United States International Trade Commision Rulings And Harmonized Tariff Schedule
faqs.org  Rulings By Number  Rulings By Category  Tariff Numbers
faqs.org > Rulings and Tariffs Home > Rulings By Number > 2001 HQ Rulings > HQ 964401 - HQ 964504 > HQ 964491

Previous Ruling Next Ruling
HQ 964491




October 23, 2001

CLA-2 RR:CR:TE 964491 SG

CATEGORY: CLASSIFICATION

TARIFF NO.: 6307.90.9989

Ms. Dana Mobley
Customs Analyst
JCPenny Purchasing Corporation
P.O. Box 10001
Dallas, Texas 75301-0001

RE: Stuffed Pillow-like Article in Form of a Snowman

Dear Ms. Mobley:

This is in reply to your correspondence of June 29, 2000, and August 3, 2000, addressed to the U.S. Customs Service office in New York, requesting a binding ruling concerning the classification, under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Annotated (HTSUSA) of a pillow-like object shaped like a snowman. You submitted a sample for examination. Your letters, together with the sample, were referred to this office for reply.

FACTS:

The merchandise is a pillow-like article designed and shaped to resemble a snowman. It is approximately 22 inches tall, 13 inches at its widest point, and is 5 ½ inches thick. It has a knit cap sewn on top of its head and a two piece red collar sewn around its neck. An orange stuffed protuberance resembling a carrot is sewn on its face to resemble a nose. Black buttons are used as eyes and an embroidery stitch forms a wavy smile. Sticking out forward from each side is a brown arm with three fingers, to simulate tree branches. The front of the body is 100% acrylic sherpa pile. The back-which is flat to allow it to lie on a matching quilt- is polyester brush tricot. The arms and nose are also polyester brush tricot. The hat is 100% acrylic; the collar is 65% polyester and 35% cotton.

ISSUE:

What is the classification for the snowman shaped stuffed article?

LAW AND ANALYSIS:

Classification under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Annotated (HTSUSA) is made in accordance with the General Rules of Interpretation (GRI). GRI 1 provides that the classification of goods shall be determined 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 may then be applied. The Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, Explanatory Notes (ENs), represent the official interpretation of the Harmonized System at the international level (for the 4 digit headings and the 6 digit subheadings) and facilitate classification under the HTSUSA by offering guidance in understanding the scope of the headings and GRIs.

The HTSUS provisions under consideration are as follows:

Other made up articles, including dress patterns:

Other:

6307.90.99 Other

Mattress supports; articles of bedding and similar furnishing (for example, mattresses, quilts, eiderdowns, cushions, pouffes and pillows) fitted with springs or stuffed or internally fitted with any material or of cellular rubber or plastics, whether or not covered:

Other:

Pillows, cushions and similar furnishings:

9404.90.2000 Other

9503 Other toys; reduced-size (“scale”) models and similar recreational models, working or not; puzzles of all kinds; parts and accessories thereof:

Toys representing animals or non-human creatures (for example, robots and monsters) and parts and accessories thereof:

9503.41.00 Stuffed toys and parts and accessories thereof

9503.90.00 Other

Chapter 95, HTSUSA, covers toys of all kinds, whether designed for the amusement of children or adults. Although the term “toy” is not specifically defined in the tariff, the ENs to Chapter 95, indicate that this chapter covers toys of all kinds whether designed for the amusement of children or adults.

The court in United States v. Topps Chewing Gum, Inc., 58 CCPA 157, C.A.D. 1022, 1971), found that an article may be a toy within Chapter 95 if it meets the following definition:

While they may lack the material features to be a manipulative plaything as such, and will likely be used as an interesting or novelty decorative utility object, it is clear that the article, with its cartoon-like, comical appearance, or scary look is designed primarily for amusement purposes and as a source of frivolous entertainment for children and adults. In other words, its appearance generates the same type of emotional reaction one derives from playing with objects commonly recognized as toys and this use is its principle use.

Where merchandise might have another purpose in addition to providing amusement, the primary purpose of the item must be its amusement value in order to be classified as a toy. See HQ 960479, dated November 24, 2000 (the primary use of a pillow-like article designed to resemble various animals and creatures is in its amusement value and not in its use as a pillow-like object); HQ 958785, dated July 26, 1996 (a “Lean On Me Activity Bolster” for a small child was properly classifiable in heading 9503 because the primary use of the item was as a toy); and HQ 951309, dated April 26, 1993 (the primary value of M & M novelty figures designed as lids for containers filled with candy was the play value; the utilitarian aspect of the merchandise is temporary and incidental to the amusement factor).

