CBP Bulletin Notice on the 47th Session of the WCO HSC

February 14, 2011 by Marie Rapport|Customs and Ports

In the February 2, 2011 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (Vol. 45, No. 6), CBP issued a notice detailing the dates and draft agenda for the 47th Session of the World Customs Organization's Harmonized System Committee, which will meet in Brussels on March 7-18, 2011.

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(Among other things, the HSC (1) issues classification decisions on the interpretation of the Harmonized System (HS) in the form of published tariff classification opinions or amendments to the Explanatory Notes, and (2) considers amendments to the legal text of the HS.)

The draft list of agenda items includes(partial list):

Report by the Secretariat. Report by the Secretariat on (partial list):

Position regarding Contracting Parties to the HS Convention and related matters.
Approval of decisions taken by the Harmonized System Committee at its 46th Session.
Capacity building activities of the Nomenclature and Classification Sub-Directorate.
Cooperation with other international organizations.
New information provided on the WCO website.

General questions. General questions on (partial list):

Correlation between the HS and the product coverage of selected international conventions.
Preparation and timing of HS 2012 publications and progress report on the implementation of the HS 2012
Possible new version of the Compendium of Classification Opinions.

Classification opinions. Amendments to the Compendium of Classification Opinions to reflect the decision to classify (partial list):

Bakeshure® 251 and Bakeshurel® 419 in subheading 2106.90.
Bluetooth® headset in subheading 8517.62.
Electronic cigarette in subheading 8543.70.
Certain network analyzers in subheading 9030.40.

Further studies. Further studies on (partial list):

Application of General Interpretative Rule 2(a) in respect of the classification of car-assembly sets (Request by Russia).
Possible amendment of the Explanatory Notes in respect of technologies used in the manufacture of ethyl alcohol.
Classification of certain “motorcycle parts” (Request by Peru).
Draft amendments to the Nomenclature in respect of "Turbots" (Psetta maxima) (HS 2012).
Classification of spare cartridges for electronic cigarettes.
Classification of an assembly of two electrical switching devices (Request by Iran).

New questions. New questions on (partial list):

Scope of the term "whisky" (Request from India).
Classification of the product named "Freia® Solbaertoddy" (Request by Norway).
Amendments to the Compendium of Classification Opinions consequential to the Article 16 Recommendation of June 26, 2009.

(Copies of available agenda-item documents may be obtained from either Joan Jackson (with CBP) at (202) 325-0010 or David Beck (with the International Trade Commission) at (202) 205-2592.)