The country of origin marking of frozen chocolate covered banana chunks

N004062 December 28, 2006 MAR-2 RR:E:NC:N2:232 CATEGORY: MARKING Ms Katherine Iverson Regulatory Liaison JR Simplot Company P.O. Box 1059 Caldwell, ID 83606-1059 RE: The country of origin marking of frozen chocolate covered banana chunks Dear Ms Iverson: This is in response to your letter dated December 5, 2006. In that letter you requested a ruling to determine the country of origin marking of frozen chocolate covered banana chunks. Information on the processing of this merchandise was provided in the documents submitted with your ruling request, and in follow up telephone conversations. You indicate that bananas grown in Costa Rica are peeled, cut into chunks and frozen. The frozen banana chunks are imported into the United States from Costa Rica. The facility in the United States will enrobe (coat) the banana chunks in chocolate and repackage them into 40-ounce poly bags. The finished product will be sold to food service customers as frozen chocolate covered bananas. The country of origin for marking purposes is defined at section 19 CFR 134.1(b), to mean the country of manufacture, production, or growth of any article of foreign origin entering the U.S. Further work or material added to an article in another country must effect a substantial transformation in order to render such other country the "country of origin" within the meaning of Part 134. A substantial transformation is effected when a manufacturer or processor converts or combines an article into a new and different article resulting in a change in name, character, or use. The processing performed on the frozen banana chunks in the United States meets the definition of substantial transformation and will be considered a product of the United States for marking purposes. 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. If a good is determined to be an article of U.S. origin, it is not subject to the country of origin marking requirements of 19 U.S.C. §1304. Whether an article may be marked with the phrase "Made in the USA" or similar words denoting U.S. origin, is an issue under the authority of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). We suggest that you contact the FTC Division of Enforcement, 6th and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20508 on the propriety of proposed markings indicating that an article is made in the U.S. This ruling is being issued under the provisions of Part 177 of the Customs Regulations (19 CFR Part 177). If a good is determined to be an article of U.S. origin, it is not subject to the country of origin marking requirements of 19 U.S.C. §1304. Whether an article may be marked with the phrase "Made in the USA" or similar words denoting U.S. origin, is an issue under the authority of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). We suggest that you contact the FTC Division of Enforcement, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580 on the propriety of proposed markings indicating that an article is made in the U.S. This merchandise is subject to The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (The Bioterrorism Act), which is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Information on the Bioterrorism Act can be obtained by calling FDA at 301-575-0156, or at the Web site www.fda.gov/oc/bioterrorism/bioact.html. 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 Paul Hodgkiss at 646-733-3031. Sincerely, Robert B. Swierupski Director, National Commodity Specialist Division