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 > 1993 HQ Rulings > HQ 0953768 - HQ 0954127 > HQ 0954124

Previous Ruling Next Ruling



HQ 954124


July 29, 1993

CLA-2 CO:R:C:T 954124 jb

CATEGORY: CLASSIFICATION

TARIFF NO.: 6307.90.9986

Sam DiBiase
Leeds Leather Products
4431 William Penn Highway
Murrysville, PA 15668

RE: Lumbar support belt; worn over garments; heading 6307, HTSUSA; other made up articles

Dear Mr. DiBiase:

This is in reply to your letter, dated March 19, 1993, concerning the classification of a lumbar support belt under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Annotated (HTSUSA).

FACTS:

The merchandise in question is referred to as a wrap around "Safety Belt" constructed from nylon and spandex woven fabric, designed to support the weight bearing portion of the back, and is to be imported from the Philippines.

The belt measures 41 inches by 9 inches at the center back and tapers to five inches at each rounded end. The belt is secured by means of hook and loop fabric and is designed to be worn around the waist between the hips and the rib cage. The shorter and narrower outerbands of elasticized fabric with hook and loop material at each end are used to adjust the fit. The article also features four stays at the back and permanently attached suspenders.

ISSUE:

Is the article classifiable in heading 6212, HTSUSA, which provides for body supporting garments or in heading 6307, HTSUSA, which provides for other made up articles?

LAW AND ANALYSIS:

Classification of merchandise under the HTSUSA is in accordance with the General Rules of Interpretation (GRI), taken in order. GRI 1 requires that classification be determined according to the terms of the headings and any relative section or chapter notes, taken in order. Where goods cannot be classified solely on the basis of GRI 1, the remaining GRI will be applied, in the order of their appearance.

The competing provisions for this article are heading 6212, HTSUSA, which provides for body supporting garments or heading 6307, HTSUSA, which provides for other made up articles.

The Explanatory Notes (EN) to the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, are the official interpretation of the tariff at the international level. The EN to heading 6212, HTSUSA, state in pertinent part:

This heading covers articles of a kind designed for wear as body-supporting garments or as supports for certain other articles of apparel, and parts thereof... (Emphasis added)

The heading includes, inter alia:

(1) Brassieres of all kinds.

(2) Girdles and panty-girdles.

(3) Corselettes (combinations of girdles or panty-girdles and brassieres).

(4) Corsets and corset-belts. These are usually reinforced with flexible metallic, whalebone or plastic stays, and are generally fastened by lacing or by hooks.

(5) Suspender-belts, hygienic belts, suspensory bandages, suspender jock-straps, braces, suspenders, garters, shirt-sleeve supporting arm-bands and armlets.

(6) Body belts for men (including those combined with underpants).

(7) Maternity, post-pregnancy or similar supporting or corrective belts, not being orthopaedic appliances of heading 90.21 (see Explanatory Note to that heading).

In HQ 952201, dated October 26, 1992, Customs ruled on a similar Lumbar support belt. That ruling stated:

In Customs' view, the belt in question is not similar to any of the aforementioned articles. It does not support apparel or other items, and therefore is not similar to braces or garters. Moreover, while it is designed to support and prevent injury to the back, the article in question is not a form of garment, nor is it worn underneath other garments as, for example, maternity belts or men's body belts.

Heading 6307, HTSUSA, is a residual provision which provides for other made up articles of textiles that are not provided for more specifically elsewhere in the nomenclature. In HQ 088540, dated June 3, 1991, addressing the classification of a weight lifting belt, Customs held that the article was classifiable under the provision for other made up articles of heading 6307, HTSUSA. A later ruling, HQ 089581, dated November 4, 1991, addressing the classification of a similar article, a "Tummy Shaper" belt, also classified the article in heading 6307, HTSUSA.

There has been some confusion in determining what distinguishes the belts of heading 6212, HTSUSA, from those of heading 6307, HTSUSA. The EN to heading 6212, HTSUSA, are clear in designating these articles as body-support garments or supports for other kinds of apparel. The distinction centers on the fact that while the articles enumerated in the EN to heading 6212, HTSUSA, are principally used or worn as garments or to support garments; those of heading 6307, HTSUSA, are not so used.

Stated simply, merchandise similar to the subject articles, is classifiable as belts of 6212, HTSUSA, if it functions with a dual purpose, in providing:

1. support for the body, or support for certain articles of apparel; and

2. a construction that allows the belt to be worn comfortably next to the wearer's skin, under other garments

This is the case for example, for such articles such as the brassieres, girdles, corset-belts, suspender-belts, hygienic belts, corrective belts, etc.

Numerous recent rulings have also determined that similarly described lumbar belts are classifiable in heading 6307 (See, HQ 952829, dated February 19, 1993; HQ 952841, dated January 26, 1993; HQ 952826, dated December 16, 1992; HQ 952824, dated December 16, 1992).

The belt in question is distinguishable from the enumerated articles of heading 6212, HTSUSA, in that it is neither a garment nor a garment supporting article, as for example, suspenders, garters, etc. Nor can it be said that the belt is designed for the purpose of being worn next to the wearer's skin. It is a belt which is to be worn over other garments. As it is not ejusdem generis with the body supporting garments of heading 6212, HTSUSA, and since there are no headings that specifically provide for the instant textile belt, it is classifiable in heading 6307, HTSUSA, as an other made up article.

HOLDING:

The article in question is classifiable in subheading 6307.90.9986, HTSUSA, under the provision for other made up articles. The applicable rate of duty for the article is seven percent ad valorem. The article is a product of the Philippines; the Philippines was formerly a designated country under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), eligible for duty free entry. As of July 4, 1993, the U.S. is no longer applying special duty status for designated countries once enumerated under the program of GSP. Though it is anticipated that Congress will reinstate the program in the future, as of July 5, 1993, merchandise entered or withdrawn from warehouse will be subject to duty. Customs has issued a General Notice describing the procedures an importer should follow if the GSP expires. See 27 Cust. Bull. 19 (July 14, 1993).

Due to the changeable nature of the statistical annotation (the ninth and tenth digits of the classification) and the restraint (quota/visa) categories, your client should contact the local Customs office prior to importing the merchandise to determine the current status of any import restraints or requirements.

Sincerely,

John Durant, Director

Previous Ruling Next Ruling

See also: