Sigma-Tau Healthscience, Inc. v. United States

838 F.3d 1272, 38 I.T.R.D. (BNA) 1249, 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 17450, 2016 WL 5349780
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
DecidedSeptember 26, 2016
Docket2016-1125
StatusPublished
Cited by27 cases

This text of 838 F.3d 1272 (Sigma-Tau Healthscience, Inc. v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Sigma-Tau Healthscience, Inc. v. United States, 838 F.3d 1272, 38 I.T.R.D. (BNA) 1249, 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 17450, 2016 WL 5349780 (Fed. Cir. 2016).

Opinion

DYK, Circuit Judge.

This Customs case concerns the classification of two chemical products, both stabilized forms of the compound carnitine, which were imported into the United Státes by Sigma-Tau HealthScience, Inc., a.k.a. Sigma-Tau HealthScience, LLC (“Sigma-Tau”). United States Customs and Border Protection (“Customs” or “the government”) initially classified these products under a subheading of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”) that carries a duty. Sigma-Tau protested, arguing that the products should be classified under HTSUS heading 2936 (which encompasses “provita-mins and vitamins”), subheading 2936.29.50, a duty-free classification.

*1275 The Court of International Trade (“CIT”) concluded that Sigma-Tau’s products should be classified under a different subheading, 2923.90.00, making them ineligible for duty-free treatment. Sigma-Tau HealthScience, Inc. v. United, States (“Sigma-Tau ”), 98 F.Supp.3d 1365, 1377-78 (Ct. Int’l Trade 2015). On appeal, the parties agree that the only issue is whether Sigma-Tau’s products are properly classified as vitamins under HTSUS heading 2936. We agree with Sigma-Tau that its carnitine products are properly classified under that heading, because carnitine is a vitamin in neonates. We therefore reverse and remand.

BACKGROUND

Customs classifications according to the headings and subheadings of the HTSUS determine the duties that importers must pay to the United States. The question here is the appropriate classification of Sigma-Tau’s carnitine products.

Carnitine 1 is a naturally occurring amino acid derivative and an important nutrient in the human body, where it serves to transport long-chain fatty acids into mitochondria, the centers for energy production within each cell. Our bodies obtain carnitine exogenously, from food, and also produce it endogenously, by breaking down and reforming protein. (According to the Webster Comprehensive Dictionary, an “exogenous” compound originates outside the organism, while an “endogenous” compound is one originating or produced internally. See Exogenous, Webster Comprehensive Dictionary (Int’l ed. 2001); Endogenous, id) Stabilized forms of carni-tine are formulated into tablets or capsules and sold as nutritional supplements; they can also be incorporated into drinks, protein bars, and other products for human consumption. Carnitine is sometimes referred to as “vitamin Bt”; for example, the online version of Merriam Webster’s Medical Dictionary identifies “vitamin Bt” as a synonym of “carnitine.” J.A. 1279. While carnitine is an organic compound, it is not listed by name in any heading or subheading of HTSUS Chapter 29, which covers “Organic Chemicals.”

Sigma-Tau imports carnitine products into the United States. The two carnitine products at issue are acetyl L-Carnitine taurinate hydrochloride with 1.5% silica, which Sigma-Tau sells under the brand name “L-Tauro,” and glycine propionyl L-Carnitine hydrochloride USP with 1.5% silica, which Sigma-Tau sells under the brand name “GlycoCarn.” These products, white powders manufactured in Italy, were imported in bulk. In 2010, Customs classified these products under HTSUS subheading 3824.90.92, which covers “Prepared binders for foundry molds or cores; chemical products and preparations of the chemical or allied industries (including those consisting of mixtures of natural products), not elsewhere specified or included: Other: Other: Other: Other.” That subheading carries a 5% duty. Sigma-Tau timely protested this classification, arguing that the products qualify as vitamins under HTSUS subheading 2936.29.50, which covers “Provitamins and vitamins, natural or reproduced by synthesis (including natural concentrates), derivatives thereof used primarily as vitamins, and intermixtures of the foregoing, whether or not in any solvent: Vitamins and their derivatives, unmixed: Other vitamins *1276 and their derivatives: Other: Other.” That subheading is duty-free.

