Details of 484(f) Committee HTS Statistical Changes to Take Effect Jan 1

(The 484(f) Committee is an interagency group that is responsible for considering government and private sector requests for HTS statistical changes at the 9th and 10th digit level. See ITT's Online Archives 11122111 for summary of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) issuance of HS Update 1108 which included 577 Automated Broker Interface (ABI) records and 118 harmonized tariff records, including the records for the 484(f) Committee changes that are effective January 1, 2012.

Note that additional HTS changes will take effect in late January/early February 2012 due to World Customs Organization recommendations. See ITT's Online Archives 11122017 for summary of the WCO-recommended tariff changes.)

HTS Revisions

The following changes in HTS Chapters 4, 48, 49, 71, 72, 82, 84, and 85 have been approved by the 484(f) Committee and take effect January 1, 2012:

Chapter 4

Certified Organic

New statistical note 2 is added to Chapter 4:

"For the purposes of this chapter, the expression "Certified organic" refers to a fresh or processed agricultural product that is certified to the United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Program Regulation (7 CFR 205) or the Canadian Organic Products Regulations (SOR/2006-338 COPR)."

Natural Honey

0409.00.0005 -- established to create a breakout for certified organic natural honey.

(Such honey was previously classified in 0409.00.0025; 0409.00.0042; 0409.00.0044; 0409.00.0062; or 0409.00.0064)

0409.00.0025 -- discontinued -- transferred to new 0409.00.0010

0409.00.0042 -- discontinued -- transferred to new 0409.00.0035

0409.00.0044 -- discontinued -- transferred to new 0409.00.0045

0409.00.0062 -- discontinued -- transferred to new 0409.00.0055

0409.00.0064 -- discontinued -- transferred to 0409.00.0065.

(The above changes for (1) comb/retail sale, (2) white or lighter, (3) extra light amber, (4) light amber, and (5) amber or darker honey are a consequence of the new breakout for organic natural honey.)

Chapter 48

Coated Paper Products in Rolls and Sheets

4810.29.1000 -- discontinued -- transferred to new 4810.29.1025 and 4810.29.1035

4810.29.7040 -- discontinued -- transferred to new 4810.29.7025 and 4810.29.7025

4810.92.1200 -- discontinued -- transferred to new 4810.92.1225 and 4810.92.1235

4810.92.1400 -- discontinued -- transferred to new 4810.92.1425 and 4810.92.1435

4810.92.6500 -- discontinued -- transferred to new 4810.92.6525 and 4810.92.6535

(The above changes create new breakouts for (1) rolls and (2) sheets for other paper/paperboard, paper with 25% cotton fiber, and certain multi-ply paper.)

Chapter 49

Greeting Cards, Etc.

The quantity reporting requirement is being discontinued and is now "X" for HTS 4909.00.4000, which covers printed cards, other than postcards, bearing personal greetings, messages or announcements, whether or not illustrated, with or without envelopes or trimmings.

Chapter 71

Platinum Jewelry

Statistical note 2 is added to Chapter 71:

"For the purposes of reporting under statistical numbers 7113.19.5022 through 7113.19.5040, each piece is individually counted. For example, a pair of earrings is counted as two pieces and a necklace and its pendant are counted as one piece."

(7113.19.5022 through 7113.19.5040 covers ISO standard platinum necklaces and neck chains, rings, earrings, and other jewelry.)

Chapter 72

Certain Iron or Non-Alloy Steel Bars and Rods

7214.99.0015 -- discontinued -- transferred to new 7214.99.0016 and 7214.99.0020.

7215.50.0015 -- discontinued -- transferred to new 7215.50.0016; 7215.50.0018; and 7215.50.0020.

7215.50.0060 -- discontinued -- transferred to new 7215.50.0061; 7215.50.0063; and 7215.50.0065.

(The above changes create breakouts for certain iron or nonalloy steel bars and rods according to various diameter sizes.)

Chapter 82

Collapsible Multi-Use Tools and Knife Blades

8211.93.0030 -- discontinued -- transferred to new 8211.93.0031 and 8211.93.0035.

(The above change creates a breakout for folding two-handled multi-use tools that include a knifeblade(s) and as a consequence renumbers the breakout for pen knives, pocket knives, and other knives with folding blades.)

Chapter 84 & 85

Wind Turbines and AC Generators

8412.90.9080 -- discontinued -- transferred to new 8412.90.9081 and 8412.90.9085.

8501.64.0020 -- discontinued -- transferred to new 8501.64.0021 and 8501.64.0025.

8503.00.9545 -- discontinued -- transferred to new 8503.00.9546 and 8503.00.9550.

(The above changes create breakouts for (1) wind turbine blades and hubs, (2) wind powered generating sets, and (3) AC generators (alternators).)

Schedule B (Exports)

The following changes to Schedule B (exports) for Chapters 7 and 8 have been approved by the 484(f) Committee and take effect January 1, 2012:

Chapter 7 & 8

Cabbage, Cucumber, and Grapefruit

0704.90.2000 -- discontinued -- transferred to new 0704.90.2010 and 0704.90.2050.

0707.00.0000 -- discontinued -- transferred to new 0707.00.0010 and 0707.00.0050.

0805.40.0000 -- discontinued -- transferred to new 0805.40.0010 and 0805.40.0050.

(The above changes create "certified organic" breakouts for cabbage, cucumbers and gherkins, and grapefruit (including pomelos) and renumber the breakouts for "other" as a consequence.)

(See ITT's Online Archives 11122212 for summary of the ITC's preliminary version of the 2012 HTS.)

List of the January 1, 2012 484(f) Committee changes are available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com.

The 2012 HTS, reflecting these 484(f) Committee changes is available here.