COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2021/575
of 30 March 2021 concerning the classification of certain goods in the Combined Nomenclature

- "Official Journal of the European Union", No L 120/13 of 8.4.2021 -

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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

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,

________
(1) OJ L 269, 10.10.2013, p. 1.

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.

________
(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, 30 March 2021.

For the Commission
Gerassimos THOMAS
Director-General
Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union

ANNEX

Description of the goods

Classification
(CN-code)

Reasons

(1)

(2)

(3)

A product, presented as a set for retail sale, consisting of a plastic bottle equipped with an air pump and a nozzle (filling apparatus) along with 100 pieces of multicoloured latex balloons included inside the bottle.

The filling apparatus is designed to be filled up with and contain water and is used to pump water into the balloons. When filled with water, the balloons are used as water bombs for outdoor play to entertain children/adults.

(See image) (*1)

9503 00 99

Classification is determined by general rules 1, 3(c) and 6 for the interpretation of the Combined Nomenclature and by the wording of CN codes 9503 00 and 9503 00 99.

The product is, based on its objective characteristics and properties, intended to be used for the amusement of persons when playing a water battle with filled balloons. It is a set put up for retail sale, in which the component giving the set its essential character cannot be determined. It is to be classified under the heading that occurs last in numerical order among those that equally merit consideration. The balloons are covered by heading 9503 . Consequently, classification under heading 8414 or 8424 according to the filling apparatus is excluded. The product is therefore to be classified under heading 9503 .

Consequently, the product is to be classified under CN code 9503 00 99 as other toys.

(*1) The image is purely for information.