Revised ICP on Eyewear Frames, Eyewear
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a revised version of its informed compliance publication entitled, What Every Member of the Trade Community Should Know About: Eyewear Frames and Eyewear.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.
This publication was prepared by the National Commodity Specialist Division of Regulations and Rulings and provides guidance on the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classification and marking of eyewear frames and eyewear. The ICP was first published in January 2008 and was revised in April 2009 and January 2011.
Information Added on Demo Lenses
According to CBP sources, the only substantive change made to the ICP is the addition of new information on demo lenses. The section on demo lenses has also been rewritten. The section, as revised, now reads as follows:
Demo lenses are demonstration lenses. These are plastic pieces that imitate prescription eyewear lenses. Sometimes the demo lenses are tinted. Often eyewear frames are shown to the retail customer with demo lenses in the frame, in order to give the buyer a better idea of how the frames will look with prescription optical lenses mounted in the frame. Demo lenses have no optical properties. After the retail customer selects their frames, the demo lenses will be removed and optical lenses will be mounted in the frame.
When frames are imported with demo lenses, the frames with demo lenses are classified in heading 9003, HTSUS, as frames and mountings for spectacles, goggles or the like. When demo lenses are imported separately, they are not classified as parts of the frames. Also, they are not classified as accessories to the frames because heading 9003, HTSUS, has no accessory provision. Accordingly, when plastic demo lenses are imported separately, they classified in chapter 39, HTSUS, as articles of plastic.
ICP Continues to Contain Information on Additional Topics
According to the table of contents, the ICP continues to cover the following:
- Introduction
- Headings 9003 and 9004 and the Applicable Explanatory Notes for Headings 9003 and 9004
- Physical Description of the Parts of Eyewear Frames of Heading 9003
- Physical Description of Eyewear of Heading 9004
- Goods Classified under Heading 9003, Frames and Mountings for Spectacles, Goggles or the Like, and Parts Thereof
- Goods Classified under Heading 9004, Spectacles, Goggles and the Like, Corrective, Protective or Other
- Section 304 Marking under Heading 9003
- Section 304 Marking under Heading 9004
- Goods Excluded from Classification under Heading 9004
- Other Agency Requirements
- Classification of Eyewear Frames and Eyewear Imported with Fitted Eyeglass Cases
- Accessories to Eyeglasses
- Additional Information
ICP Provided for Informational Purposes Only
CBP states that the information provided in this publication is for general information purposes only. CBP cautions that because many complicated factors can be involved in customs issues, an importer may wish to obtain a ruling under CBP Regulations, 19 CFR Part 177, or obtain advice from an expert (such as a licensed Customs Broker, attorney or consultant) who specializes in customs matters. Reliance solely on the general information in this ICP may not be considered reasonable care.