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Section X

Pulp of Wood or of Other Fibrous Cellulosic Material; Recovered (Waste and Scrap), Paper or Paperboard; Paper and Paperboard and Articles Thereof

Chapter 48

Paper and Paperboard; Articles of Paper Pulp, of Paper or of Paperboard

Notes

For the purposes of this Chapter, except where the context otherwise requires, a reference to "paper" includes references to paperboard (irrespective of the thickness or mass per m²).

This Chapter does not cover the following:

(a)

articles of Chapter 30;

(b)

stamping foils of heading 32.12;

(c)

perfumed papers or papers impregnated or coated with cosmetics (Chapter 33);

(d)

paper or cellulose wadding impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent (heading 34.01), or with polishes, creams or similar preparations (heading 34.05);

(e)

sensitised paper or paperboard of headings 37.01 to 37.04;

(f)

paper impregnated with diagnostic or laboratory reagents (heading 38.22);

(g)

paper-reinforced stratified sheeting of plastics, or one layer of paper or paperboard coated or covered with a layer of plastics, the latter constituting more than half the total thickness, or articles of such materials (excluding wall coverings of heading 48.14) (Chapter 39);

(h)

articles of heading 42.02 (for example, travel goods);

(ij)

articles of Chapter 46 (manufacturers of plaiting material);

(k)

paper yarn or textile articles of paper yarn (Section XI);

(l)

articles of Chapter 64 or Chapter 65;

(m)

abrasive paper or paperboard (heading 68.05) or paper- or paperboard-backed mica (heading 68.14) (paper and paperboard coated with mica powder are, however, to be classified in this Chapter);

(n)

metal foil backed with paper or paperboard (generally Section XIV or Section XV);

(o)

articles of heading 92.09;

(p)

articles of Chapter 95 (for example, toys, games, sports requisites); or

(q)

articles of Chapter 96 (for example, buttons, sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins (diapers) and napkin liners).

Subject to the provisions of Note 7, headings 48.01 to 48.05 include paper and paperboard which have been subjected to calendering, super-calendering, glazing or similar finishing, false water-marking or surface sizing, and also paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding and webs of cellulose fibres, coloured or marbled throughout the mass by any method. Except where heading 48.03 otherwise requires, these headings do not apply to paper, paperboard, cellulose wading or webs of cellulose fibres which have been otherwise processed.

In this Chapter the expression "newsprint" means uncoated paper of a kind used for the printing of newspapers, of which not less than 50 per cent by mass of the total fibre content consists of wood fibres obtained by a mechanical or chemi-mechanical process, unsized or very lightly sized, having a surface roughness Parker Print Surf (1 MPa) on each side exceeding 2.5 micrometers (microns), weighing not less than 40 g/m² and not more than 65 g/m², and appllies only to paper: (a) in strips or rolls of a width exceeding 28 cm; or (b) in rectangular (including square) sheets with one side exceeding 28 cm and the other side exceeding 15 cm in the unfolded state.

For the purposes of heading 48.02, the expressions "paper and paperboard, of a kind used for writing, printing or other graphic purposes" and "non perforated punch-cards and punch tape paper" mean paper and paperboard made mainly from bleached pulp or from pulp obtained by a mechanical or chemi-mechanical process and satisfying any of the following criteria:

(A)

For paper or paperboard of a mass of not more than 150 g/m²:

(a)

containing 10 per cent or more of fibres obtained by a mechanicalor chemi-mechanical process, and

of a mass of not more than 80 g/m², or

coloured throughout the mass; or

(b)

containing more than 8 per cent ash, and

of a mass of not more than 80 g/m², or

coloured throughout the mass; or

(c)

containing more than 3 per cent ash and having a brightness of 60 per cent or more; or

(d)

containing more than 3 per cent but not more than 8 per cent ash, having a brightness less than 60 per cent, and a burst index equal to or less than 2,5 kPa m²/g; or

(e)

containing 3 per cent ash or less, having a brightness of 60 per cent or more and a burst index equal to or less than 2,5 kPa m²/g.

(B)

For paper or paperboard of a mass of more than 150 g/m²:

(a)

coloured throughout the mass; or

(b)

having a brightness of 60 per cent or more , and

a caliper of 225 micrometers (microns) or less, or

a caliper of more than 225 micrometers (microns) but not more than 508 micrometers (microns) and an ash content of more than 3 per cent; or

(c)

having a brightness of less than 60 per cent, a caliper of 254 micrometers (microns) or less and an ash content of more than 8 per cent.

Heading 48.02 does not, however, cover filter paper or paperboard (including tea-bag paper) or felt paper or paperboard.

In this Chapter "kraft paper and paperboard" means paper and paperboard of which not less than 80 per cent by mass of the total fibre content consists of fibres obtained by the chemical sulphate or soda processes.

Except where the terms of the headings otherwise require, paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding and webs of cellulose fibres answering to a description in two or more of the headings 48.01 to 48.11 are to be classified under that one of such headings which occurs last in numerical order in this Schedule.

Headings 48.03 to 48.09 apply only to paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding and webs of cellulose fibres:

(a)

in strips or rolls of a width exceeding 36 cm; or

(b)

in rectangular (including square) sheets with one side exceeding 36 cm and the other side exceeding 15 cm in the unfolded state.

