Industrial-use pins are not consumer goods; free import classification barred confiscation and redemption fine.

Imported metal pins with plastic-coated heads used for packing textile garments were treated as industrial-use items, not consumer goods, because there was no evidence that they were available to the general public at the relevant time. On that factual basis, they were classified as other pins under ITC (HS) sub-heading 73193009.90 and were freely importable. As the goods did not answer the description of consumer goods, confiscation and redemption fine had no legal basis.

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Issues: Whether the imported pins were classifiable as consumer goods or as goods not classifiable as consumer goods, and whether confiscation and redemption fine were warranted.

Analysis: The goods were imported in 1996 and were metal pins with plastic-coated heads used for packing textile garments. No evidence showed that they were available in the market for use by the general public at the relevant time. On the factual material, the goods were understood as items used exclusively by industrial consumers, particularly textile manufacturers. Goods meant only for industrial consumption do not answer the description of consumer goods for the purpose of the import classification. Accordingly, the goods fell under ITC (HS) sub-heading No. 73193009.90 as other pins not classifiable as consumer goods, which were freely importable, leaving no basis for confiscation or redemption fine.

Conclusion: The goods were not consumer goods, were freely importable, and confiscation with redemption fine was unjustified.

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