[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 30, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28202-28203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-13071]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Customs Service
[T.D. 95-46]
Country of Origin Marking for the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia
AGENCY: U.S. Customs Service, Department of the Treasury.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: On February 8, 1994, the United States extended formal
recognition to The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as an
independent state. This document notifies the public of the name and
the English spelling that is to be used for country of origin marking
on merchandise imported into the United States from the Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia. It also grants a grace period to permit the
continued importation of merchandise marked ``Yugoslavia.''
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 31, 1995.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Monika Rice, Office of Regulations and
Rulings, (202-482-6980).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 304 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1304),
provides that, unless excepted, every article of foreign origin
imported into the U.S. shall be marked in a conspicuous place as
legibly, indelibly and permanently as the nature of the article (or its
container) will permit, in such a manner as to indicate to the ultimate
purchaser in the U.S. the English name of the country of origin of the
article. Customs has authority pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1304 to determine
the character of the words and phrases or abbreviations thereof which
shall be acceptable as indicating the country of origin and to require
the addition of any other words or symbols which may be appropriate to
prevent deception or mistake as to the origin of an article.
On February 8, 1994, the United States extended formal recognition
to The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as an independent state.
Accordingly, products of The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
imported into the U.S. are subject to marking with the English name of
the independent state. The United States Department of State has
indicated that the English name and the correct spelling of this
independent state is:
Long form name Short form name
The Former Yugoslav Republic of (No current short form)
Macedonia.
Instead of marking a product of The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia with the long form name, the abbreviations ``FYR Macedonia,''
``Macedonia (FYR),'' ``F.Y.R.O.M. (Macedonia),'' or similar markings
may be used, provided the abbreviations ``FYR'' or ``F.Y.R.O.M.'' are
adjacent to the word ``Macedonia,'' and the words are in a comparable
size. However, the Department of State has advised that the markings
``Macedonia,'' ``Republic of Macedonia'', or ``Made in Macedonia,'' are
not appropriate at this time. [[Page 28203]]
Customs recognizes that manufacturers and importers may need time
to adjust to this change and that an abrupt change in the marking
requirements could cause undue hardship. In Headquarters Ruling Letter
735526 dated April 28, 1994, Customs held that until February 8, 1995,
merchandise produced in The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia could
be marked ``Yugoslavia'' as was previously required by a notice
published at 57 FR 23455 (1992). However, since the general public was
not given notice of this effective date, Customs will continue to
accept products of The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia with the
marking ``Yugoslavia,'' ``Yugoslavia/Skopje,'' or ``Yugoslavia/
Macedonia'' until 60 days from date of publication of this notice in
the Federal Register. If the marking ``Yugoslavia'' is used, in order
to avoid sanctions against products produced in Yugoslavia, importers
should be prepared to demonstrate to the satisfaction of Customs that
the country of origin of the product is The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia and not Yugoslavia. All products of The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia entered or withdrawn from warehouse for
consumption on or after 60 days from the date this document is
published in the Federal Register will be required to be marked ``The
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia'' or with one of the
abbreviations set forth above.
Dated: May 22, 1995.
Stuart P. Seidel,
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Regulations and Rulings.
[FR Doc. 95-13071 Filed 5-26-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P
