and Note 1(k), Chapter 90. The term "toy" is not defined in the HTSUS. In understanding the language of the HTSUS, the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System Explanatory Notes may be utilized. The Explanatory Notes (ENs), although not dispositive or legally binding, provide a commentary on the scope of each heading of the HTSUS, and are the official interpretation of the Harmonized System at the international level. See T.D. 89-80, 54 Fed. Reg. 35127, 35128 (August 23, 1989).
The General EN for Chapter 95 states that the "Chapter covers toys of all kinds whether designed for the amusement of children or adults." The U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) construes heading 9503, HTSUS, as a "principal use" provision, insofar as it pertains to "toys." See Minnetonka Brands v. United States, 110 F. Supp. 2d 1020, 1026 (CIT 2000). Thus, to be a toy, the "character of amusement involved [is] that derived from an item which is essentially a plaything." Wilson's Customs Clearance, Inc. v. United States, 59 Cust. Ct. 36, C.D. 3061 (1967). It has been CBP’s position that the amusement requirement means that toys should be designed and used principally for amusement.
For articles governed by principal use, Additional U.S. Rule of Interpretation 1(a), HTSUS, provides that, in the absence of special language or context which otherwise requires, such use "is to be determined in accordance with the use in the United States at, or immediately prior to, the date of importation, of goods of that class or kind to which the imported goods belong, and the controlling use is the principal use." In other words, the article's principal use at the time of importation determines whether it is classifiable within a particular class or kind.
While Additional U.S. Rule of Interpretation 1(a), HTSUS, provides general criteria for discerning the principal use of an article, it does not provide specific criteria for individual tariff provisions. However, the CIT has provided factors which are indicative but not conclusive, to apply when determining whether merchandise falls within a particular class or kind. They include: general physical characteristics, the expectation of the ultimate purchaser, channels of trade, environment of sale (accompanying accessories, manner of advertisement and display), use in the same manner as merchandise which defines the class, economic practicality of so using the import, and recognition in the trade of this use. See United States v. Carborundum Company, 63 CCPA 98, C.A.D. 1172, 536 F. 2d 373 (1976), cert. denied, 429 U.S. 979 (hereinafter Carborundum).
For articles that are both amusing and functional, we look to Ideal Toy Corp. v United States, 78 Cust. Ct. 28 (1977), in which the court stated that "when amusement and utility become locked in controversy, the question becomes one of determining whether amusement is incidental to the utilitarian purpose, or whether the utility purpose is incidental to the amusement." Drawing and coloring are activities capable of providing amusement, but the ENs exclude from heading 9503, HTSUS, many articles that are used in drawing, coloring and other art activities. EN 95.03 states, in part, that heading 9503 excludes:
(a) Paints put up for children’s use (heading 32.13).
(b) Modelling pastes put up for children’s amusement (heading 34.07).
(c) Children's picture, drawing or colouring books of heading 49.03.
(d) Transfers (heading 49.08).
. . .
(h) Crayons and pastels for children's use, of heading 96.09.
(ij) Slates and blackboards, of heading 96.10.
These exclusions provide that articles and sets comprised of articles used for drawing or coloring are not classifiable as toys or as toy sets (classified according to GRI 1 under subheading 9503.70.00). The fact that the drafters of the Harmonized System upon which the US tariff schedule is based provided for the above-listed articles eo nomine in headings other than heading 9503, HTSUS, evinces an intent by the drafters that they not be considered toys. To that end, CBP has long construed the scope of heading 9503, HTSUS, to exclude such articles and sets. In HQ 085267, dated May 9, 1990, CBP found that, with respect to the above items listed in the ENs, "[a]lthough they may tend to amuse those who use them, such amusement is incidental to their primary purpose." That is, not all merchandise that provides amusement is properly classified in a toy provision. The listed items were further described as having primarily a drawing and craft function.
CBP has never considered writing, coloring, drawing or painting to have significant "manipulative play value," for purposes of classification as a toy. Nor does CBP classify the tools for writing, coloring, drawing or painting as toys since those tools are not designed to amuse. See HQ 966198, dated July 21, 2003 (ruling that a plastic stencil depicting a farm and farm animals is not a toy but a stencil designed to create tracings of a farm and farm animals); HQ 959189, dated September 25, 1996 (plastic stencils were designed primarily to make decorations, not to provide amusement); HQ 958063, dated February 13, 1996 (classifying a battery-operated drawing pad with pen for children as a drawing instrument of heading 9017 and not a toy because it was designed to facilitate drawing, not to amuse); HQ 953922, dated November 17, 1993 (classifying the "Video Painter" and "Design Studio Accessory Kit," which included several stencils under heading 9017 for the same reason); HQ 962327, dated June 23, 2000, (articles in an art activity set were not put up in a form indicating their use as toys and thus the set was not classifiable as a toy set at GRI 1, and the individual items were not classifiable as toys, including a stencil); HQ 958152, dated April 2, 1996 (classifying light-up desk with designs for tracing as a drawing instrument) and HQ 958805, dated February 8, 1996 (classifying "Trace N' Color" in heading 9017).
