Opinion

Levy & Levis Co. v. United States

  • 23 Cust. Ct. 8
  • 1949 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 611
Court
United States Customs Court
Filed
Jun 28, 1949
Status
Published
Author
Johnson
On the bench
Cline, Ekwall, Johnson
Cited by
26 cases

The opinion

CONCURRING OPINION

Johnson, Judge:

Inasmuch as counsel for the plaintiff and the-Government have agreed that “the merchandise in the case at bar is a vegetable substance in a crude condition,” I concur in the conclusion-reached by my associates holding that the product in question is prop *16 erly classifiable under duty-free paragraph 1722 as “vegetable substances, crude or unmanufactured, not specially provided for.”

In view of the fact that the collector classified the laurel leaves in question as “herb leaves,” under the provisions of paragraph 781, and assessed duty thereon at the rate of 25 per centum ad valorem prescribed therein for “herb leaves in glass or other small packages, for culinary use,” it is clear to this member of the court that there is no controversy concerning whether or not laurel leaves are herb leaves. The only question, in my opinion, is whether or not such leaves, when imported in bulk, are included within the provisions of that paragraph. If not so classifiable, the product would be dutiable under the provision for a vegetable substance in a crude condition. Paragraph 1722 provides eo nomine for such merchandise. The Court of Customs and Patent Appeals, in the case of United States v. S. B. Penick & Co., 24 C. C. P. A. 436, T. D. 48901, settled the question of the classification of bulk herb leaves in its holding that tarragon leaves, etc., imported in bulk, were excluded from the provisions of paragraph 781, and therefore the laurel leaves in question were erroneously classified under that paragraph.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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