Electric under-blanket (Tariff Notice 3)
Check the tariff classification for electric under-blankets.
New regulation
A new regulation was published in the Official Journal on 14 September 2022 and entered into force 20 days after this date.
L237/5
Reg 2022/1523
This is not considered a change in Northern Ireland practice.
Description of goods
A rectangular made-up textile article made of 100% man-made fibres, also known as an ‘electric under-blanket’, with rounded corners, measuring approximately 150x80 cm, consisting of two layers of nonwovens of heading 5603. A sewn-on band of knitted fabric surrounds the edge of the whole article. It may have elastic strips for fixation to the mattress.
The article is neither stuffed nor internally fitted.
It is equipped with an integrated electric heating unit with a detachable 220-240 V power supply and a switch for adjusting different heat settings.
The article is designed to be placed between a mattress and a sheet to warm up a bed. It does not cover the part of the mattress where a person’s head is intended to lie. According to the instruction manual, it is suitable for laundering, after being detached from the power supply
Classification (Combined Nomenclature (CN) code)
6307 90 98
Reason
Classification is determined by general rules 1 and 6 for the interpretation of the Combined Nomenclature, note 7(f) to Section XI, note 1 to Chapter 63 and the wording of CN codes 6307, 6307 90 and 6307 90 98.
The made-up textile article cannot be classified in Chapter 85 as electrical machinery and equipment, because that Chapter does not cover electrically warmed blankets, bed pads, foot-muffs or the like (note 1(a) to Chapter 85).
Classification under CN code 6301 10 00 as an electric blanket is excluded, because the article does not have the typical objective characteristics of a blanket of heading 6301, such as being suitable to be wrapped around or to cover the body of a person to provide warmth.
Classification under heading 6302 as bedlinen is excluded, because the article does not have the characteristics of bedlinen (for example, a sheet or a mattress cover), which is to protect the mattress, eiderdown or pillow from the person lying in the bed. Although the article is designed to be placed on the mattress, it does not protect the part where a person’s head is intended to lie. Its only function is to warm up the bed and thereby make it comfortable for the person using the bed.
Classification under heading 6304 as a furnishing article is excluded, because the article does not have the characteristics of a furnishing article of heading 6304, such as being visible to any observer of a room. The article when used as intended is not visible in the spatial environment, as it is covered by a bed sheet.
Given the general appearance of the article and the material of the two outer layers the article is made of (nonwovens of man-made fibres of heading 5603), and given that the article cannot be classified in any more specific heading than heading 6307, it is therefore to be classified under CN code 6307 90 98 as other made-up article of textile fabrics.
Contact details
Tariff Classification
Customs Policy and Strategy
3rd Floor
14 Westfield Avenue
Stratford
London
E20 1HZ
Email: tariff.classification@hmrc.gov.uk
This Tariff notice is published for information purposes only.