Holding

The product is a protective barrier cream, not a medicament, and therefore falls under entry 33.04 of the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985.

Summary

Alpine Industries manufactured a product called "Lip Salve" and supplied it exclusively to the Defence Department for use by military personnel at high altitude. The company claimed that the product was a medicament and should be classified under Heading 30.03 of the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985, thereby attracting a lower excise duty. The Collector of Central Excise classified it under Heading 33.04 as a preparation for skin care, not a medicament. The Central Excise & Gold (Control) Appellate Tribunal, by majority, upheld the 33.04 classification, while a minority held it was a medicament. On appeal, the Supreme Court applied the "commercial parlance" theory, held that tariff terms must be given their popular meaning, and concluded that the product is a protective barrier cream, not a medicament, and therefore falls under entry 33.04. The appeals were dismissed.

Issues considered

Whether the product "Lip Salve" qualifies as a medicament under Chapter 30, Heading 30.03 of the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985.
Whether the product should be classified under Chapter 33, Heading 33.04 as a preparation for skin care.
How tariff entries in the Central Excise Tariff Act should be interpreted – popular meaning versus scientific/technical meaning.

Legislation cited

Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985s. Heading 30.03, s. Heading 33.04
Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940

Subjects

Excise dutyTariff classificationMedicamentSkin care preparationCommercial parlance theoryCentral Excise Tariff ActProtective cream

Judgment

MIS. ALPINE INDUSTRIES A
v.
-t COLLECTOR OF CENTRAL EXCISE, NEW DELHI.

JANUARY 14, 2003

[M.B. SHAH AND D.M. DHARMADHIKARI, JJ.] B

v
Central Excises and Salt Act, 1944; Section 35 L(b)/Central Excise
Tariff Act, 1985; Headings 30.03 and 33.04: Classification of product-
Principles-Held, Terms and expressions used in tariff generally understood
by its popular meaning by its user and not by its scientific/technical meaning--
c
Use of the product by a particular group of personnel would not be
determinative of nature of the product- Commercial parlance theory applies
~ for determination of nature of product.

Classification of product 'Lip Salve '-Medicament or preparation for
D
skin care under the Heading 30.03 or 33.04-Held, product Lip Salve is a
protective cream against skin irritants-Conforms to description of a
preparation for the care of the skin other than medicament-Hence falls under
entry 33.04-lnterpretation of Statutes.

Appellant-assessee manufacturing the product 'Lip Salve' claimed
E
it to be classifiable under the Heading 30.03 of the Cer.tral Excise Tariff
Act for payment of excise duty. The Customs Excise & Gold (Control)
Appellate Tribunal by majority held it to be classifiable under the Heading
33.04 as a 'preparation for skin care' and not a 'medicament'. Hence the
present appeals.
F
It was contended for the assessee that the product 'Lip Salve' is a
'medicament' and it is being supplied exclusively to Defence Department
for use by military penonnel posted at high altitude for treatment of lips.
On behalf of Revenue, it was submitted that the product 'Lip Salve' was
being used for proteetion of lips and skin against damage caused by natural
factors; and that the drugs licence mentioned it to be a 'licence for G
ointment and cream for external application as a non-pharmacopoeia
item'.
,,.~ ·~

Dismissing the appeals, the Court
HELD: 1.1. It is well established that in interpreting tariff entries
313
H
314 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2003] I S.C.R.

A in taxation statute like Excise Act, the primary object is to raise revenue
and for that purpose various products are differently classified. The terms
and expressions used in tariff are not to be understood in its scientific and +
technical meaning l;mt have to be understood by their popular meaning.
1316-F)

B Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhavan Ltd v. Collector of Central Excise,
Nagpur & Ors., 11996) 9 SCC 402, relied on.
y
1.2. It is firmly established that on the question of classification of
product under Central Excise Tariff Act, "commercial parlance theory"
C has to be applied. It is true that the entire supply by the appellant of its
product "Lip Salve" has been to the Defence Department for use of
military personnel but that would also not be determinative of the nature
of the product for classifying it. (317-D-E]