For the purposes of heading 48.14, the expression "wallpaper and similar wall coverings" applies only to:

(a)

paper in rolls, of a width of not less than 45 cm and not more than 160 cm, suitable for wall or ceiling decoration:

(i)

grained, embossed, surface-coloured, design-printed or otherwise surface-decorated (for example, with textile flock), whether or not coated or covered with transparent protective plastics;

(ii)

with an uneven surface resulting from the incorporation of particles of wood, straw, etc.;

(iii

coated or covered on the face side with plastics, the layer plastics being grained, embossed, coloured, design-printed or otherwise decorated; or

(iv)

covered on the face side with plaiting material, whether or not bound together in parallel strands or woven;

(b)

borders and friezes, of paper, treated as above, whether or not in rolls, suitable for wall or ceiling decoration;

(c)

wall coverings of paper made up of several panels, in rolls or sheets, printed so as to make up a scene, design or motif when applied to a wall.

Products on a base of paper or paperboard, suitable for use both as floor coverings and as wall coverings, are to be classified in heading 48.23.

10.

Heading 48.20 does not cover loose sheets or cards, cut to size, whether or not printed, embossed or perforated.

11.

Heading 48.23 applies, inter alia, to perforated paper or paperboard cards for Jacquard or similar machines and paper lace.

12.

Except for the goods of heading 48.14 or 48.21, paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding and articles thereof, printed with motifs, characters or pictorial representations, which are not merely subsidiary to the primary use of the goods, fall in Chapter 49.

Subheading Notes

For the purposes of subheadings 4804.11 and 4804.19, "kraftliner" means machine-finished or machine-glazed paper and paperboard, of which not less than 80 per cent by mass of the total fibre content consists of wood fibres obtained by the chemical sulphate or soda processes, in rolls, of a mass exceeding 115 g/m² and having a minimum Mullen bursting strength as indicated in the following table or the linearly interpolated or extrapolated equivalent for any other mass. Mass (g/m²) Minimum Mullen bursting strength (kPa)

115 393

125 417

200 637

300 824

400 961

For the purposes of subheadings 4804.21 and 4804.29, "sack kraft paper" means machine-finished paper, of which not less than 80 per cent by mass of the total fibre content consists of fibres obtained by the chemical sulphate or soda processes, in rolls, of a mass of not less than 60 g/m² but not more than 115 g/m² and meeting one of the following sets of specifications:

(a)

Having a Mullen burst index of not less than 3,7 kPa m²/g and a stretch factor of more than 4,5 per cent in the cross direction and of more than 2 per cent in the machine direction.

(b)

Having minima for tear and tensile as indicated in the following table or the linearly interpolated equivalent for any other mass:

Mass (g/m²)	Minimum tear (mN): Machine direction	Minimum tear (mN): Machine direction plus cross direction	Minimum tensile (kN/m): Cross direction	Minimum tensile (kN/m): Machine direction plus cross direction
60	700	1 510	1,9	6
70	830	1 790	2,3	7,2
80	965	2 070	2,8	8,3
100	1 230	2 635	3,7	10,6
115	1 425	3 060	4,4	12,3

For the purposes of subheading 4805.11, "semi-chemical fluting paper" means paper, in rolls, of which not less than 65 per cent by mass of the total fibre content consists of unbleached hardwood fibres obtained by a combination of mechanical and chemical pulping processes, and having a CMT 30 (Corrugated Medium Test with 30 minutes of conditioning) crush resistance exceeding 1,8 newtons/g/m² at 50 per cent relative humidity, at 23°C.

Subheading 4805.12 covers paper, in rolls, made mainly of straw pulp obtained by a combination of mechanical and chemical processes, of a mass of 130 g/m² or more, and having a CMT 30 (Corrugated Medium Test with 30 minutes of conditioning) crush resistance exceeding 1,4 newtons/g/m² at 50 per cent relative humidity, at 23°C.

Subheadings 4805.24 and 4805.25 cover paper and paperboard made wholly or mainly of pulp of recovered (waste and scrap) paper or paperboard. Testliner may also have a surface layer of dyed paper or of paper made of bleached or unbleached non-recovered pulp. These products have a Mullen burst index of not less than 2 kPa m²/g.

For the purposes of subheading 4805.30, "sulphite wrapping paper" means machine-glazed paper, of which more than 40 per cent by mass of the total fibre content consists of wood fibres obtained by the chemical sulphite process, having an ash content not exceeding 8 per cent and having a Mullen burst index of not less than 1,47 kPa m²/g.

For the purposes of subheading 4810.22, "light-mass coated paper" means paper, coated on both sides, of a total mass not exceeding 72 g/m², with a coating mass not exceeding 15 g/m² per side, on a base of which not less than 50 per cent by mass of the total fibre content consists of wood fibres obtained by a mechanical process.

Heading	CD	Description	Unit	General	EU	EFTA	SADC	MERCOSUR	AfCFTA
48.02		Uncoated paper and paperboard, of a kind used for writing, printing or other graphic purposes, and non perforated punch-cards and punch tape paper, in rolls or rectangular (including square) sheets, of any size (excluding paper of heading 48.01 or 48.03); hand-made paper and paperboard:
4802.20		- Paper and paperboard of a kind used as a base for photo-sensitive, heat-sensitive or electro-sensitive paper or paperboard:
4802.20.90	7	-- Other	kg	15%	free	free	free	15%	6%

Disclaimer: Information is provided as a free service and is for reference purposes only. It does not constitute the provision of professional advice of any kind. No responsibility for any loss caused to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of any material in this publication can be accepted by the author, copyright owner or publisher. Tariff information should be confirmed with SARS.

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