WCO Explanatory Notes reproduced for reference. © World Customs Organization. Verify against official WCO publication.
70.14 - Signalling glassware and optical elements of glass (other than those of heading 70.15), not optically worked. This heading covers the following articles provided they have not been optically worked : (A) Signalling glassware (colourless or coloured) intended for incorporation in reflecting road signs (e.g., m anels, plates, posts, etc.), or in display signs, or as simple reflectors for cycles, automo iles, etc. These articles, which are usually convex, hems herical or flat running parallel, have the roperty of reflecting li&t projected on with grooves no-lly them (by automobile headlamps, for example) an are thus visible from a distance in the dark. ! S @) Optical elements of glass (colourless or coloured). The heading includes elements which are manufactured in such a way that they produce some requlred optical effect without being optically worked. These articles xrrclude mainly lenses and similar articles for automobile headlam s, parking li hts, direction indicating lights, cycle rear lights, road traffic li hts, certain uoys, spotlig t bulbs, pocket lamps, electric torches, switchboards or panel li&ts, and also certain cornon magnifying glasses. \ Z The headin also includes blanks of optical elements and optical elements which require optical worfing. Optical working consists of grinding the surfaces first with coarse and then with adually finer abrasives. The successive operations are thus roughing, trueing, smoothing and po ishing. Articles which have undergone one or more of the processes preceding polishing remain in this heading. But elements which have the whole or part of one or more of their surfaces polished to produce the required optical properties are excluded heading 90.01 or 90.02 according to whether they are unmounted or mounted - see correspon ing Explanatory Notes). Simple grinding of the edges of discs or lenses, without further working, is not regarded as optical working. Articles of the heading are generally obtained by simple moulding or pressing or by cutting from sheets, strips, lumps or slabs. The articles remain here even if framed, set in a mounting or backed with a reflecting surface, but the recognisable finished articles are excluded (e.g., headin 83.10, in the case of signlates, numbers, letters and other signs, of base metal, heading 85% in the case of headlamps, Eeadlights or parlung lights for cycles or motor vehicles). The heading also excludes : (a) Glasses for non-corrective or corrective spectacles (not optically worked) (see Explanatory Note to heading 70.15). (b) Spherical lass " microspheres " presented as such (see Expl?nato Note to heading 70.18). On the other han ,the heading includes plates coated with these mcrosp eres and intended for fixing to a road sign or panel. d X (c) Optically worked optical elements of glass, and optical elements of materials other than glass (Chapter 90). (d) Lamps and lighting fittings and parts thereof of heading 94.05.
1.- This Chapter does not cover : (a) Goods of heading 32.07 (for example, vitrifiable enamels and glazes, glass frit, other glass in the form of powder, granules or flakes); (b) Articles of Chapter 71 (for example, imitation jewellery); (c) Optical fibre cables of heading 85.44, electrical insulators (heading 85.46) or fittings of insulating material of heading 85.47; (d) Front windscreens (windshields), rear windows and other windows, framed, for vehicles of Chapters 86 to 88; (e) Front windscreens (windshields), rear windows and other windows, whether or not framed, incorporating heating devices or other electrical or electronic devices, for vehicles of Chapters 86 to 88; (f) Optical fibres, optically worked optical elements, hypodermic syringes, artificial eyes, thermometers, barometers, hydrometers or other articles of Chapter 90; (g) Luminaires and lighting fittings, illuminated signs, illuminated name-plates or the like, having a permanently fixed light source, or parts thereof of heading 94.05; (h) Toys, games, sports requisites, Christmas tree ornaments or other articles of Chapter 95 (excluding glass eyes without mechanisms for dolls or for other articles of Chapter 95); or (ij) Buttons, fitted vacuum flasks, scent or similar sprays or other articles of Chapter 96. 2.- For the purposes of headings 70.03, 70.04 and 70.05 : (a) glass is not regarded as “worked” by reason of any process it has undergone before annealing; (b) cutting to shape does not affect the classification of glass in sheets; (c) the expression “absorbent, reflecting or non-reflecting layer” means a microscopically thin coating of metal or of a chemical compound (for example, metal oxide) which absorbs, for example, infra- red light or improves the reflecting qualities of the glass while still allowing it to retain a degree of transparency or translucency; or which prevents light from being reflected on the surface of the glass. 3.- The products referred to in heading 70.06 remain classified in that heading whether or not they have the character of articles. 4.- For the purposes of heading 70.19, the expression “glass wool” means : (a) Mineral wools with a silica (SiO ) content not less than 60 % by weight; 2 (b) Mineral wools with a silica (SiO ) content less than 60 % but with an alkaline oxide (K O or Na O) 2 2 2 content exceeding 5 % by weight or a boric oxide (BO ) content exceeding 2 % by weight. 2 3 Mineral wools which do not comply with the above specifications fall in heading 68.06. 5.- Throughout the Nomenclature, the expression “glass” includes fused quartz and other fused silica. Subheading Note. 1.- For the purposes of subheadings 7013.22, 7013.33, 7013.41 and 7013.91, the expression “lead crystal” means only glass having a minimum lead monoxide (PbO) content by weight of 24 %.