Annex to Revised Part 133

Parallel Reference Table

(This table shows the relation of sections in revised Part 133 to superseded 19 CFR Part 11)

Authority:

The provisions of this Part 134 are issued under R.S. 251, as amended, secs. 304, 624, 46 Stat. 687, as amended, 759, 77A Stat. 14; 5 U.S.c. 301, 19 U.S.C. 66, 1202 (Gen. Hdnote 11), 1304, 1624.

134.0 Scope.

This part sets forth regulations implementing the country of origin marking TD 72-262, requirements and exceptions of section 304 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1304), together with certain marking provisions of the Tariff Schedules of the United States (19 U.S.C. 1202). It also contains provisions regarding false or misleading markings as to the country of origin. The consequences and procedures to be followed when articles are not legally marked are also set forth. Special marking and labeling requirements are covered elsewhere.

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When used in this part, the following terms shall have the meaning indicated: (a) Country. "Country" means the political entity known as a nation. Colonies, possessions, or protectorates outside the boundaries of the mother country are considered separate countries.

(b) Country of origin. "Country of origin" means the country of manufacture, production, or growth of any article of foreign origin entering the United States. 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 this part.

(c) Foreign origin. "Foreign origin" refers to a country of origin other than the United States, as defined in paragraph (e) of this section, or its possessions and territories.

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(d) Ultimate purchaser. The "ultimate purchaser" is generally the last person in the United States who will receive the article in the form in which it was imported. It is not feasible to state who will be the "ultimate purchaser" in every circumstance. The following examples may be helpful:

(1) If an imported article will be used in manufacture, the manufacturer may be the "ultimate purchaser" if he subjects the imported article to a process which results in a substantial transformation of the article, even though the process may not result in a new or different article.

(2) If the manufacturing process is merely a minor one which leaves the identity of the imported article intact, the consumer or user of the article, who obtains the article after the processing, will be regarded as the "ultimate purchaser."

(3) If an article is to be sold at retail in its imported form, the purchaser at retail is the "ultimate purchaser."

(4) If the imported article is distributed as a gift the recipient is the "ultimate purchaser."

(e) United States. "United States" includes all territories and possessions of the United States, except the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Wake Island, Midway Islands, Kingman Reef, Johnston Island, and the Island of Guam.

(f) Customs territory of the United States. "Customs territory of the United States," as used in this chapter includes the States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

134.2 Additional duties.

Articles not marked as required by this part shall be subject to additional duties of 10 percent of the final appraised value unless exported or destroyed under Customs supervision prior to liquidation of the entry, as provided in paragraph (c) of section 304, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1304(c)). The 10 percent additional duty is assessable for failure either to mark the article (or container) to indicate the English name of the country of origin of the article or to include words or symbols required to prevent deception or mistake.

134.3 Delivery withheld until marked and redelivery order.

Until every article (or its container) previously released and all imported articles held in Customs custody for inspection, examination or appraisement are marked, or until the estimated duties payable under 19 U.S.C. 1304(c) or adequate security therefor (see section 134.53(a)(2) of this part) are deposited, articles held in Customs custody shall not be delivered and redelivery to Customs custody may be ordered of all articles previously released. Nothing in this part shall be construed as excepting any article (or its container) from the particular requirements of marking provided for in any other provision of law.

134.4 Penalties for removal, defacement, or alteration of marking.

Any intentional removal, defacement, destruction, or alteration of a marking of the country of origin required by section 304, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1304), and this part in order to conceal this information may result in criminal penalties of up to $5,000 and/or imprisonment for 1 year, as provided in section 304(e), Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1304(e)).

Subpart B--ARTICLES SUBJECT TO MARKING

134.11 Country of origin marking required.

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) imported into the United States shall be marked in a conspicuous place as legibly, indelibly, and permanently as the nature of the article (or container) will permit, in such manner as to indicate to an ultimate purchaser in the United States the English name of the country of origin of the article, at the time of importation into the Customs territory of the United States. Containers of articles excepted from marking shall be marked with the name of the country of origin of the article unless the container is also excepted from marking.

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134.12 Foreign articles reshipped from a U.S. possession.

Articles of foreign origin imported into any possession of the United States outside its Customs territory and reshipped to the United States are subject to all marking requirements applicable to like articles of foreign origin imported directly from a foreign country to the United States.

134.13

Imported articles repacked or manipulated.

(a) Marking requirement. An article within the provisions of this section shall be marked with the name of the country of origin at the time the article is withdrawn for consumption unless the article and its container are exempted from marking under provisions of Subpart D of this part at the time of importation. (b) Applicability. The provisions of this section are applicable to the following articles:

(1) Articles repacked in a bonded warehouse under section 19.8 of this chapter;

(2) Articles manipulated under section 562, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1562), and section 19.11 of this chapter;

(3) Articles manipulated, but not manufactured, in a foreign-trade zone under section 146.32 of this chapter.

