1.
(1)Tuna fish canning
is a vital industry to the United States.
(2)To promote United
States production, Congress has imposed higher tariffs on shelf-stable, retail
ready tuna fish products than on raw or intermediate fish products.
(3)According to the original intent of
Congress, the term in airtight containers
, as contained in
subheading 1604.14 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, has
only covered products in packages that are not permeable to air and that are
presented as a finished product for consumption in shelf-stable containers
(cans, glass jars, and foil pouches).
(4)Congress seeks to codify the terms
in airtight containers
and in bulk or in immediate
containers weighing with their contents over 6.8 kg each
, as provided
for in subheading 1604.14 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United
States, to reflect existing practice and promote public health and
safety.
2.
(a)The
Additional U.S. Notes to chapter 16 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States are amended by adding at the end the following:
4.For purposes of subheading 1604.14, the
term in airtight containers
means containers that—
(a)are heat sealed,
and none of the contents have been pinched in the seal; and
(b)have an oxygen
transmission rate of less than 1 ml per square meter in 24 hours in a dry state
at 20° Celsius.
5.For purposes of
subheading 1604.14, the term in bulk or in immediate containers weighing
with their contents over 6.8 kg each
includes product that is shipped
in plastic bags that are not airtight, or similar intermediate containers, that
are stacked in layers and placed on pallets, or similar bulk containers, as
long as the entire pallet, or similar bulk container, with their contents weigh
over 6.8
kg.
.
(b)The amendment made by subsection (a) applies to goods
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the 15th day
after the date of the enactment of this Act.