NY H82369 - COUNTRY OF ORIGIN MARKING OF IMPORTED HOSE - United States International Trade Commision Rulings

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NY H82369

June 26, 2001

MAR-2 RR:NC:SP:221 H82369

CATEGORY: MARKING

Ms. Pamela J. Gruszczynski
Midwest Transatlantic Lines, Inc.
1230 West Bagley Road
Berea, OH 44017-2910

RE: COUNTRY OF ORIGIN MARKING OF IMPORTED HOSE

Dear Ms. Gruszczynski:

This is in response to your letter dated May 24, 2001, on behalf of Parker Hannifin Corporation, requesting a ruling on whether imported hose is required to be marked with the country of origin if it is later to be processed in the U.S. by a U.S. manufacturer. A sample was not submitted with your letter for review.

Hydraulic hose in material lengths is imported from Australia, Italy, Korea and the Netherlands. In some cases, the importer cuts the hose to shorter lengths, attaches two hose fittings, and then resells the hose assembly. In other cases, the importer resells the hose in bulk to a distributor who cuts the hose, affixes two hose fittings and then resells the hose assembly.

The marking statute, section 304, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1304), provides that, unless excepted, every article of foreign origin (or its container) imported into the U.S. shall be marked in a conspicuous place as legibly, indelibly and permanently as the nature of the article (or its container) will permit, in such a manner as to indicate to the ultimate purchaser in the U.S. the English name of the country of origin of the article.

Part 134, Customs Regulations (19 CFR Part 134), implements the country of origin marking requirements and exceptions of 19 U.S.C. 1304. Section 134.41(b), Customs Regulations (19 CFR 134.41(b)), mandates that the ultimate purchaser in the U.S. must be able to find the marking easily and read it without strain. Section 134.1(d) defines the ultimate purchaser as generally the last person in the U.S. who will receive the article in the form in which it was imported. 19 CFR 134.1(d)(1) states that if an imported article will be used in manufacture, the manufacturer may be the ultimate purchaser if he subjects the imported article to a process which results in a substantial transformation of the article. The case of U.S. v. Gibson-Thomsen Co., Inc., 27 C.C.P.A. 267 (C.A.D. 98) (1940), provides that an article used in manufacture which results in an article having a name, character or use differing from that of the constituent article will be considered substantially transformed and that the manufacturer or processor will be considered the ultimate purchaser of the constituent materials. In such circumstances, the imported article is excepted from marking and only the outermost container is required to be marked. See 19 CFR 134.35.

In this case, the imported hose is not substantially transformed as a result of the U.S. processing. The purchaser of the hose with fittings is considered to be the ultimate purchaser of the imported hose. The imported hose must be marked in such a way that the ultimate purchaser knows the country of origin. In general, hose imported in material lengths must be marked at intervals of at least every 10 feet to ensure that the hose that is cut from the bulk hose contains country of origin marking.

Country of origin marking on hose should be applied by imprinting, stenciling, or other method resulting in a marking sufficiently permanent to remain on the hose until it reaches the ultimate purchaser in the United States.

This ruling is being issued under the provisions of Part 177 of the Customs Regulations (19 CFR Part 177).

A copy of the ruling or the control number indicated above should be provided with the entry documents filed at the time this merchandise is imported. If you have any questions regarding the ruling, contact National Import Specialist Joan Mazzola at (212) 637-7034.

Sincerely,

Robert B. Swierupski
Director,

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