134.14 Articles usually combined.

(a) Articles combined before delivery to purchaser. When an imported article is of a kind which is usually combined with another article after importation but before delivery to an ultimate purchaser and the name indicating the country of origin of the article appears in a place on the article so that the name will be visible after such combining, the marking shall include, in addition to the name of the country of origin, words or symbols which shall clearly show that the origin indicated is that of the imported article only and not that of any other article with which the imported article may be combined after importation.

(b) Example. Labels and similar articles so marked that the name of the country of origin of the label or article is visible after it is affixed to another article in this country shall be marked with additional descriptive words such as "Label made (or printed) in (name of country)" or words of similar meaning. See Subpart C of this part for marking of bottles, drums, or other containers.

(c) Applicability. This section shall not apply to articles of a kind which are ordinarily so substantially changed in the United States that the articles in their changed condition become products of the United States. An article excepted from marking under Subpart D of this part is not within the scope of section 304(a)(2), Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1304(a)(2), and is not subject to the requirements of this section.

Subpart C--MARKING OF CONTAINERS OR HOLDERS

134.21 Special marking.

This subpart includes only country of origin marking requirements and exceptions under section 304(b), Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1304(b)), for containers or holders. Special marking may be required by the Internal Revenue Service on alcoholic beverage bottles and other requirements may be imposed by reason of the nature of the contents by other Government agencies.

134.22

General rules for marking of containers or holders.

(a) Contents excepted from marking. When an article is excepted from the marking requirements by Subpart D of this part, the outermost container or holder in which the article ordinarily reaches the ultimate purchaser shall be marked to indicate the country of origin of the article whether or not the article is marked to indicate its country of origin.

(b) Containers or holders treated as imported articles. Containers or holders for imported merchandise subject to treatment as imported articles within the purview of general headnote 6, Tariff Schedules of the United States (19 U.S.c.

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1202), shall be marked to indicate clearly the country of their own origin in addition to any marking which may be required to show the country of origin of their contents.

(c) Containers or holders bearing a U.S. address. Containers or holders of imported merchandise bearing the name and address of an importer, distributor, or other person or company in the United States shall be marked in close proximity to the U.S. address to indicate clearly the country of origin of the contents with a marking such as "Contents made in France" or "Contents Product of Spain."

(d) Exceptions. Containers or holders of imported articles are not required to be marked if:

(1) Excepted articles. They are containers or holders of articles within the exceptions set forth in paragraph (f), (g), or (h) in section 134.32.

(2) Excepted containers or holders. The container or holder itself is within an exception set forth in Subpart D of this part.

(3) To be filled by the importer. The container or holder is within the exception set forth in section 134.24(c).

134.23 Containers or holders designed for or capable of reuse.

(a) Usual and ordinary reusable containers or holders. Containers or holders designed for or capable of reuse after the contents have been consumed, whether imported full or empty, must be individually marked to indicate the country of their own origin with a marking such as, "Container Made in (name of country)." Examples of the containers or holders contemplated are heavy duty steel drums, tanks, and other similar shipping, storage, transportation containers or holders capable of reuse. These containers or holders are subject to the treatment specified in headnote 6(b) (ii), Tariff Schedules of the United States (19 U.S.C. 1202).

(b) Other reusable containers or holders. Containers or holders within the purview of headnote 6(b) (iii), Tariff Schedules of the United States (19 U.S.C. 1202), must be individually marked to clearly indicate their own origin with a marking such as, "Container made in (name of country)." Examples of the containers contemplated are mustard jars reusable as beer mugs; shaving soap containers reusable as shaving mugs; fancy cologne bottles reusable as flower vases, and other containers which have a lasting value or decorative use.

134.24 Containers or holders not designed for or capable of reuse.

(a) Containers ordinary discarded after use. Disposable containers or holders subject to the provisions of this section are the usual ordinary types of containers or holders, including cans, bottles, paper or polyethylene bags, paperboard boxes, and similar containers or holders which are ordinarily discarded after the contents have been consumed.

(b) Imported empty. Disposable containers or holders imported for distribution or sale are subject to treatment as imported articles in accordance with general headnote 6(a), Tariff Schedules of the United States (19 U.S.C. 1202), and shall be marked to indicate clearly the country of their own origin. However, when the containers are packed and sold, in multiple units (dozens, gross, etc.), this requirement ordinarily may be met by marking the outermost container which reaches the ultimate purchaser.

(c) Imported to be filled--(1) If unmarked. When disposable containers or holders are imported by persons or firms who fill or package them with various products which they sell, these persons or firms are the "ultimate purchasers" of these containers or holders and they may be excepted from individual marking pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1304(a) (3) (D). The outside wrappings or packages containing the containers shall be clearly marked to indicate the country of origin.

(2) If marked. If the disposable containers or holders are marked with the country of origin at the time of importation and the marking will be visible after they are filled, the marking shall clearly indicate that the container only and not the contents were made in the named country. For example, bottles, drums, or other containers imported empty, to be filled in the United States, shall be marked with such words as "Bottle (or container) made in (name of country)."

(d) Imported full--(1) When contents are excepted from marking. Usual disposable containers in use as such at the time of importation shall not be required to be marked to show the country of their own origin, but shall be marked to

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