&&The products consist of two items, a well seal composed of cast iron top and bottom plates with a rubber gland, and a well seal composed of steel top and bottom plates with a rubber gland. The complete unit is inserted in a well casing and when tightened, the rubber gland is pressed against the inner side of the well casing.

&&You have requested that classification 8484.10.00.00 of the Customs Tariff be considered for these goods. These goods are excluded from Ch. 84 by virtue of Section XVI Legal Note 1(a) which states, in part, that this section does not cover “other articles of a kind used for other technical uses, of vulcanised rubber other than hard rubber (heading 40.16)”. The rubber gland of these goods is composed of acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber which is a synthetic rubber and is considered to be vulcanised. It is the rubber gland that allows the seal to perform its work of sealing a well casing, and as such, gives these seals their essential character. Heading 40.16 covers other articles of vulcanised rubber other than hard rubber. Gaskets, washers and other seals are named in subheading 4016.93.