THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN MARKING OF CERAMIC TILE FROM TURKEY

NY G89722 April 30, 2001 MAR-2 RR:NC:2:227 G89722 CATEGORY: MARKING Mr. Joseph D. Schochet Olympia Tile International, Inc. 1000 Lawrence Ave. West, P.O. Box 1215, Station T Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6B 4A8 RE: THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN MARKING OF CERAMIC TILE FROM TURKEY Dear Mr. Schochet: This is in response to your letter dated March 30, 2001, requesting a ruling on whether the proposed marking "Made in Turkiye" is an acceptable country of origin marking for imported ceramic tile. A copy of the marking on the shipping cartons was submitted with your letter for review. You state that you intend to export to the United States glazed ceramic tile that is produced in Turkey. The manufacturer has marked the cartons with the alternative spelling “Turkiye” in lieu of the accepted “Turkey” to indicate the country of origin. 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. The proposed marking of imported glazed ceramic tile, as described above, is not marked in satisfaction of the marking requirements of 19 U.S.C. 1304 and is not an acceptable country of origin marking for the imported glazed ceramic tile. The spelling “Turkiye” is not an acceptable variant spelling which clearly indicates the English name of the country of origin. 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 George Kalkines at 212-637-7073. Sincerely, Robert B. Swierupski Director, National Commodity Specialist Division