COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1178/2007
of 5 October 2007 concerning the classification of certain goods in the Combined Nomenclature

- "Official Journal of the European Union", No L 264/3 of 10.10.2007 -

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 of 23 July 1987 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff(1), and in particular Article 9(1)(a) thereof,

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(1) OJ L 256, 7.9.1987, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1930/2006 (OJ L 406, 30.12.2006, p. 9).

Whereas:

(1) In order to ensure uniform application of the Combined Nomenclature annexed to Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87, it is necessary to adopt measures concerning the classification of the goods referred to in the Annex to this Regulation.

(2) Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 has laid down the general rules for the interpretation of the Combined Nomenclature. Those rules apply also to any other nomenclature which is wholly or partly based on it or which adds any additional subdivision to it and which is established by specific Community provisions, with a view to the application of tariff and other measures relating to trade in goods.

(3) Pursuant to those general rules, the goods described in column 1 of the table set out in the Annex should be classified under the CN-code indicated in column 2, by virtue of the reasons set out in column 3 of that table.

(4) It is appropriate to provide that, subject to the measures in force in the Community relating to double checking systems and to prior and retrospective Community surveillance of textile products on importation into the Community, binding tariff information issued by the customs authorities of Member States in respect of the classification of goods in the Combined Nomenclature and which is not in accordance with this Regulation, can continue to be invoked for a period of 60 days by the holder, under Article 12(6) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of 12 October 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code(2).

(5) The Customs Code Committee has not issued an opinion within the time limit set by its Chairman,

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(2) OJ L 302, 19.10.1992, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1791/2006 (OJ L 363, 20.12.2006, p. 1).

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The goods described in column 1 of the table set out in the Annex shall be classified within the Combined Nomenclature under the CN-code indicated in column 2 of that table.

Article 2

Subject to the measures in force in the Community relating to double checking systems and to prior and retrospective Community surveillance of textile products on importation into the Community, binding tariff information issued by the customs authorities of Member States which is not in accordance with this Regulation, can continue to be invoked for a period of 60 days, under Article 12(6) of Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92.

Article 3

This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 5 October 2007.

For the Commission
László KOVÁCS
Member of the Commission

 

ANNEX

Description of the goods

classification
(CN code)

Reasons

(1)

(2)

(3)

Article made up of two knitted fabrics of different colour, of man-made fibres. The fabrics are suitable for swimwear. The article is to be worn next to the skin, reaching down to just below the bust, with two preformed cups being thinly padded and wired for support.

The article has narrow removable shoulder straps. It is closed on the back by means of a clip. The part of the article reaching around the back presents on the inside adhesive strips clinging to the back of the wearer and holding the article in place together with the shoulder straps and the wired preformed cups.

(brassiere designed like a bikini top)

(See photograph no. 640 A, 640 B) (*)

6212 10 90

classification is determined by General Rules 1 and 6 for the interpretation of the Combined Nomenclature, note 2(a) to chapter 61 and the wording of CN codes 6212, 6212 10 and 6212 10 90.

Although, from its general appearance, cut and nature of fabric the article appears to be an upper part of a two-piece bathing costume (bikini), classification in heading 6112 (swimwear) is excluded, because the article lacks the lower part of the "two-piece bathing costume". See also the HS Explanatory Notes to heading 6112, (C).

Moreover, the article is not an "incomplete article" of heading 6112 (swimwear) within the meaning of GIR 2 (a), because the article does not have the essential character of the complete article (i.e. a two-piece bathing costume), since it cannot be used for swimming as such.

The article is classified as a brassiere in heading 6212, because this heading includes brassieres of all kinds. See the HS Explanatory Notes to heading 6212, 2nd paragraph, (1). The two preformed padded cups, wired for support, are characteristic of classic brassieres. Together with the adhesive strips clinging to the back of the wearer and with or without the removable shoulder straps, the article is of a kind "designed for wear as body-supporting garment". See also the HS Explanatory Notes to heading 6212, 1st paragraph.

(*) The photographs are purely for information.