1.3. It is found that the product is a protective/preventive preparation
D for chapping of lips. The product 'Lip Salve' is not only suitable for use
of soldiers operating in high altitude areas but also it is of use for every
one as a protection from dry, cold weather and sun rays. The product
essentially is protective of skin of lip. It is. lip care product and not a
'me.dicament'•Merely because it has some curative effect on cracked or
chopped lips it is not seen as a 'medicament': It is neither prescribed by
E any doctor nor obtainable from the Chemist or Pharmaceutical shops in
the market. 1317-G, HJ

1.4. In accordance with the rules for interpretation of the Schedule
under the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985, for the purpose of classification,
'chapter notes' can be taken aid of for understanding the various entries
F under different Headings of the Tariff. Preparations covered by Chapter
33 even if they have 'therapeutic or prophylactic properties' are excluded
from Chapter 30. 'Medicament' has been defined as 'goods which are ..
either products comprising two or more constituents which have been
mixed or compounded together for therapeutic or prophylactic use'. On
G a reading of relevant notes of Chapter 30 under Heading 'Pharmaceuticaa
Products', it is clear that preparations which fall under Chapter.33 even
if they have therapeutic or prophylactic properties are not covered under
Heading 30.03 as 'medicaments'. Thus_, the product 'Lip Salve' is a kind
of "barrier cream" or a protective cream against skin irritants~ It clearly
falls under entry 33.04 as it conforms to the description 'preparation of
H the care of the skin other than medicaments'. [318-B, C; 319-F]
ALPINE INDUSTRIES v. C.C.E. NEW DELHI [D.M. DHARMADHIKARI, !.] 3 J5

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal Nos. 11651-11652 A
of 1995.

From the Judgment and Order dated 5.9.95 of the Central Excise,
Customs and Gold (Control) Appellate Tribunal, New Delhi in A. Nos. E/
2026 and 2027/94-C in F.0.No. 265 and 266 of 1995-C.
B
V. Lakshmikumaran, A.R. Madhav Rao, Alok Yadav, Vishwanath
y Shukla and V. Balachandran for the Appellant.

Raju Ramachandran, Additional Solicitor General, Ms. Nisha Bagchi
and B. Krishna Prasad for the Respondent.
c
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

DHARMADHIKARI, J. The present two appeals have been preferred
under Section 35L(b) of the Central Excises & Salt Act, 1944 against the
three-member Judgement [reported in 1997 (92) E.L.T.53 (Tribunal) of the
Customs, Excise & Gold (Control) Appellate Tribunal [for short 'CEGA T') D
Principal Bench 'C', New Delhi. The Tribunal by majority opinion of two
against one held against the appellant that its manufactured product with
trade name 'Lip Salve' is classifiable for payment of excise duty under Heading
33.04 of the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985 [hereinafter referred as 'Act']
as 'a preparation for care of skin' and not as a 'medicament'. under Heading E
30.03 of the Act.

The minority view expressed by one Member of the Tribunal in favour
of the appellant is that its manufactured product 'Lip Salve' is classifiable as
'medicament' under Chapter 30.03 of the Act although the sub-classification
is required to be re-determined by remanding the case to the Assistant Collector F
of Central Excise.

In the impugned order of the Tribunal, the chemical composition of the
product, the manner in which it is marketed and supplied as also its common
parlance meaning have all been examined. For deciding these appeals, it is
sufficient for us to broadly explain the nature of the product for examining G
the correctness of the finding reached by the Tribunal. The learned counsel
appearing for the appellant very strenuously supported the minority view of
the Tribunal. By taking us through the medical literature on the subject, it is
stressed that the produCt is supplied for use of soldiers posted in high altitude
areas. It is a medicament for treatment of sore, inflamed, roughened and H
316 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2003] I S.C.R.

A cracked lips. The product is manufactured in accordance with Defence Services
Specifications. Its ingredients are white bees wax, white soft paraffin, liquid
paraffin, lanolin-all ingredients conforming to 1.P. Grade; Cetyl Alcohol C.P. -+
Grade. The other ingredients are Stabiliser and perfume. It is pointed out ~·