■ Sigma-Tau brought suit in the CIT, requesting that the court set aside Customs’ classification decision and hold that the L-Tauro and GlycoCarn products are properly classified as vitamins under HTSUS subheading 2936.29.50 (and, therefore, deserving of duty-free treatment). Sigma-Tau also requested that the CIT instruct Customs to re-liquidate the entries for these products and to award damages for alleged overpayment of duties. Sigma-Tau moved for ■ summary judgment. The government cross-moved for summary judgment, arguing that Customs’ initial classification of the merchandise under HTSUS heading 3824- was erroneous but that HTSUS subheading 2923.90.00 (covering “Quaternary ammonium salts and hydroxides; lecithins and other phosphoaminoli-pids, whether or not chemically defined: Other”), not 2936.29.50, was in fact the proper classification.

The CIT found that Sigma-Tau’s products were prima facie classifiable both as vitamins under HTSUS heading 2936 and as quaternary ammonium salts under heading 2923.Sigma-Tau, 98 F.Supp.3d at 1374-76. Where an item is prima facie classifiable under more than one heading, the General Rules of Interpretation provide guidance as to which heading should be used. See Dell Prods. LP v. United States, 642 F.3d 1055, 1057 (Fed. Cir. 2011). Relying on HTSUS General. Rule of Interpretation 3 (“GRI 3”), which specifies that when “goods are, prima facie, classifiable under two or more headings” “[t]he heading which provides the most specific description shall be preferred to headings providing a more general description,” HTSUS, General Notes, at 1, the CIT concluded that “the term‘quaternary ammonium salts’ more' specifically describes L-Carnitine than ‘vitamins’ ” and thus that Sigma-Tau’s products were properly classified as quaternary ammonium salts under subheading 2923.90.00, Sigma-Tau, 98 F.Supp.3d at 1377.

The CIT consequently granted summary judgment in favor of the government and denied Sigma-Tau’s motion for summary judgment. Id. at 1378. Sigma-Tau appeals, asking us to hold that the proper classification of its merchandise is under HTSUS subheading 2936.29.50, as a vitamin. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1295(a)(5).

Discussion

“The interpretation of the headings and subheadings of the HTSUS is a question of law, which we review without deference.” Deckers Corp. v. United States, 532 F.3d 1312, 1314 (Fed. Cir. 2008); see also Airflow Tech., Inc. v. United States, 524 F.3d 1287, 1290 (Fed. Cir. 2008). “A classification decision involves two underlying steps: (1) determining the proper meaning of the tariff provisions, which is a question of law; and (2) determining which heading the particular mer chandise falls within, which is a question of fact.” Deckers, 532 F.3d at 1314-15.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

LANXESS Corp. v. United States
Court of International Trade, 2026
Cyber Power Sys. (USA) Inc. v. United States
Court of International Trade, 2026
Shamrock Building Materials, Inc. v. United States
119 F.4th 1346 (Federal Circuit, 2024)
Keystone Auto. Operations, Inc. v. United States
732 F. Supp. 3d 1339 (Court of International Trade, 2024)
Second Nature Designs Ltd. v. United States
660 F. Supp. 3d 1352 (Court of International Trade, 2023)
GoPro, Inc. v. United States
651 F. Supp. 3d 1369 (Court of International Trade, 2023)
SGS Sports Inc. v. United States
620 F. Supp. 3d 1365 (Court of International Trade, 2023)
Starkist Co. v. United States
29 F.4th 1359 (Federal Circuit, 2022)
Apple Inc. v. United States
964 F.3d 1087 (Federal Circuit, 2020)
Ford Motor Company v. United States
926 F.3d 741 (Federal Circuit, 2019)
Kalle USA, Inc. v. United States
923 F.3d 991 (Federal Circuit, 2019)
Apple Inc. v. United States
375 F. Supp. 3d 1288 (Court of International Trade, 2019)
Adc Telecommunications, Inc. v. United States
916 F.3d 1013 (Federal Circuit, 2019)
S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. v. United States
335 F. Supp. 3d 1294 (Court of International Trade, 2018)
Mondiv, Div. of Lassonde Specialties Inc. v. United States
329 F. Supp. 3d 1331 (Court of International Trade, 2018)
Well Luck Company, Inc. v. United States
887 F.3d 1106 (Federal Circuit, 2018)
Moen Inc. v. United States
294 F. Supp. 3d 1337 (Court of International Trade, 2018)
Rubies Costume Co. v. United States
2017 CIT 147 (Court of International Trade, 2017)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
838 F.3d 1272, 38 I.T.R.D. (BNA) 1249, 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 17450, 2016 WL 5349780, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/sigma-tau-healthscience-inc-v-united-states-cafc-2016.