COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2020/1289
of 9 September 2020 concerning the classification of certain goods in the Combined Nomenclature

- "Official Journal of the European Union", No L 302/11 of 16.9.2020. -

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 October 2013 laying down the Union Customs Code(1), and in particular Article 57(4) and Article 58(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) In order to ensure uniform application of the Combined Nomenclature annexed to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87(2), it is necessary to adopt measures concerning the classification of the goods referred to in the Annex to this Regulation.

________
(1) OJ L 269, 10.10.2013, p. 1.
(2) Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 of 23 July 1987 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff (OJ L 256, 7.9.1987, p. 1).

(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 issued in respect of the goods concerned by this Regulation which does not conform to this Regulation may, for a certain period, continue to be invoked by the holder in accordance with Article 34(9) of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013. That period should be set at three months.

(5) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Customs Code Committee,

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 which does not conform to this Regulation may continue to be invoked in accordance with Article 34(9) of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 for a period of three months from the date of entry into force of this Regulation.

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, 9 September 2020.

For the Commission,
On behalf of the President,
Gerassimos THOMAS
Director-General
Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union

ANNEX

Description of the goods

Classification (CN code)

Reasons

(1)

(2)

(3)

Disposable non-woven paper wipes (approximately 3 cm x 6 cm each), individually wrapped and put up for retail sale in boxes holding 100 wipes.
The wipes are impregnated with an alcoholic solution consisting of 70% isopropyl alcohol and 30% water.
The product is presented to be used for general disinfection of the skin and of other surfaces (such as those of non-invasive medical instruments).

3808 94 90

Classification is determined by general rules 1 and 6 for the interpretation of the Combined Nomenclature and the wording of CN codes 3808, 3808 94 and 3808 94 90.
Classification under heading 3005 is excluded as the wipes are not used for any specific medical, surgical, dental or veterinary purpose (see also the Harmonized System Explanatory Note to heading 3005, first paragraph).
Classification under heading 3402 is excluded as the main purpose of the product is not cleaning but disinfection. The product is considered a disinfectant and is put up for retail sale as a disinfectant (see note 2 to Section VI).
Consequently, the product is to be classified in CN code 3808 94 90 as a disinfectant, put up for retail sale.