The tariff classification of Svalia cheese from Lithuania.

NY J82759 March 28, 2003 CLA-2-04:RR:NC:2:231 J82759 CATEGORY: Classification TARIFF NO.: 0406.90.9500; 0406.90.9700 Ms. Kelly O’Neill All-Ways Forwarding International, Inc. 701 Newark Avenue, Suite 300 Elizabeth, NJ 07208 RE: The tariff classification of Svalia cheese from Lithuania. Dear Ms. O’Neill: In your letter, dated March 21, 2003, on behalf of your client, S and S Food Import, Brooklyn, NY, you have requested a tariff classification ruling. The cheese in question is made from cow’s milk and called “Svalia.” A sample cheese loaf, provided with this ruling request, was pale yellow in color and rindless. This cheese had a semi-soft, pliable body and exhibited many mechanical openings throughout. The fat content was said to be 45 percent by weight (+/- 1.6 percent), with 44 percent moisture, maximum, and 2.5 percent salt. This Svalia cheese will be shipped in block form, packaged in sealed plastic bags. The applicable subheading for Svalia cheese, if entered under quota, will be 0406.90.9500, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS), which provides for cheese and curd, other cheese, other cheeses, and substitutes for cheese, including mixtures of the above, other, including mixtures of the above (excluding goods containing mixtures of subheadings 0406.90.61 or 0406.90.63), other, other, containing cow’s milk (except soft-ripened cow’s milk cheese) described in additional U.S. note 16 to chapter 4 and entered pursuant to its provisions. The rate of duty will be 10 percent ad valorem. The applicable subheading for Svalia cheese, if entered outside the quota, will be 0406.90.9700, HTS, which provides for cheese and curd, other cheese, other cheeses, and substitutes for cheese, including mixtures of the above, other, including mixtures of the above (excluding goods containing mixtures of subheadings 0406.90.61 or 0406.90.63), other, other, other. The rate of duty will be $1.509 per kilogram. In addition, products classified in subheading 0406.90.9700, HTS, will be subject to additional safeguard duties based on their value, as described in subheadings 9904.06.38 – 9904.06.49. For goods classified in subheading 0406.90.9500, an import license, issued to the importer by the United States Department of Agriculture, will be required at the time that such merchandise is entered for consumption into the United States. Questions regarding licensing procedures and applications for licenses to import cheese subject to quota should be addressed to: Import Quota Manager for Dairy Products STOP 1029/Room 5531-S U.S. Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, DC 20250-1029 Importations of this product are subject to import regulations administered by various U.S. agencies. Requests for information regarding applicable regulations administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture may be addressed to that agency at the following location: A.P.H.I.S., Veterinary Services Federal Building, Room 756 6505 Belcrest Road Hyattsville, MD 20782 This ruling is being issued under the provisions of Part 177 of the Customs Regulations (19 CFR 177). A copy of the ruling or the control number indicated above should be provided with the entry documents filed at the time this merchandise is imported. If you have any questions regarding the ruling, contact National Import Specialist Thomas Brady at (646) 733-3030. Sincerely, Robert B. Swierupski Director National Commodity Specialist Division