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Interpretative Policy – Tariff Classification of Metal Ores and Concentrates
Memorandum D10-17-39

Note to reader

Canada Border Services Agency is currently reviewing this D-memo. It will be updated in the context of the CBSA Assessment Revenue Management (CARM) initiative and made available to stakeholders as soon as possible. Find out about CARM.

Ottawa, June 24, 2014

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In Brief

The editing revisions made in this memorandum do not affect or change any of the existing policies or procedures.

This memorandum outlines and explains the tariff interpretation of metal ores and concentrates for the purpose of tariff items 2603.00.00, 2604.00.00, 2607.00.00, 2608.00.00, 2616.10.00 and 2616.90.00.

Legislation

Customs Tariff

Tariff item and Nos. involved

Rules

As stipulated under Section 10 of the Customs Tariff, the following are the General Rules for the Interpretation of the Harmonized System (GIR) and the Canadian Rules to be applied in the tariff classification of metal ores and their concentrates:

GIR No. 3

When by application of Rule 2(b) or for any other reason, goods are, prima facie, classifiable under two or more headings, classification shall be effected as follows:

GIR No. 6

For legal purposes, the classification of goods in the subheadings of a heading shall be determined according to the terms of those subheadings and any related Subheading Notes and, mutatis mutandis, to the above Rules, on the understanding that only subheadings at the same level are comparable. For the purpose of this Rule the relative Section and Chapter Notes also apply, unless the context otherwise requires.

Canadian Rule No. 1

For legal purposes, the classification of goods in the tariff items of a subheading or of a heading shall be determined according to the terms of those tariff items and any related Supplementary Notes and, mutatis mutandis, to the above Rules, on the understanding that only tariff items at the same level are comparable. For the purpose of this Rule the relative Section and Chapter Notes also apply, unless the context otherwise requires.

Guidelines and General Information

1. Except where the context otherwise requires, ores and concentrates made up of more than one mineralogical species are to be classified in heading Nos. 26.01 to 26.17 as appropriate by the application of General Interpretative Rule 3(b) or failing that by the application of Rule 3(c).

2. By the application of GIR 3(b), metal ores and concentrates consisting of different materials or made up of different components will be classified as if they consisted of the material or component which gives the ores and concentrates their essential character.

3. By application of GIR 3(c), when metal ores and concentrates cannot be classified by reference to 3(b), they will be classified under the heading which occurs last in numerical order among those which equally merit consideration.

4. In the area of metal ores and concentrates, the criterion of essential character based on weight is the most appropriate. Therefore, by the application of GIR 3(b), for the classification of metal ores and concentrates, the essential character will be determined, in most instances, by the metal which has the highest weight in the mixture.

5. Most concentrates contain more than one mineralogical species.

6. Shipments of metal ores and concentrates consisting of different materials or made up of different components are accompanied with documents which show the value and the weight of the shipment and the proportion of each of the metals contained in the ores and concentrates. This description or proportion is generally reflected in Kilograms per Short Dry Ton (KGM/SDT).

7. The recommended method for determining the essential character of metal ores and concentrates is based on the weight of each metal contained in the ores and concentrates, with the metal comprising the greatest weight determining the heading, sub-heading and tariff item within Chapter 26 for the entire shipment. This is the most stable and consistent method.

8. Other methods that may be used to determine the essential character of a shipment of metal ore, or its concentrates, are:

Documentation

9. Once the heading, sub-heading and tariff item have been determined by the application of the above guidelines, each of the metals identified on the documentation must be accounted for on a separate line for statistical purposes on Form B3-3, Canada Customs Coding Form. That is, that a different statistical suffix (for example classification number) must be used for each metal identified in the shipment per tariff item employed.

10. For example, a concentrate or a metal ore contains 28.35 grm of gold per metric ton and 14 kgm of copper per SDT. Two lines will be necessary for this importation. The two classification numbers declared will be 2603.00.00.10 for the copper content, and 2603.00.00.82 for the gold content. Based on the declared weight proportions, if the total shipment consists of one metric ton of mineral ore, the quantities for each line will be 28.35 grm of gold and 14 kgm of copper. If the value for duty of the shipment is $500, the value of the gold based on a market value of $400 per ounce or for 28.35 grm will be $400 and the value of the copper will be $100. It should be noted that the remaining mineral ore has no commercial value.

Additional Information

11. For certainty regarding the tariff classification of a product, importers may request an advance ruling. Details on how to make such a request are found in CBSA Memorandum D11-11-3.

12. For more information, call contact the CBSA Border Information Service (BIS):
Calls within Canada & the United States (toll free): 1-800-461-9999
Calls outside Canada & the United States (long distance charges apply):
1-204-983-3550 or 1-506-636-5064

TTY: 1-866-335-3237

Contact Us online (webform)
Contact Us at the CBSA website

Issuing office:
Trade and Anti-dumping Programs Division
Headquarters file:
2603.00
Legislative references:
Customs Tariff
Other references:
D11-11-3
Superseded memorandum D:
D10-17-39 dated June 14, 1995
Date modified: