OT:RR:NC:N3:138
Mr. Pradeep Shah
Zydus Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
73 Route 31 North
Pennington, NJ 08534
RE: The country of origin of Cholestyramine for Oral Suspension USP Light Powder
Dear Mr. Shah:
In your letter dated June 8, 2020, you requested a country of origin ruling determination on Cholestyramine for Oral Suspension USP Light Powder.
Cholestyramine for Oral Suspension USP Light Powder is a medicinal preparation containing Cholestyramine Resin, an antihyperlipidemic, as the active ingredient. It is indicated as adjunctive therapy to diet for the reduction of elevated serum cholesterol in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia (elevated low density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol) who do not respond adequately to diet.
You stated that the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), Cholestyramine Resin, is manufactured in Romania and that the finished oral suspension light powder in dosage form is made in India. In India, the Cholestyramine Resin will be mixed with various inactive ingredients to produce the final oral suspension light powder in dosage form.
Section 134.1(b), Customs Regulations (19 CFR 134.1(b)), defines "country of origin" as:
The country of manufacture, production or growth of any article of foreign origin entering the United States. Further work or material added to an article in another country must effect a substantial transformation in order to render such other country the "country of origin" within the meaning of this part;….
A substantial transformation occurs when an article emerges from a process with a new name, character or use different from that possessed by the article prior to processing. A substantial transformation will not result from a minor manufacturing or combining process that leaves the identity of the article intact. See United States v. Gibson-Thomsen Co., 27 C.C.P.A. 267 (1940); and National Juice Products Association v. United States, 628 F. Supp. 978 (Ct. Int’l Trade 1986)
In this case, we find the mixing of the active ingredient Cholestyramine Resin (made in Romania) with the inactive ingredients into the final dosage oral suspension light powder in India does not result in a substantial transformation and the country of origin will be Romania.
This merchandise may be subject to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and/or The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (The Bioterrorism Act), which are administered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Information on the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as well as The Bioterrorism Act, can be obtained by calling the FDA at 1-888-463-6332, or by visiting their website at www.fda.gov.
This ruling is being issued under the provisions of Part 177 of the Customs Regulations (19 C.F.R. 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 Judy Lee at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Steven A. Mack
Director
National Commodity Specialist Division