2003/97/EC: Commission Decision of 31 January 2003 concerning the validity of certain binding tariff information (BTI) issued by the Federal Republic of Germany (notified under document number C(2003) 77)
Date: 2003-01-31
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Germany, customs regulations, frozen product, poultrymeat, tariff nomenclature

L 36/40

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

12.2.2003

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 31 January 2003

concerning the validity of certain binding tariff information (BTI) issued by the Federal Republic
of Germany

(notified under document number C(2003) 77)

(Only the German text is authentic)

(2003/97/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(2)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of 12
October 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code (1),
as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2700/2000 (2), and in
particular Article 12(5)(a)(iii) and Article 248 thereof,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of
2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of
Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the
Common Customs Code (3), as last amended by Regulation (EC)
No 444/2002 (4) and in particular Article 9 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

In order to ensure uniform application of the Combined
Nomenclature (CN) annexed to Council Regulation (EEC)
No 2658/87 of 23 July 1987 on the tariff and statistical
nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff (5),
the Commission adopted Regulation (EC) No 1223/
2002 (6) clarifying and confirming the classification of
the products described below as frozen poultrymeat of
heading 0207, under CN subheading 0207 14 10: ‘Bone-
less chicken cuts, frozen and impregnated with salt in all
parts. They have a salt content by weight of 1,2 % to
1,9 %. The product is deep-frozen and has to be stored
at a temperature of lower than -18 °C to ensure conser-
vation for at least one year’.

(1) OJ L 302, 19.10.1992, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 311, 12.12.2000, p. 17.
(3) OJ L 253, 11.10.1993, p. 1.
(4) OJ L 68, 12.3.2002, p. 11.
(5) OJ L 256, 7.9.1987, p. 1.
(6) OJ L 179, 9.7.2002, p. 8.

This classification was adopted for the following reasons:
‘Classification is determined by the provisions of General
Rules 1 and 6 for the interpretation of the Combined
Nomenclature and by the wording of CN codes 0207,
0207 14 and 0207 14 10. The product is chicken meat
frozen for long-term conservation. The addition of salt
does not alter the character of the product as frozen
meat of heading 0207’.

Following publication of the above Regulation on 9 July
2002 (7), all binding tariff information (BTIs) previously
classifying the products
issued by Member States
concerned as salted meat of heading 0210 ceased to be
valid.

Based on this Regulation, some Member States later
issued BTIs for
the same kind
frozen products of
containing 2 % to 2,7 % salt under heading 0207.

A number of cases subsequently came to light in which
Germany had issued BTIs classifying frozen products of
this kind containing between 1,9 % and 3 % by weight
of salt under heading 0210.

In so doing, Germany failed to take account of the fact
that the classification regulation constitutes the applica-
tion of a general rule to a particular case, and thus
contains guidance on the interpretation of
the rule
which can be applied by the authority responsible for
the classification of an identical or similar product.

Products also consisting of boneless chicken cuts which
have been frozen for long-term conservation and have a
salt content of 1,9 % to 3 % are similar to the products
covered by Regulation (EC) No 1223/2002. The addition
of salt in such quantities is not such as to alter the
products' character as frozen poultry meat of heading
0207.

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(7) OJ L 179, 9.7.2002, p. 8.

12.2.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 36/41

(8)

(9)

In order to safeguard equality between operators, which
would be endangered if like cases were not treated alike,
and to ensure uniform application of the CN, the BTIs
issued by Germany on frozen poultry meat containing
between 1,9 % and 3 % salt, listed in the annex, must be
withdrawn.

Pursuant to Article 14(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2454/
93, the holder of the BTIs concerned may make use of
the possibility of invoking BTIs which have ceased to be
valid during a given period.

(10)

The Customs Code Committee has not issued an opinion
within the time limit set by its chairman,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The binding tariff information notices listed in column 1 of the
table annexed issued by the customs authorities shown in
column 2 for the tariff classification shown in column 3 must
be withdrawn at the earliest possible date and in any case not
later than 10 days from the notification of this decision.

This Decision is addressed to the Federal Republic of Germany.

Article 2

Done at Brussels, 31 January 2003.

For the Commission

Pascal LAMY

Member of the Commission

L 36/42

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

12.2.2003

ANNEX

Binding tariff information
Reference no

Customs authority

Tariff classification

1

2

3

DE HH/734/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/779/02-1

– Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/790/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/795/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/827/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/828/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/854/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/873/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/874/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/875/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/876/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/880/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/881/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/882/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/918/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/920/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/921/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/973/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/991/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/994/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/995/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/996/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/997/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/998/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/999/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1000/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1001/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1002/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1003/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1004/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1005/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1006/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1007/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1008/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

12.2.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 36/43

Binding tariff information
Reference no

Customs authority

Tariff classification

1

2

3

DE HH/1009/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1017/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1018/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1019/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1020/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1038/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1047/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1076/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1081/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1082/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1083/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1091/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1092/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1142/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1143/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1144/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1164/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1165/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1170/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1207/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1208/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1232/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1233/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1234/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1235/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1236/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1237/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1238/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1239/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1240/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1241/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

DE HH/1242/02-1

Oberfinanzdirektion Hamburg, ZPLA

0210 99

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39

0210 99 39