CLA-2 CO:R:C:M 088494 MBR

Mr. Jerrold E. Anderson
Katten Muchin & Zavis
525 West Monroe Street, Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60606-3693

RE: Educational Electronic Learning Device for Children; "Electronic Flashcards"; "Robo-mate"; Electrical Machines and Apparatus

Dear Mr. Anderson:

This is in reply to your letter of January 4, 1991, on behalf of Video Technology Industries, Inc., regarding classification of the "Robo-mate," and the "Electronic Flashcards," under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Annotated (HTSUSA).

FACTS:

The "Robo-mate" is an electronic educational learning device for children ages 3 to 6. It is battery powered and contains two liquid crystal diode ("LCD") screens. It is composed primarily of plastic. It is accompanied by twenty double sided cards which direct the user through 40 different learning activities which teach spelling, colors, shapes, matching, and other basic academic skills.

The "Electronic Flashcards" is an educational electronic device designed for children between the ages of 5 and 8 years. This device is also powered by batteries and is composed primarily of plastic. It has one rectangular LCD screen. It is accompanied by forty different learning activities encompassed on twenty double sided cards. These learning exercises teach math, spelling, matching, numbers, logic, music and other basic skills.

ISSUE:

What are the classifications of the "Electronic Flashcards," and the "Robo-mate" electronic educational devices for children, -2-

under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Annotated (HTSUSA)?

LAW AND ANALYSIS:

The General Rules of Interpretation (GRI's) to the HTSUSA govern the classification of goods in the tariff schedule. GRI 1 states, in pertinent part:

...classification shall be determined according to the terms of the headings and any relative section or chapter notes...

The Electronic Flashcards and the Robo-mate are prima facie classifiable under the following headings:

9504 Articles for arcade, table or parlor games, including pinball machines, bagatelle, billiards and special tables for casino games; automatic bowling alley equipment.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

9503 Other toys; reduced-size ("scale" models and similar recreational models, workin and accessories thereof.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

8543 Electrical machines and apparatus, having individual functions, not specified or included elsewhere in this chapter.

The Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System Explanatory Notes (ENs) for chapter 95 (regarding toys, games and sports requisites), page 1585, state: "This chapter covers toys of all kinds whether designed for the amusement of children or adults." Therefore, to be classifiable in chapter 95, the merchandise must have the essential character of an article designed for the amusement of children or adults.

There is no question that these articles are designed and marketed as devices to teach children mathematics, vocabulary, etc., and that parents purchase them as educational tools for their children. Although these devices may have automatic scoring and a "musical salute," these features alone do not mean that these devices were designed for the amusement of children. Furthermore, the ultimate consumer, the child, is learning the same basic skills taught in school, as the parents intended. Although certain aspects of school can be amusing, we do not agree that school is designed for the amusement of children. Therefore, we find that the essential character of these articles is that of a learning device and not that of a toy designed to amuse. -3-

The Customs Court addressed the distinction between amusement and utility in Ideal Toy Corp. v. United States, 78 Cust.Ct. 28, 33, C.D. 4688 (1977):

When amusement and utility become locked in controversy, the question becomes one of determining whether the amusement is incidental to the utilitarian purpose, or the utility purpose is incidental to the amusement.

In the instant case, we find that the limited amusement value of the Electronic Flashcards and the Robo-mate, is incidental to the utilitarian purpose of educational advancement.

In Childcraft Education Corp. v. United States, 742 F.2d 1413 (1984), the U.S.Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit addressed the classification of educational merchandise for children that used programmed cards in a question and answer format. The Court found that such educational merchandise is not classifiable under the provision for "other toys."

It has also been asserted that heading 9503, HTSUSA, provides for "educational toys" because the EN, page 1587 states:

This heading covers:

(A) All toys not included in headings 95.01 and 95.02. Many of the toys of this heading are mechanically or electrically operated.

These include:

(17) Educational toys (e.g., toy chemistry, printing, sewing and knitting sets).

However, we do not agree that "toy" chemistry, printing, sewing and knitting sets have the essential character of learning devices. The operative word here is "toy." The EN, page 1588, also states:

Certain toys (e.g., electric irons, sewing machines, musical instruments, etc.) may be capable of a limited "use"; but they are generally distinguishable by their size and limited capacity from real sewing machines, etc.

Additionally, the EN states:

Collections of articles, the individual items of which if presented separately would be classified in other headings in the Nomenclature, are classified in this Chapter when they are put up in a form clearly indicating their use as toys (e.g., instructional toys such as chemistry, sewing, etc., sets). (Emphasis added). -4-

Therefore, those items of "limited use" and those items that are "put up in a form clearly indicating their use as toys," are classifiable as toys. Thus the enumerated "toy" chemistry, printing, and sewing sets are of limited use and/or are put up in a form clearly indicating their use as toys.

However, the Electronic Flashcards and the Robo-mate are not limited use devices nor are they put up in a form clearly indicating their use as toys. Many articles that are designed for the use of children are not classifiable as toys.

It has also been argued that these devices are properly classifiable under subheading 9504.10.00, HTSUSA, which provides for: "[a]rticles for arcade...: [v]ideo games of a kind used with a television receiver and parts thereof." Although they do have some game features, i.e., musical salute, the essential character of these machines is not that of a game, but that of a learning device. Learning is the purpose of this machines, not competition or winning. Thus, due to the essential character of these devices, for the same reasons they are not properly classifiable as toys, they are not classifiable as games.

The Electronic Flashcards and the Robo-mate are therefore classifiable under subheading 8543.80.90, HTSUSA, which provides for: "[e]lectrical machines and apparatus, having individual functions, not specified or included elsewhere in this chapter; [o]ther." See HQ 087599 (March 5, 1991), HQ 088086 (February 7, 1991), HQ 086577 (May 4, 1990), HQ 086649 (May 4, 1990), and HQ 085758 (January 2, 1990), for similar holdings regarding similar merchandise.

HOLDING:

The "Electronic Flashcards" and the "Robo-mate" electronic educational devices are classifiable under the provision for electrical machines and apparatus in subheading 8543.80.90, HTSUSA.

Sincerely,

John Durant, Director
Commercial Rulings Division