The country of origin marking of silver jewelry, buckles, buckle sets and leather goods. Dear Mr. Rodriguez:

NY 802027 September 30, 1994 CLA-2-71:S:N:N8:344 802027 CATEGORY: Marking Mr. George Rodriguez Vogt Western Silver, Ltd. P.O. Box 2309 Turlock, California 95381 RE: The country of origin marking of silver jewelry, buckles, buckle sets and leather goods. Dear Mr. Rodriguez: In your letter dated September 13, 1994, you requested a country of origin marking ruling. You have asked if marking your merchandise with the words "Old Mexico" would be acceptable. You feel that because these products are totally hand fabricated by artisans whose families have employed this craft for generations, this would be an appropriate marking. You also state that because many products in the Southwest are being labeled "New Mexico," you would like to use "Old Mexico" to distinguish between the two. We feel that the term "Old Mexico" could cause confusion and mislead the consumer, especially since products in that area are being marked "New Mexico." A consumer may assume that "Old Mexico" is also an area somewhere in the United States. We recommend that your merchandise be marked "Mexico," "Made in Mexico," or "Product of Mexico." The phrase "Handcrafted in Mexico" would also be acceptable. 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