Chapter 64 : Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles
Notes. 1. This Chapter does not cover :(a) Disposable foot or shoe coverings of flimsy material (for example, paper, sheeting of plastics) without applied soles. These products are classified according to their constituent material; (b) Footwear of textile material, without an outer sole glued, sewn or otherwise affixed or applied to the upper (Section XI); (c) Worn footwear of heading 63.09; (d) Articles of asbestos (heading 68.12); (e) Orthopaedic footwear or other orthopaedic appliances, or parts thereof (heading 90.21); or (f) Toy footwear or skating boots with ice or roller skates attached; shin-guards or similar protective sportswear (Chapter 95). 2. For the purposes of heading 64.06, the term "parts" does not include pegs, protectors, eyelets, hooks, buckles, ornaments, braid, laces, pompons or other trimmings (which are to be classified in their appropriate headings) or buttons or other goods of heading 96.06. 3. For the purposes of this Chapter : (a) the terms "rubber" and "plastics" include woven fabrics or other textile products with an external layer of rubber or plastics being visible to the naked eye; for the purpose of this provision, no account should be taken of any resulting change of colour; and (b) the term "leather" refers to the goods of headings 41.07 and 41.12 to 41.14. 4. Subject to Note 3 to this Chapter : (a) The material of the upper shall be taken to be the constituent material having the greatest external surface area, no account being taken of accessories or reinforcements such as ankle patches, edging, ornamentation, buckles, tabs, eyelet stays or similar attachments; (b) The constituent material of the outer sole shall be taken to be the material having the greatest surface area in contact with the ground, no account being taken of accessories or reinforcements such as spikes, bars, nails, protectors or similar attachments. Subheading Note. 1. For the purposes of subheadings 6402.12, 6402.19, 6403.12, 6403.19 and 6404.11, the expression "sports footwear" applies only to : (a) Footwear which is designed for a sporting activity and has, or has provision for the attachment of, spikes, sprigs, stops, clips, bars or the like; (b) Skating boots, ski-boots and cross-country ski footwear, snowboard boots, wrestling boots, boxing boots and cycling shoes. GENERAL With certain exceptions (see particularly those mentioned at the end of this General Note) this Chapter covers, under headings 64.01 to 64.05, various types of footwear (including overshoes) irrespective of their shape and size, the particular use for which they are designed, their method of manufacture or the materials of which they are made. For the purposes of this Chapter, the term "footwear" does not, however, include disposable foot or shoe coverings of flimsy material (paper, sheeting of plastics, etc.) without applied soles. These products are classified according to their constituent material. (A) Footwear may range from sandals with uppers consisting simply of adjustable laces or ribbons to thigh-boots (the uppers of which cover the leg and thigh, and which may have straps, etc., for fastening the uppers to the waist for better support). The Chapter includes : (1) Flat or high-heeled shoes for ordinary indoor or outdoor wear. (2) Ankle-boots, half-boots, knee-boots and thigh-boots. (3) Sandals of various types, "espadrilles" (shoes with canvas uppers and soles of plaited vegetable material), tennis shoes, jogging shoes, bathing slippers and other casual footwear. (4) Special sports footwear which is designed for a sporting activity and has, or has provision for, the attachment of spikes, sprigs, stops, clips, bars or the like and skating boots, ski-boots and cross-country ski footwear, snowboard boots, wrestling boots, boxing boots and cycling shoes (see Subheading Note 1 to the Chapter). Roller-skating or ice-skating boots with skates fixed to the soles, are, however, excluded (heading 95.06). (5) Dancing slippers. (6) House footwear (e.g., bedroom slippers). (7) Footwear obtained in a single piece, particularly by moulding rubber or plastics or by carving from a solid piece of wood. (8) Other footwear specially designed to protect against oil, grease, chemicals or cold. (9) Overshoes worn over other footwear; in some cases, they are heel-less. (10) Disposable footwear, with applied soles, generally designed to be used only once. (B) The footwear covered by this Chapter may be of any material (rubber, leather, plastics, wood, cork, textiles including felt and nonwovens, furskin, plaiting materials, etc.) except asbestos, and may contain, in any proportion, the materials of Chapter 71. Within the limits of the Chapter itself, however, it is the constituent material of the outer sole and of the upper which determines classification in headings 64.01 to 64.05. (C) The term "outer sole" as used in headings 64.01 to 64.05 means that part of the footwear (other than an attached heel) which, when in use, is in contact with the ground. The constituent material of the outer sole for purposes of classification shall be taken to be the material having the greatest surface area in contact with the ground. In determining the constituent material of the outer sole, no account should be taken of attached accessories or reinforcements which partly cover the sole (see Note 4 (b) to this Chapter). These accessories or reinforcements include spikes, bars, nails, protectors or similar attachments (including a thin layer of textile flocking (e.g., for creating a design) or a detachable textile material, applied to but not embedded in the sole). In the case of footwear made in a single piece (e.g., clogs) without applied soles, no separate outer sole is required; such footwear is classified with reference to the constituent material of its lower surface. (D) For the purposes of the classification of footwear in this Chapter, the constituent material of the uppers must also be taken into account. The upper is the part of the shoe or boot above the sole. However, in certain footwear with plastic moulded soles or in shoes of the American Indian moccasin type, a single piece of material is used to form the sole and either the whole or part of the upper, thus making it difficult to identify the demarcation between the outer sole and the upper. In such cases, the upper shall be considered to be that portion of the shoe which covers the sides and top of the foot. The size of the uppers varies very much between different types of footwear, from those covering the foot and the whole leg, including the thigh (for example, fishermen's boots), to those which consist simply of straps or thongs (for example, sandals). If the upper consists of two or more materials, classification is determined by the constituent material which has the greatest external surface area, no account being taken of accessories or reinforcements such as ankle patches, protective or ornamental strips or edging, other ornamentation (e.g., tassels, pompons or braid), buckles, tabs, eyelet stays, laces or slide fasteners. The constituent material of any lining has no effect on classification. (E) It should be noted that for the purposes of this Chapter, the terms "rubber" and "plastics" include woven fabrics or other textile products with an external layer of rubber or plastics being visible to the naked eye, no account being taken of any resulting change of colour. (F) Subject to the provisions of (E) above, for the purposes of this Chapter the expression "textile materials" covers the fibres, yarns, fabrics, felts, nonwovens, twine, cordage, ropes, cables, etc., of Chapters 50 to 60. (G) For the purposes of this Chapter, the term "leather" refers to the goods of headings 41.07 and 41.12 to 41.14. (H) Boot or shoe bottoms, consisting of an outer sole affixed to an incomplete or unfinished upper, which do not cover the ankle are to be regarded as footwear (and not as parts of footwear). These articles may be finished simply by trimming their top edge with a border and adding a fastening device. This Chapter also excludes : (a) Footwear of textile material, without an outer sole glued, sewn or otherwise affixed or applied to the upper (Section XI). (b) Footwear showing signs of appreciable wear and presented in bulk or in bales, sacks or similar packings (heading 63.09). (c) Footwear of asbestos (heading 68.12). (d) Orthopaedic footwear (heading 90.21). (e) Toy footwear and skating boots with ice or roller skates attached; shin-guards and similar protective sportswear (Chapter 95).
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