The tariff classification of surgical drapes and pouchesfrom the Dominican Republic.

NY 868326 January 6, 1992 CLA-2-39:S:N:N3G:221 868326 CATEGORY: Classification; Marking TARIFF NO.: 3926.90.9090; 6307.90.6090 Mr. Jeffrey H. Pfeffer Fritz Companies, Inc. 40 Exchange Place, 12th Floor New York, NY 10005 RE: The tariff classification of surgical drapes and pouches from the Dominican Republic. Dear Mr. Pfeffer: In your letter dated October 29, 1991, on behalf of Microtek Medical Inc., you requested a tariff classification ruling. Two samples were submitted with your request. Pouch style 8137 is a C-birth pouch. Drape style 3904 is an arthroscopy drape with irrigation pouch. Both are used for the collection and sanitary disposal of body fluids and irrigation associated with surgical procedures. Though you describe both articles as being made of plastics material, only the pouch is made of plastics. The material comprising the drape has been analyzed by the New York Customs Laboratory and found to be a nonwoven material composed of rayon textile fibers and wood pulp fibers. The rayon fibers constitute over 75 percent by weight of the nonwoven fabric. The applicable subheading for the plastic pouch will be 3926.90.9090, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS), which provides for other articles of plastics, other. The rate of duty will be 5.3 percent ad valorem. The applicable subheading for the surgical drape will be 6307.90.6090, HTS, which provides for other made up textile articles...surgical drapes, of fabric formed on a base of paper or covered or lined with paper, other. The rate of duty will be 5.6 percent ad valorem. Articles classifiable under subheading 3926.90.9090 or 6307.90.6090, HTS, which are products of the Dominican Republic, are entitled to duty free treatment under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) upon compliance with all applicable regulations. You question whether the merchandise is entitled to duty- free treatment pursuant to U.S. Note 2(b), subchapter II, Chapter 98, of the HTS. This note provides for the duty free treatment of articles, other than certain excluded articles, which are assembled or processed in a Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act beneficiary country, wholly of fabricated components or ingredients (except water) of U.S. origin. As long as only U.S. origin components are used during the foreign manufacturing operation, and the applicable documentation requirements are satisfied, the plastic pouches and nonwoven textile surgical drapes may enter the United States free of duty pursuant to Note 2(b) of subchapter II, Chapter 98, HTS. You also request a ruling on the country of origin marking requirements. Unless excepted by law, Section 304, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1304), requires that every article of foreign origin (or its container) be legibly and conspicuously marked to indicate the country of origin to the ultimate purchaser in the United States. Products manufactured in the Dominican Republic from materials produced in the United States are considered to be products of the Dominican Republic for purposes of the marking requirements, and must be marked as such unless exempted. Marking with a label stating "Made in the Dominican Republic" as you suggest would satisfy the marking requirements, as long as the label is securely affixed and is in a conspicuous location. If the product is made entirely of materials of United States origin, that may be disclosed by using a legend such as "Made in the Dominican Republic from material of U.S. origin," or a similar phrase. You question whether these products may be excepted from the marking requirements if they satisfy the requirements of U.S. Note 2(b), since that note directs that eligible products are not to be treated as foreign articles. As long as the imported articles meet the requirements of Note 2(b) to Subchapter II, Chapter 98, HTS, they need not be marked with the Caribbean country of processing. 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 already been filed, this ruling should be brought to the attention of the Customs officer handling the transaction. Sincerely, Jean F. Maguire Acting Area Director New York Seaport