On 24 May the European Commission published changes to Explanatory Notes to the Combined Nomenclature of the European Union on tariff subheading 8544.70.00 - “Optical-fibre cables”.
This tariff subheading also includes optical-fibre cables, designed for example for tele-communication use, made up of one or more optical fibres of tariff heading 90.01 which are individually coated with a dual layer of acrylate polymer.
The coating consists of an inner layer of soft acrylate and an outer layer of hard acrylate; the latter may be coloured or coated by a layer of different colours to permit the identification of the fibres.
The optical fibres are individually sheathed by the dual layer coating; they do not form an optical fibre cable of tariff heading 85.44 by themselves until placed in a protective casing.
The dual layer coating of the individual optical fibres provides protection and structural integrity, for example by protecting the individual fibres against fracture and abrasion.
Story by: Riaan de Lange