[Federal Register: April 23, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 79)]
[Notices]               
[Page 21970-21971]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23ap08-103]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

 
Country of Origin Marking for the Republic of Kosovo

AGENCIES: Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland 
Security; Department of the Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of policy.

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SUMMARY: On February 18, 2008, the United States recognized the 
Republic of Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state and announced 
that full diplomatic relations would begin immediately. This document 
notifies the public of the name and English spelling that is to be used 
for country of origin marking on merchandise imported into the United 
States from the Republic of Kosovo. The notice also establishes a 
transition period during which Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will 
permit the importation of merchandise from the newly independent state 
with the marking, ``Serbia.''

DATES: April 23, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Mojica, Regulations and 
Rulings, Office of International Trade, (202) 572-8789.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Section 304 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1304), 
provides that, unless excepted, every article of foreign origin (or its 
container) imported into the United States shall be marked in a 
conspicuous place as legibly, indelibly, and permanently as the nature 
of the article (or its container) will permit, in such a manner as to 
indicate to the ultimate purchaser in the United States the English 
name of the country of origin of the article. Customs and Border 
Protection (CBP) has authority pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1304 to determine 
the character of the words and phrases or abbreviations thereof that 
will be acceptable as indicating the country of origin, and may require 
the addition of any other words or symbols which may be appropriate to 
prevent deception or mistake as to the origin of the article.
    In view of the political independence of the Republic of Kosovo, 
and in recognition of their independent status by the United States as 
of February 18, 2008, merchandise originating in that country and 
imported into the United States is subject to marking with the English 
name of the independent state. The short form English name of the

[[Page 21971]]

newly independent country is: ``Kosovo.'' It is acceptable for 
merchandise to be marked using long form names such as ``Republic of 
Kosovo,'' provided that the short form name is part of the phrase.
    Recognizing that manufacturers and importers may need time to 
adjust to these changes, and that an abrupt change could cause undue 
hardship, CBP will permit goods from the Republic of Kosovo to be 
marked ``Serbia'' until February 18, 2009. After that date, all 
merchandise originating in the Republic of Kosovo will be required to 
be marked with the new names as set forth above.

    Dated: April 16, 2008.
Daniel Baldwin,
Assistant Commissioner, Office of International Trade, U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection.
 [FR Doc. E8-8753 Filed 4-22-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 9111-14-P