CLA-2-30:S:N:N1-F:238 871305
Mr. William M. James
Oncor, Inc.
P.O. Box 870
Gaithersburg, MD 20884
RE: The tariff classification of micro-organism cultures from
England.
Dear Mr. James:
In your letter dated January 30, 1992, received on February
5, 1992, you requested a tariff classification ruling.
The product in question is a sample of a bacterial cell line
(specifically, E. coli BL21 lys E strain) containing a vector for
overexpression of tumor antigen marker protein p53. You state
that your end-objective is to make an antiserum and market it to
qualified researchers and clinicians as a tumor detection reagent
in Pathology. This is accomplished by extraction and purification
of p53 peptide from the mass-cultured cells, and using it as an
intermediate to immunize laboratory animals to make antiserum of
commercial value against this antigen.
The applicable subheading for these cultures of micro-
organisms will be 3002,90.5050, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (HTS), which provides for ... vaccines, toxins,
cultures of micro-organisms (excluding yeasts) and similar
products: other: other: other. The rate of duty will be free.
This merchandise may be subject to the regulations of the
Food and Drug Administration. You may contact them at 5600
Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857, telephone number (202)
443-3380.
This ruling is being issued under the provisions of Section
177 of the Customs Regulations (19 C.F.R. 177).
A copy of this ruling letter should be attached to the entry
documents filed at the time this merchandise is imported. If the
documents have been filed without a copy, this ruling should be
brought to the attention of the Customs officer handling the
transaction.
Sincerely,
Jean F. Maguire
Area Director
New York Seaport