CLA-2-02:RR:NC:2:231 F89948

Mr. John Poole
John A. Steer Company
28 South Second Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106

RE: The tariff classification of frozen meat slurry from Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and Uruguay.

Dear Mr. Poole:

In your letter, dated July 18, 2000, you requested a classification ruling on behalf of your client, ASC Meat Imports, Ponte Verde Beach, FL.

The merchandise, frozen meat slurry, is meat that has been produced by the removal of meat from beef bones. During the manufacturing process, meat adhering to animal bones after the primary cuts have been excised is removed from the bones with a high pressure water spray. The temperature of the water used in the high pressure spray is room temperature. This process produces a slurry which is then frozen. The slurry is comprised of 70 percent water (frozen), 15 percent fat, and 15 percent scraps. The product is not cooked. It will be packed in polybags, in a frozen state; the polybags may not be airtight.

The applicable subheading for frozen meat slurry, if entered under quota, will be 0202.30.3000, HTS, which provides for meat of bovine animals, frozen, boneless, described in additional U.S. note 3 to chapter 2 and entered pursuant to its provisions, processed, other. The rate of duty will be 10 percent ad valorem.

The applicable subheading for frozen meat slurry, if entered outside the quota, will be 0202.30.8000, HTS, which provides for meat of bovine animals, frozen, boneless, other. The rate of duty will be 26.4 percent ad valorem. In addition, products classified in subheading 0202.30.8000, HTS, will be subject to additional safeguard duties based on their value, as described in subheadings 9904.02.01 – 9904.02.37.

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 212-637-7064.

Sincerely,

Robert B. Swierupski
Director,
National Commodity
Specialist Division