It is Customs view, based on examination of the sample and the information supplied, that the primary purpose of the snowman is not to amuse. It does not have a cartoon-like, comical appearance or scary look and its appearance does not generate an emotional reaction. Your August 3, submission states that “[t]he item will be sold as decorative to be placed on a couch or bed for Christmas. This was made to coordinate with a top quilt. The reason the back is flat is so that the item will lay flat on the bed.”

It is clear that the primary purpose of the design of the snowman is to be decorative. In addition, while some might find the pillow aesthetically pleasing, it is not amusing or entertaining. For these reasons it is Customs opinion that the stuffed snowman does not meet the requirements needed to be classified as a toy under heading 9503, HTSUSA.

Having excluded classification under heading 9503, a determination must be made as to whether the subject merchandise is classifiable under heading 9404 as a pillow, or as an other made up article in heading 6307, HTSUSA.

A pillow is defined by Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged (1986) as “1 a: something used to support the head of a person resting or sleeping; esp.: a sack or bag made typically of cloth and filled with a soft or resilient material (as feathers, down, hair, sponge rubber): CUSHION.”

In defining cushions and pillows The Random House Dictionary of the English Language, the Unabridged Edition (1983) states at p. 357 “CUSHION, PILLOW, BOLSTER agree in being cases filled with a material more or less resilient, intended to be used as supports for the body or parts of it. A CUSHION is a soft pad used to sit, lie, or kneel on, or to lean against: a number of cushions on a sofa; cushions on pews in a church. A PILLOW is a bag or case filled with feathers, down, or other soft material, usually to support the head: to sleep with a pillow under one’s head.”

Where pillow-like objects have not been of sufficient size or stuffing to offer support, or where the construction is such that the shape or material would make it uncomfortable or unlikely to be used as a support for the body, Customs classifies these articles in heading 6307, HTSUSA. See HQ 964922 (May 22, 2001), regarding a butterfly pillow; NY 883688 (March 24, 1993), regarding pillows with battery operated lights on the front; HQ 951533 (June 17, 1992), regarding a “Beast” pillow; HQ 951737 (June 8, 1992), regarding a “Belle” pillow. In HQ 086646 (June 8, 1990), Customs ruled that pillows shaped like motorcycles and punching bags were not designed to offer support to the sleeper. Where a stuffed article is of a small size, Customs has found that the article is not classifiable in heading 9404, HTSUSA. See HQ 087316 (July 9, 1990), regarding a ring bearer’s pillow, a baby’s sleeping sign and a tooth fairy pillow; HQ 086056 (March 1, 1990), finding a 6 inch sachet-type pillow is not classified in heading 9404, HTSUSA; HRL 046377 (October 19, 1976), ruling that a 4” x 6” tooth fairy pillow is too small to support the head or body and therefore may not be classified as a pillow, cushion, mattress or similar furnishing.

In the instant case, the purpose of the filling appears to be to give the snowman shape as opposed to support of the head and neck. In addition, by virtue of the shape of the snowman, the protruding nose and arms, would be uncomfortable to use as a pillow. Accordingly, the pillow-like article resembling a snowman is more akin to a soft-sculpture than an ordinary pillow used as an article of bedding and is therefore not properly classifiable as an article of bedding under heading 9404, HTSUSA.

Having eliminated more specific provisions, we turn to heading 6307, HTSUSA, which provides for other made up articles of textiles. Section Note 7 (e) of Section XI , states as follows:

7. For the purposes of this Section the expression “made up” means in pertinent part,

(e) Assembled by sewing..

The instant article has been assembled by sewing, therefore it constitutes a made up textile article. The ENs regarding heading 6307 state as follows:

This heading covers made up articles of any textile material which are not included more specifically in other headings of Section XI or elsewhere in the Nomenclature.

Customs has found pillows that are not classifiable in heading 9404, are classifiable in heading 6307. (See, e.g., HQ 089446 dated September 5, 1991; HQ 086446 dated June 8, 1990; HQ 087446 of July 16, 1990; and HQ 087316 of July 9, 1990.

Since the snowman is not included in any more specific heading it is classifiable in heading 6307, HTSUSA, as an other made up article.

HOLDING:

The snowman pillow-like article is classifiable in subheading 6307.90.9989, HTSUSA which provides for “Other made up articles, including dress patterns: Other: Other: Other: Other: Other.”

The general column one rate of duty is 7 percent ad valorem. There is no textile quota category applicable to this provision.

Sincerely,

John Durant, Director

Previous Ruling Next Ruling

See also: