CLA-2-84:S:N:N1:105 848802
Mr. Richard A. Vater
Pitt-Des Moines, Inc.
3400 Grand Avenue, Neville Island
Pittsburgh, PA 15225
RE: The tariff classification of high pressure vessels from West
Germany.
Dear Mr. Vater:
In your letter dated January 9, 1990 you requested a tariff
classification ruling.
These pressure vessels are used in a food processing plant
to extract flavor from hops using supercritical carbon dioxide as
a solvent. Some vessels are extraction vessels that maintain an
internal pressure of 5000 psi; otherss are separation vessels with
an internal pressure of 2900 psi. Both type vessels are made of
carbon steel. Hops are sealed in the extrac- tion vessel, and
carbon dioxide at high pressure is injected into it, thus
dissolving the flavor constituents in the hops. The solution is
then ducted to the separation vessel where the pressure change
causes the flavor constit-uents to precipitate. This hops flavor
extraction process permits the supply of hops flavor to foreign
brewers without the expense of shipping the hops.
The applicable subheading for the high pressure vessels will
be 8438.40.0000, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(HTS), which provides for machinery, not specified or included
elsewhere in this chapter, for the industrial preparation or
manufacture of food or drink: brewery machinery. The rate of
duty will be 3.5 percent.
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