Sandoz Chemical Works, Inc. v. United States

40 Cust. Ct. 42
CourtUnited States Customs Court
DecidedJanuary 15, 1958
DocketC. D. 1956
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 40 Cust. Ct. 42 (Sandoz Chemical Works, Inc. v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Customs Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Sandoz Chemical Works, Inc. v. United States, 40 Cust. Ct. 42 (cusc 1958).

Opinion

Wilson, Judge:

The involved importation, known as “Plastine,” was classified by the collector under paragraph 24 of the Tariff Act of 1930 at the rate of 20 cents per pound and 25 per centum ad valorem as an alcoholic compound, not specially provided for, containing less than 20 per centum of alcohol. Plaintiff claims the merchandise properly classifiable under paragraph 5 of the said act, as modified by the Torquay Protocol to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, T. D. 52739, at the rate of 12% per centum ad valorem as a chemical compound. A further claim was made for classification of the merchandise under paragraph 11 of the tariff act as a synthetic resin, not specially provided for, at the rate of 4 cents per pound'and 30 per centum ad valorem. This claim, however, was not pressed at the trial, and no proof was offered in support thereof.

It was stipulated between the respective parties that the imported “Plastine” contains methyl alcohol, but less than 20 per centum (R. 8-10).

The deposition of Dr. Ernst Matter, plant chemist in charge of production of “Plastine” at the plant of Sandoz, Ltd., Basle, Switzerland, was received in evidence as plaintiff’s exhibit 1. Dr. Matter described the method of manufacture substantially as follows: Plas-tine is produced by treating aqueous formaldehyde solution with urea and a- small amount of magnesia, which is then filtered and crystallized. The formaldehyde used contains “10.1-12.0% Methyl Alcohol” (R. 15).

Hans Rudolf Vollenweider, manager of the Textile Chemicals Plant of the plaintiff firm, testified that “Plastine” had been produced under his supervision. He corroborated the testimony of Dr. Matter respecting the manufacture of “Plastine” adding that: The imported product is used in textiles to prevent wrinkling and, further, that “The methyl alcohol comes into the Plastine” because the methyl alcohol is in the formaldehyde and “Plastine” contains about three-quarters of formaldehyde and one-quarter urea (R. 28-29). The function of the methyl alcohol in the formaldehyde is to prevent polymerization of the formaldehyde during storage and to keep it from becoming turbid, thus stabilizing the formaldehyde and preventing the formation of undesirable precipitates (R. 33-36, 46).

This witness further testified that while there is a chemical reaction between the mea and the formaldehyde, to the best of his knowledge, the methyl alcohol does not enter into this chemical reaction (R. 43).

On cross-examination, Mr. Vollenweider testified that the methyl alcohol does not inhibit or slow down the polymerization of the reac[44]*44tion between the urea and the formaldehyde and that it does not serve any function at all in the finished product (R. 45).

Cyril S. Kimball, chemist and vice president of Foster D. Snell, Inc., consulting chemist and chemical engineer, called as a witness by the plaintiff, testified that he had had experience with the manufacture of various products mentioned in paragraph 24 of the tariff act, having made analyses and conducted experimental work in the manufacture of all of these products, stating that, in all of these substances, he had found ethyl alcohol. Further, that all of such products contained ethyl alcohol. The witness further testified that he also had had experience with other alcohols, including methy alcohol; that methyl alcohol or wood alcohol is derived from wood distillation and that ethyl alcohol is manufactured either from molasses or grains, cereal grains, in one form or another; that methyl alcohol is highly poisonous, whereas ethyl alcohol is not nearly as toxic, and is potable, L e., suited for or prepared for drinking.

On cross-examination, Mr. Kimball testified that he had heard of articles consisting of a vegetable or mineral object immersed or placed in, or saturated with, alcohol (except perfumery and spirit varnishes) where the alcohol used was methyl alcohol, but stated that, in such case, it was simply for the purpose of preserving the form and character of the specimens (R. 56-57).

The Government’s first witness was Richard B. Greene, bachelor of science, Purdue University, and doctor of philosophy, Penn State College, presently employed by the Barrett Division of Allied Chemical & Dye Corp., New York, as “Coordinator of plastics and resins department.” He stated that he had personally manufactured or supervised the manufacture of “Plastine” or “urea formaldehyde resin” and that in the manufacture of such substance he had used urea and low methyl formaldehyde, the specification for the latter in the reaction being about 1 per centum (R. 79). In agreeing with the chemical analysis of the product at bar, as disclosed in the deposition of plaintiff’s witness Matter, Mr. Greene stated that the 7.6 to 9 per centum methyl alcohol contained therein served a useful purpose in that it added to the storage life of the material. The witness concluded this phase of his testimony by stating that, in the manufacture of the product such as that imported, he used formaldehyde with approximately 1 per centum methanol (methyl or wood alcohol) and then added further methyl alcohol to gain additional stability of the final product for the purpose of inhibiting polymerization (R. 83).

On cross-examination, Mr. Greene stated that formaldehyde contains a “regulated” percent of methyl alcohol to prevent the precipitation of the polymers, “similar to para-formaldehyde” and agreed that the lower the temperature, the more methyl alcohol would have to be added to the formaldehyde to prevent precipitation and-to inhibit polymerization (R. 83-85).

[45]*45Plaintiff’s- claim that the imported “Plastine” is not classifiable under paragraph 24 of the tariff act is apparently based solely on the contention that the language “alcohol” or “alcoholic” referred to therein with respect to the pertinent products is restricted to “ethyl” alcohol, and that, accordingly, the importation at bar, containing “methyl” alcohol, is not dutiable as assessed. The issue herein, therefore, is one of law, namely, whether alcoholic products containing alcohol, other than ethyl alcohol, are provided for under paragraph 24 of the act, or whether the provisions of said paragraph are restricted to such alcoholic products as contain only ethyl alcohol.

In determining the question before us, reference to the legislative history of paragraph 24 here in issue appears pertinent. The Tariff Act of July 28, 1866, provided for: “compounds or preparations of which distilled spirits is a component part of chief value.” See United States v. Downer & Co., 175 Fed. Rep. 33, 36. The Tariff Act of 1883 provided for alcoholic compounds; fruit ethers, oils, or essences; and medicinal preparations in paragraphs 103, 114, and 118, respectively. Provisions covering such products were substantially the same up to and including the Tariff Act of 1909. The Tariff Act of 1913, grouped, in paragraph 16 therein, the following: “Chemical and medicinal compounds and preparations, * * * distilled oils, essential oils, expressed oils, rendered oils, greases, ethers, flavoring and other extracts and fruit essences, * * ■ * when containing alcohol,”. and vegetable or mineral objects immersed in alcohol (except perfumery and spirit varnishes) and “all alcoholic compounds not specially provided for.”

Certain decisions under predecessor tariff acts have involved the question of classification of products containing alcohol. In Merck & Co. v. United States, Synopsis of Decisions 1892, page 1008, G. A. 1683, T. D.

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Related

Sandoz Chemical Works, Inc. v. United States
41 Cust. Ct. 338 (U.S. Customs Court, 1958)

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Bluebook (online)
40 Cust. Ct. 42, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/sandoz-chemical-works-inc-v-united-states-cusc-1958.