# C_2012001EN.01001001.xml

| 4.1.2012 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 1/10 |
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4.1.2012

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 1/10

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Explanatory Notes to the Combined Nomenclature of the European Union

2012/C 1/04

Pursuant to the second indent of Article 9(1)(a) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 of 23 July 1987 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff (1), the Explanatory Notes to the Combined Nomenclature of the European Union (2) are hereby amended as follows:

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Page 245

Page 245

The Explanatory Note to subheading 6210 10 90 is deleted and replaced by the following Explanatory Note:

6210 10 90

‘6210 10 92   Single-use gowns made up of fabrics of heading 5603, of a kind used by patients or surgeons during surgical procedures

Patient and surgical gowns are single-use products, usually closed at the back, and used in healthcare institutions. The gowns are used to prevent the transfer of potentially infectious agents (dry, wet or airborne) through direct contact from the surgical team to the patient and vice versa. The gowns are usually made of multiple layers of non-wovens and may be partially laminated with a plastic film to provide additional strength and protection in areas likely to be exposed to bodily fluids (e.g. forearms and abdomen). Surgical gowns may be impregnated with fluorocarbons or silicon to improve repellence.

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Page 247

Page 247

The following Explanatory Note is inserted:

‘6307 90 92   Single-use drapes made up of fabrics of heading 5603, of a kind used during surgical procedures

This subheading includes single-use made-up surgical drapes specifically designed for use during surgical operations to prevent the transfer of potentially infectious agents (dry, wet or airborne) through direct contact from the surgical team to the patient and vice versa. Surgical drapes usually consist of multiple layers of non-wovens and are made up by hemming.

Surgical drapes are used to provide a microbiologically clean working area around the patient. Surgical drapes may be impregnated with fluorocarbons or silicon to improve repellence. They may also be partially laminated with a plastic film to provide additional strength and protection in areas likely to be exposed to bodily fluids. In addition, they may be covered with paper tissue as a comfort layer in contact with patient skin. Drapes used on patients may have openings or windows to facilitate access to the patient.

This subheading does not include:

| — | drapes which are impregnated or coated with pharmaceutical substances or put up in forms or packings for retail sale for medical, surgical, dental or veterinary purposes (heading 3005), and |
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drapes which are impregnated or coated with pharmaceutical substances or put up in forms or packings for retail sale for medical, surgical, dental or veterinary purposes (heading 3005), and

| — | articles having the clear characteristics of toilet linen (e.g. hand or face towels, facecloths) or kitchen linen such as tea towels or glass cloth (heading 6302).’ |
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articles having the clear characteristics of toilet linen (e.g. hand or face towels, facecloths) or kitchen linen such as tea towels or glass cloth (heading 6302).’

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(1)  OJ L 256, 7.9.1987, p. 1.

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(2)  OJ C 137, 6.5.2011, p. 1.

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