COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 874/2011

of 31 August 2011 concerning the classification of certain goods in the Combined Nomenclature

- "Official Journal of the European Union", No L 227/7 of 2.9.2011 -

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

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,

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 provisions of the Union, 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 binding tariff information which has been issued by the customs authorities of Member States in respect of the classification of goods in the Combined Nomenclature but which is not in accordance with this Regulation can, for a period of three months, continue to be invoked 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 measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Customs Code Committee,

_____________
(1) OJ L 256, 7.9.1987, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 302, 19.10.1992, 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

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 three months under Article 12(6) of Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92.

Article 3

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth 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, 31 August 2011.

For the Commission,
On behalf of the President,
Algirdas SEMETA
Member of the Commission

ANNEX

Description of goods

Classification (CN code)

Reasons

(i)

(2)

(3)

Raw propolis presented in bulk in brown blocks of irregular form. The product consists essentially of the following components (% by weight):

- vegetable resins and vegetable balsams

55

- waxes

30

- essential oils

8 to 10

- pollen

5

These materials collected by bees are transformed with the enzymes of their saliva.
The product is used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products and food supplements.

0410 00 00

Classification is determined by General Rules 1 and 6 for the interpretation of the Combined Nomenclature and the wording of CN code 0410 00 00.
Classification in Chapter 13 is excluded as the product contains constituents obtained from the action of animals.
Given its characteristics, the product is therefore to be classified under heading 0410 as edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included.