CLA-2-84:S:N:N1:110 806023
Mr. Christopher E. Pey
Barnes, Richardson & Colburn
475 Park Avenue South
New York, N.Y. 10016
RE: The tariff classification of a color card cleaner from
Japan.
Dear Mr.Pey:
In your letter dated January 5, 1995, on behalf of Mitsui &
Co. (U.S.A.), you requested a tariff classification ruling.
The merchandise under consideration involves a color card
cleaner which operates in conjunction with a color card printer.
This printer primarily prints employee identification cards,
licenses, certificates and greeting cards. The cards cleaned by
the color card cleaner machine are flat and measure 3 3/8 inches
by 2 1/8 inches. These plastic and PET cards are hard materials
when they are placed in the mechanism of the card cleaner.
The color card cleaner is a small unit which is designed to
remove the burrs on the card edges, foreign matter, and static
electricity before the card is placed in the card printer. The
card cleaner operates by moving the cards through a mechanism
consisting of a series of adhesive rollers, heat elements and
brushes. This color card cleaner incorporates a base for placing
it on a table or desk. It weighs approximately 17.6 pounds, and
measures approximately 9.8 inches in width by 13.3 inches depth
and 5.7 inches in height.
Consideration under HTSUS 8465.92.00 is precluded. The
color card cleaner cannot be considered to be a machine tool.
The specifications indicate that the plastic is heated before
deburring, hence the material is not "hard" during the deburring
process. When deburring is not necessary, the heater is not
used. From this, it is evident that the deburring device can
only work on heated plastic. This color card cleaner appears
similar to the data cartridge tape cleaning machine which was
classified in Headquarter's Rulings 083530 under the provision
for other office machines in HTSUS 8472.90.80.
The applicable subheading for the color card cleaner will be
8472.90.9000, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(HTS), which provides for other office machines. The rate of
duty will be 3.3 percent ad valorem.
This ruling is being issued under the provisions of Section
177 of the Customs Regulations (19 C.F.R. 177).
A copy of this ruling letter should be attached to the entry
documents filed at the time this merchandise is imported. If the
documents have been filed without a copy, this ruling should be
brought to the attention of the Customs officer handling the
transaction.
Sincerely,
Jean F. Maguire
Area Director
New York Seaport