Edible Coconut Oil in retail packing of 200 ml or less is classifiable under Chapter 15 covering Animal or Vegetable Fats and Oils and not under Chapter 33 covering Cosmetics and Toilet Preparation

By | December 8, 2015
(Last Updated On: December 8, 2015)

B.6 – Hyderabad Zone – Classification – Classification of Coconut Oil Packed in Packages up to Sizes of 200ml:

Issue:

This issue relates to classification of Coconut Oil. There are two contending classifications of Coconut Oil under the Central Excise Tariff. Chapter 15 covers various types of Vegetable Oils including Coconut Oil and Chapter 33 covers Cosmetics including Hair Oil. The dispute with regard to classification of the product i.e. Coconut Oil arose after the Board’s clarification vide Circular no. 145/56/1995-CX dated 12.10.1995, wherein the Board clarified that the Coconut Oil being marketed in small containers could not be a basis for classifying the product as Hair Oil. For classification under Chapter Heading 3305, product should be suitable for use on hair and the product should be put up in a packing of a kind sold in retail for such use. Further, the Central Board of Excise and Customs, New Delhi vide Circular no. 890/10/2009-CX, dated 3/6/2009 issued under Sec. 37 B clarified that the Coconut Oil packed in small containers up to 200 ml shall be classified under Chapter Heading No. 3305 by treating it as Hair Oil.

Discussion & Decision

The conference noted that the issue has been resolved by the Board by issue of Circular no. 1007/14/2015-CX dated 12.10.2015. The circular takes note of the judgments in case of In case of Raj Oil Mills Ltd. vs. Commissioner, Central Excise [2014 (314) ELT 541/2013-TI0L- 1609-CESTAT], where Hon’ble Tribunal held that edible Coconut Oil in retail packing of 200 ml or less is classifiable under Chapter 15 covering Animal or Vegetable Fats and Oils and not under Chapter 33 covering Cosmetics and Toilet Preparation. Similar view was taken by Tribunal in case of Capital Technologies Ltd. & Ors Vs CCE, Tirupati reported in [2015(321) ELT 479/2011-TIOL-775-CESTAT]. The issue of classification can now be decided by the field taking into consideration the facts of the case read with the judicial pronouncements. For further details the circular may be referred.

Source : Annexure B of  Minutes of Central Excise Tariff Conference held in Chandigarh on 28th and 29th October, 2015

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