CLA-2-49:S:N1:234 876842
Mr. Juan Mejia
Protec
10 Scottfield Road (Suite No. 1)
Boston, Massachusetts 02134
RE: The tariff classification of printed plastic calendar cards,
and credit cards (with magnetic stripe), from Colombia.
Dear Mr. Mejia:
In your letter dated July 16, 1992, you requested a tariff
classification ruling. Two samples were submitted and will be
retained for reference.
The first sample, described as a commercial/advertising
card, is a 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 cm sheet of semi-flexible plastic
(0.48 mm thick). One side of it is printed with a 1992 calendar,
while the other bears the name, logo and affiliates of a
commercial bank.
The applicable subheading for the above-described calendar
card will be 4910.00.6000, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (HTS), which provides for other (than certain
enumerated) printed calendars. The rate of duty will be 3%.
(This classification/rate will not apply to other styles of
commercial/advertising cards that are not printed with calendars.
Represen- tative samples of specific variations will be required
for us to provide a ruling on them.)
The second sample is an unfinished, printed plastic credit
card which, except for being somewhat thicker, has the same
dimensions as the calendar card described above. The front is
printed with its name and logo, and has blank spaces for the
bearer's name and valid usage dates. The back has printed
information about the issuing institution and rules on using the
card, together with a signature panel stripe and a magnetic
stripe. For purposes of this ruling, it is assumed that the
magnetic stripe will not have information recorded on it prior to
importation.
The applicable subheading for the credit card with
unrecorded magnetic stripe will be 8523.90.0000, HTS, which
provides for other (than certain enumerated) prepared unrecorded
media for sound recording or similar recording of other
phenomena. The rate of duty will be 4.2%. (This
classification/rate will generally apply to all credit cards or
bank cards having unrecorded magnetic stripes, but will not apply
to other types of such cards. Information about, and samples of,
specific variations will be required for us to provide a ruling
on them.)
Articles classifiable under subheadings 4910.00.6000 and
8523.90.0000, HTS, which are products of Colombia, are entitled
to duty-free treatment under the Andean Trade Preference Act
(ATPA) upon compliance with all applicable regulations.
We note that the samples are not marked with their country
of origin. Please be advised that the individual cards will be
required to be so marked (i.e., "Printed in Colombia"), legibly
and in a conspicuous place, upon importation into the United
States.
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