THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN MARKING OF PUMP DISCHARGE HEADSDear Mr. Simpson:

NY I82812 June 25, 2002 MAR-2 RR:NC:1:102 I82812 CATEGORY: MARKING Mr. Donald S. Simpson Barthco Trade Consultants 7575 Holstein Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19153 RE: THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN MARKING OF PUMP DISCHARGE HEADS Dear Mr. Simpson: In your letter dated June 3, 2002 you requested a ruling on an exception from the country of origin marking requirements for imported articles on behalf of your client Southland Metals. The articles in question are discharge heads, part numbers HH10B, HH25B, HH30B, HH40B, HH70B and HH80B, to be imported by Southland Metals for use exclusively in the production of irrigation pumps by their customer American Turbine and Pump. In a letter submitted with your request, American Turbine and Pump indicates that the discharge heads are used strictly in the assembly of complete irrigation pumps and are not resold in the condition imported as separate parts for after market consumption. Further, in a letter submitted with your request, American Turbine and Pump indicates that they are aware that China is the country of origin of the imported articles. 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 C.F.R. Part 134 implements the country of origin marking requirements and exceptions of 19 U.S.C. §1304. Pursuant to section 134.35, Customs Regulations (19 C.F.R. §134.35), an imported articles that is substantially transformed in the U.S. is excepted from individual country of origin marking and only the outermost containers of the imported articles must be marked with country of origin. An article is substantially transformed if it is “so processed in the U.S. that it loses its identity in a tariff sense and becomes an integral part of a new article having a new name, character and use.” U.S. v. Gibson-Thomsen Company, Inc., 27 CCPA 267 (1940). As a result of the assembly operations performed by American Turbine and Pump and in accordance with the above decision, we find that the imported discharge heads when incorporated with other components to produce irrigation pumps are substantially transformed into articles with a new name, character or use. In accordance with 19 C.F.R. §134.35, American Turbine and Pump is the ultimate purchaser of the discharge heads imported by Southland Metals. The discharge heads are excepted from individual marking so long as the port director at the port of entry is satisfied that they are imported in properly marked containers and the ultimate purchaser, American Turbine and Pump, will receive the discharge heads in these containers. 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 Kenneth T. Brock at 646-733-3009. Sincerely, Robert B. Swierupski Director, National Commodity Specialist Division