ELISA Test Kits for Food Testing Ineligible for Customs Exemption as Diagnostic Kits, Tribunal Confirms.

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....The appellant imported ELISA Test Kits for food testing but classified them under 3822 00 90 as diagnostic kits to claim exemption under customs notifications. The Tribunal held that ELISA kits for food testing cannot be treated as diagnostic kits eligible for exemption. Explanatory notes clarify that diagnostic reagents covered under 3822 are for evaluating processes in humans/animals, not for food testing. The exemption notification must be construed strictly, and its intent is to cover medical products. Appellant failed to prove the imported kits fell within the exemption parameters. The term "food testing" cannot be implied or added to "diagnostic kits" in the notification. Therefore, the imported ELISA kits for food testing did not qualify for exemption as diagnostic reagents/kits.....