from 1923 Edition of British Pharmaceutical Codex that the chemical
combination prescribed in British Pharmacopoeia has been changed for making
B it suitable for use of defence personnel in India and especially those posted
in high altitude areas. On this basis, it is contended that the product supplied
exclusively to Defence Department for use of military personnel posted in y
high altitude areas is a 'medicament' and not merely a 'skin care preparation'.
It is classifiable as 'medicament' under Chapter 30.03 of the Act.
c On behalf of the Revenue, the learned standing counsel submitted that
the drug licence obtained by the appellant under ~he Drugs and Cosmetics
Act, 1940, itself mentions that it is a licence for 'ointment and· cream for
-~
external application as a non-pharmacopoeia item'. In the certificate of the
Deputy Director [General] of the Directorate-General of Health Services issued
D on 09-2-1987, there is a mention that 'Lip Salve' is a protective/preventive
cream used for treatment of chapping of lips. It further says that chapping of
lips. It further says that chapping of lips includes sores, inflammation,
characteristics, fissures and similar diseases of mucous membrane of lips. It
is a matter of common knowledge that chapping of lips occurs because of
E
dryness of air and in cold weather. It is not necessarily limited t~ high -+-
altitude areas although such chapping of lips is more acute in high altitude
areas where there is severe cold and sun rays. The use of the product is for
protecting the skin and lips· against damages caused by natural factors such
as cold and weather conditions.

F It is well established that in interpreting tariff entries in. taxation statute
like Excise Act where the primary object is to raise revenue and for t'1at
-4("
purpose various products are differently classified, the entries are not be I

understood in its scientific and technical meaning. The terms and expressions
used in tariff have to be understood by their popular meaning that is the
meaning that is attached to them by those using the product. See the decision
G of Supreme Court on the dispute regarding classification for excise duty, the
product-Dant Manjan Lal manufactured by Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhavan
Ltd. reported in the case of Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhavan Lid v. Collector
of Central Excise, Nagpur and Ors., [1996] 9 SCC 402. The manufacturer .......
claimed the product to be an ayurvedic medicina preparation product for ..
dental care. The view of the Tribunal was upheld by this court by holding·
I-
H
ALPINE INDUSTRIES v. C.C.E. NEW DELHI [D.M. DHARMADHIKARI, J.] 317

.....
that 'ordinarily a medicine is prescribed by a medical practitioner and it is A
used for a limited time and not every day unless it is so prescribed to deal
with a specific disease like diabetes' .
...
Learned counsel appearing for the appellant placed reliance on decisioii
of this court of B.P.L. Pharmaceuticals ltd v. Collector of Central Excise,
Vadodara, (1996] Supp. 3 SCC in which product with trade name 'Selsun' B
y used for treatment of dandruff was held classifiable as a 'medicament' and
not a 'cosmetic product' intended for cleansing, beautifying promoting
attractiveness or altering appearance. The learned counsel highlighted nature
of preparation of the product the method in which it supplied with the label,
literature, and the manner in which it is marketed to bring home his point that
it is not merely a skin care lotion or cream but a 'medicament specially
c
prepared to be supplied for use of defence personnel posted in high altitude
areas or in sever weather conditions.

We have gone through the pha1maceutical and medical literature
produced before us in the course of hearing and which has been duly dealt D
with by the Tribunal in its minority and majority opinion. The certificate
issued by the Army Authorities and the chemical ingredients of the product
are not decisive on the question of classification of the product for levy of
excise duty. It is firmly established that on the question of classification of
product under Central Excise Tariff Act, "commercial parlance theory" has
to be applied. It is true that the entire supply by the appellant of its product E
'Lip Salve' has been to the Defence Department for use of military personnel
but that would also not be determinative of the nature of the product for
classifying it. It is not disputed that the product 'Lip Salve' is used for the
care of the lips. It is a product essentially for "care of skin" and not for "cure
of skin". It is, therefore, classifiable as a skin care cream and not a medicament. F
From the nature of the product and the use to which it is put. We do not find
that the claim of the appellant is acceptable that it is primarily for therapeutic
use. What we find from the material produced before the Tribunal is that
essential the product is a protective/preventive preparation for chapping of
lips. It is not a curative product maybe that incidentally on cracked and
chapped lips, it has some curative effect. It is also not denied that the product G
'Lip Salve' is not suitable for use only for soldiers operating in high altitude
. ~ areas but it is of use for every one as protection from dry, cold weather or
sun rays. The product, therefore, essentially is protective of skin of lip. It is
lip care product and not a 'medicament'. It is neither prescribed by any
doctor nor obtainable from the Chemist for Pharmaceutical shop& in the H
318 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2003] 1 S.C.R.

A market.