The commenter asserts that the above statement that “CBP has never considered writing, coloring, drawing or painting to have significant ‘manipulative play value,’ for purposes of classification as a toy,” is opposed to, and refuted by language in HQ 086407, dated March 22, 1990. HQ 086407 was affirmed by HQ 087441, dated January 8, 1991. In HQ 086407 and HQ 087441, the articles being classified were an “Arts, Crafts & Activities” kit, and a string art kit, which were classified under subheading 9503.70.80, HTSUS. The kits in issue in HQ 086407 and HQ 087441, were not limited to writing, coloring, drawing, or painting related items, but included, among other items, double sided game boards, playing pieces and dice, string art materials, as well as paints, brushes and an instruction manual, in one kit and string art with no writing, coloring, drawing or painting related items in the other kit. As the kits included a variety of articles not related to writing, coloring, drawing, or painting, the decision does not stand for the proposition that writing, coloring, drawing or painting, by themselves, have significant play value for purposes of classification as a toy. Although we do not find HQ 086407 and HQ 087441 dispositive with regard to the classification of plastic rubbing templates, or other items packaged with plastic rubbing templates, we do intend to evaluate them in the near future to determine whether the items at issue were correctly classified under heading 9503 as “other toys.”
The commenter asserts that the EN exclusions do not apply to the rubbing templates, as they are not specifically identified in the exclusions. The EN cannot limit the scope of a heading but does provide guidance. It is CBP’s position that from the EN, it may be inferred that other implements designed to facilitate drawing, and not amusement, are also excluded. See, HQ 958063, dated February 13, 1996.
The activity performed with the rubbing template is similar to that performed with a stencil or by tracing. It involves following a design pattern to create a design which can be then colored.
The amusement derived from art-related activities is secondary to utility because those articles and sets used for drawing, coloring and other art-related activities are not "essentially playthings." The articles are not designed to amuse, but “rather are designed to facilitate some kind of art or drawing activity.” See HQ 962327, supra.
For purposes of determining whether the rubbing template falls within the
class or kind of merchandise as toys, we apply the Carborundum factors as follows:
The general physical characteristics of a rubbing template is plastic with a raised design to be used for creating designs with crayons or pencils.
The expectation of the ultimate purchaser is to create the designs on the rubbing templates by using crayons and pencils.
We do not have information regarding the channels of trade.
We do not have any information regarding the environment of sale (accompanying accessories, manner of advertisement and display).
The use is not the same as toys because the use is creating designs by use of the rubbing template.
The economic practicality of using the template for the creation of designs is clear, and it is unlikely any other use is recognized by the trade.
The foregoing application of the Carborundum criteria indicates that the rubbing template is not a good of a kind designed for amusement, and therefore the principal use of the rubbing template is not amusement, and the rubbing template is not classified in heading 9503, HTSUS.
The commenter compares the rubbing templates to “Super Egg Putty,” jacks, and jump ropes, which have been classified as toys within heading 9503, HTSUS, as opposed to articles of plastic, metal or other component materials. The commenter states that the items, like the rubbing templates, provide amusement in their use, warranting classification as toys. Unlike the other articles however, the rubbing templates, have the utilitarian purpose of creating designs, while the “Super Egg Putty” and jump ropes appear to be designed for amusement, and not some utilitarian purpose. Contrary to the comment, jacks have been classified in heading 9504, HTSUS as “Articles for arcade, table or parlor games….” See e.g. NY C89031, dated June 26, 1998.
In HQ 952413, dated February 17, 1993, we had concluded that similar rubbing templates therein, were similar in character to a “Stencils and Pencils” set that had been classified as a toy as opposed to a drawing instrument, in HQ 950926, dated March 31, 1992. HQ 966197, dated July 21, 2003, revoked HQ 950926, concluding that the subject set was not designed for amusement, but had the essential character of the stencil, a drawing instrument, classified in heading 9017, HTSUS.
With respect to the rubbing template, we do not find it is classified in heading 9017, HTSUS. The ENs to heading 9017, include among drawing instruments 1) pantographs and eidographs, 2) drafting machines, 3) drawing compasses, dividers, reduction compasses, spring bows, mathematical drawing pens, dotting wheels, etc., 4) set squares, adjustable squares, T squares, drawing curves, rulers, 5) protractors, and 6) stencils. In HQ 952413, supra, we stated that templates and stencils have similar definitions, however in that case found that the subject rubbing templates did not “precisely” fit the definition of a template. In HQ 952413, a “template” was defined as “a pattern, mold, or the like, usually consisting of a thin plate of wood or metal, serving as a gauge or guide in mechanical work.” We find that the rubbing template at issue does not fit the definition of the type of template that is similar to a stencil, and is not described in heading 9017, HTSUS.
The “Terrific Tracks Rubbing Plate,” rubbing template is an article made of plastics. Articles of plastics are classified in Chapter 39, HTSUS. As no specific heading in Chapter 39 describes this article, the “Terrific Tracks Rubbing Plate” rubbing template is classified in heading 3926, HTSUS, specifically in subheading 3926.90.98, HTSUS, as “[o]ther articles of plastics and articles of other materials of headings 3901 to 3914: Other: Other.” The plastic rubbing template is consistent with the plastic articles listed in the EN 39.26(12), such as “beads…, figures and letters.”
HOLDING:
By application of GRI 1 the “Terrific Tracks Rubbing Plate,” rubbing template is classified in heading 3926, specifically in subheading 3926.90.9880, HTSUSA, as “[o]ther articles of plastics and articles of other materials of headings 3901 to 3914: Other: Other,” with a column one, general duty rate of 5.3% ad valorem. Duty rates are provided for your convenience and are subject to change. The text of the most recent HTSUS and the accompanying duty rates are provided on the internet at www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/.
EFFECT ON OTHER RULINGS:
NY G88117, dated March 27, 2001, is hereby modified.
Sincerely,
Myles B. Harmon, Director
Commercial and Trade Facilitation Division