[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 30, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28202-28203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-13071]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service
[T.D. 95-46]


Country of Origin Marking for the Former Yugoslav Republic of 
Macedonia

AGENCY: U.S. Customs Service, Department of the Treasury.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: On February 8, 1994, the United States extended formal 
recognition to The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as an 
independent state. This document notifies the public of the name and 
the English spelling that is to be used for country of origin marking 
on merchandise imported into the United States from the Former Yugoslav 
Republic of Macedonia. It also grants a grace period to permit the 
continued importation of merchandise marked ``Yugoslavia.''

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 31, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Monika Rice, Office of Regulations and 
Rulings, (202-482-6980).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 304 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1304), 
provides that, unless excepted, every article of foreign origin 
imported into the U.S. shall be marked in a conspicuous place as 
legibly, indelibly and permanently as the nature of the article (or its 
container) will permit, in such a manner as to indicate to the ultimate 
purchaser in the U.S. the English name of the country of origin of the 
article. Customs has authority pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1304 to determine 
the character of the words and phrases or abbreviations thereof which 
shall be acceptable as indicating the country of origin and to require 
the addition of any other words or symbols which may be appropriate to 
prevent deception or mistake as to the origin of an article.
    On February 8, 1994, the United States extended formal recognition 
to The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as an independent state. 
Accordingly, products of The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 
imported into the U.S. are subject to marking with the English name of 
the independent state. The United States Department of State has 
indicated that the English name and the correct spelling of this 
independent state is:

                                                                        
           Long form name                      Short form name          
                                                                        
The Former Yugoslav Republic of      (No current short form)            
 Macedonia.                                                             
                                                                        

Instead of marking a product of The Former Yugoslav Republic of 
Macedonia with the long form name, the abbreviations ``FYR Macedonia,'' 
``Macedonia (FYR),'' ``F.Y.R.O.M. (Macedonia),'' or similar markings 
may be used, provided the abbreviations ``FYR'' or ``F.Y.R.O.M.'' are 
adjacent to the word ``Macedonia,'' and the words are in a comparable 
size. However, the Department of State has advised that the markings 
``Macedonia,'' ``Republic of Macedonia'', or ``Made in Macedonia,'' are 
not appropriate at this time. [[Page 28203]] 
    Customs recognizes that manufacturers and importers may need time 
to adjust to this change and that an abrupt change in the marking 
requirements could cause undue hardship. In Headquarters Ruling Letter 
735526 dated April 28, 1994, Customs held that until February 8, 1995, 
merchandise produced in The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia could 
be marked ``Yugoslavia'' as was previously required by a notice 
published at 57 FR 23455 (1992). However, since the general public was 
not given notice of this effective date, Customs will continue to 
accept products of The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia with the 
marking ``Yugoslavia,'' ``Yugoslavia/Skopje,'' or ``Yugoslavia/
Macedonia'' until 60 days from date of publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register. If the marking ``Yugoslavia'' is used, in order 
to avoid sanctions against products produced in Yugoslavia, importers 
should be prepared to demonstrate to the satisfaction of Customs that 
the country of origin of the product is The Former Yugoslav Republic of 
Macedonia and not Yugoslavia. All products of The Former Yugoslav 
Republic of Macedonia entered or withdrawn from warehouse for 
consumption on or after 60 days from the date this document is 
published in the Federal Register will be required to be marked ``The 
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia'' or with one of the 
abbreviations set forth above.

    Dated: May 22, 1995.
Stuart P. Seidel,
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Regulations and Rulings.
[FR Doc. 95-13071 Filed 5-26-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P