The appellant seeks classification of the product as a pharmaceutical
product under Chapter 30 and a.s a 'medicament' under Heading 30.03. The
rules for interpretation of the. Schedule under the Central Excise Tariff Act
1985, for the purpose of classification chapter notes can be taken as aid for
B understanding their various entries under various Headings of the tariff. What
is to be noted from Chapter 30 of the Tariff Act is that under note no I(d)
preparations covered. by Chapter 33. even if they have 'therapeutic or
prophylactic properties' are excluded from Chapter 30. Medicament' has
been defined in note No.2(i) to· mean 'goods which are either products
C comprising two or more constituents which have been mixed or compounded
together for therapeutic 'or prophylactic use'. On a reading of note No. I( d)
with note No.2 (1) of Chapter 30 under Heading 'Pharmaceutical Products,
'it is clear that preparations which fall under Chapter 33 even If they have
theropeuticor prophylactic properiies are not covered under Heading 30.03
as 'medicaments' .
.D
Note 2 of Chapter 33 has been brought to our notice and commented
upon by counsel for both the parties. It reads thus:-

"2. Heading Nos. 33.03 to 33.07 apply, inter alia, to products, whether
or not mixed (other than aqueous distillates and aqueous solutions of +
E essential oils), suitable for use as goods of these headings and put up
in packing with labels, literature or other indications that they are for
use as cosmetics or toilet preparations or put up in a form clearly
specialised to such use and includes products whether or not they
contain subsidiary pharmaceutical or antiseptic constituents, or are
held out as having subsidiary curative or prophylactic value.
F
[underlining for emphasis]

Based on note No.2. the main emphasis in the arguments advanced on
behalf of the appellant is that the product is manufactured especially for
defence personnel and packed in simple packing with labels and literatures
G indicating that it is not sold as cosmetics or toilet preparation. On the other
hand on behalf of Revenue, portion of note no.2 underlined above has been
highlighted to contend that the products classifiable under Chapter 33 in.:::ludes
such products under it even though they contain 'subsidiary phannaceutical
or antiseptic constituents or held out as having subsidiary curative or
H prophylactic value'.
ALPINE INDUSTRIES v. C.C.E. NEW DELHI ID.M. DHARMADHIKARI, J.] 3] 9

This submission on behalf of the appellant based on note no.2 under A
Chapter 33 overlooks note no.5 the said Chapter which reads thus:-

... "5. Heading No.33.04 applies, inter alia, to the following products :
beauty creams, vanishing creams, cold creams make-up creams,
cleansing creams, skin foods, skin tonics, face powders, baby powders,
toilet powders, talcum powders and grease paints, lipsticks, eye shadow B
and eyebrow pencils, nail polishes and varnishes, cuticle removers
and other preparations for use in maincure or chiropody and barrier
creams to give protection against skin irritants.
[underlining for emphasis]

The al)ove quoted note no.5 has to be read with entry 33.04 which
c
reads as under:-

"33.04. Beauty or make-up preparations and preparations for the
care of the skin (other than medicaments), including sunscreen and
suntan preparations; manicure or pedicure preparations: D
[Underlining for emphasis]

Reading the above underlined portions of Note 2 and N o.5 with entry
33.04, we find ourselves in the agreement with the majority opinion of the
Tribunal that the product 'Lip Salve' is a kind of"barrier cream" or a protective
cream against skin irritants. It, therefore, clearly falls under entry 33.04 and E
conforms to the description 'preparation of the care of the skin other than
medicaments'. The learned counsel of the appellant has not been able to
persuade us to take a different view from the one taken in the majority
opinion of the Tribunal. We confirm that the product 'Lip Salve' is essentially
a preparation for protection of lips and skin and is not a 'medicament'. Such p
¥ preparations which have a subsidiary curative or prophylactic value clearly
fall under entry 33.03 to 33.07 as per note no.2 under Chapter 33. The
product clearly is covered by entry 33.04 read with note no.5 of Chapter 33,
it essentially being a preparation for protection of lips or skin. We have also
gone through the minority opinion expressed by one of the members of the
Tribunal ar.d the reasoning therein supported before us on behalf of the G
appellant. For the reasons aforesaid, we are unable to agree with the minority
view. In the result, we find no merit in these appeals and the same are hereby
dismissed.

S.K.S. Appeals dismissed.
H