C.C.E., CHENNAI Vs. HINDUSTAN LEVER LTD.
Supreme Court of India (Division Bench (DB)- Two Judge)
Appeal (Civil), 1941 of 2006, Judgment Date: Aug 25, 2015
NON-REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 1941 OF 2006
COMMISSIONER OF CENTRAL EXCISE, CHENNAI-IV .....APPELLANT(S)
VERSUS
HINDUSTAN LEVER LTD. .....RESPONDENT(S)
J U D G M E N T
A.K. SIKRI, J.
The issue involved in the present appeal is as to whether
Vaseline Intensive Care Heel Guard (for short, 'VHG') is to be treated as
merely a skin care preparation or it is a medicament having curing
properties. Based on the answer to the aforesaid question, classification
of this product will be determined. If it is only a skin care preparation
then VHG is classifiable under Chapter Heading 3304.00 of the First
Schedule to the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985 (for short, the 'Act'). On
the other hand, if it is to be treated as a medicament, VHG would get
covered under Chapter Heading 3003.10 of the First Schedule. The rate at
which the excise duty is payable depends on the said classification.
Chapter 33 under which the Revenue wants to cover VHG pertains to
'essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations'
and, therefore, 40% duty is paid. Entry 33.04 thereof, which is
specifically sought to be attracted by the Revenue, 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”
If a particular product is to be covered under the aforesaid Entry, the
basic trait of the said product is that it is beauty or make-up
preparations and preparations for the care of the skin. Some products like
sunscreen and suntan preparations; manicure or pedicure preparations are
specifically included, meaning thereby they are to be treated as beauty or
make-up preparations or preparations for care of the skin. At the same
time, medicaments are specifically excluded therefrom. We would also like
to point out here certain chapter notes of Chapter 30 which are pressed
into service by the Revenue in order to claim that VHG is nothing but
preparation for the care of the skin. These are chapter notes 2 and 5 and
we reproduce the same as under:
“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
essential oils), suitable for use as goods of these headings and put up in
packings with labels, literature or other indications that they are for use
as cosmetics or toilet preparations or put up in a form clearly specialized
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.”
“5. Heading No. 33.04 applies, inter alia, to the following products :
beauty creams, vanishing creams, cold creams, make-up creams, cleansing
creams, skinfoods, skin tonics, face powders, baby powders, toilet powders,
talcum powders and grease paints, lipsticks, eyeshadow and eyebrow pencils,
nail polishes and varnishes, cuticle removers and other preparations for
use in manicure or chiropody and barrier creams to give protection against
skin irritants.”
On the other hand, as per the assessee VHG is a medicament and, therefor,
it should be covered by Chapter 30. Chapter 30 deals with 'pharmaceutical
products'. Entry 30.03, within which the assessee seeks to cover this
product, reads as under:
“30.03 Medicaments (including veterinary
medicaments”
| 3003.10 |Patent or proprietary |
|– |medicaments, other than those |
| |medicaments which are |
| |exclusively Ayurvedic, Unani, |
| |Siddha, Homoeopathic or |
| |Bio-chemic |
| | |
| 3003.20 |Medicaments (other than patent |
|– |or proprietary) other than |
| |those which are exclusively |
| |used in Ayurvedic, Unani, |
| |Siddha, Homoeopathic or |
| |Bio-chemic systems |
| | |
| |Medicaments, including those |
|– |used in Ayurvedic, Unani, |
| |Siddha, Homoeopathic or |
| |Bio-chemic systems; |
| | |
| 3003.31 |Manufactured exclusively in |
|– |accordance with the formulae |
| |described in the authoritative |
| |books specified in the First |
| |Schedule to the Drugs and |
| |Cosmetics Act, 1940 (23 of |
| |1940) or Homoeopathic |
| |Pharmacopoeia of India or the |
| |United States of America or the|
| |United Kingdom or the German |
| |Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia, as |
| |the case may be, and sold under|
| |the name as specified in such |
| |book or pharmacopoeia. |
| 3003.32 |Medicaments (including |
|– |veterinary medicaments) used in|
| |bio-chemic system and not |
| |bearing a brand name. |
| | |
| 3003.39 |Other” |
|– | |
The position which is taken by the assessee is that VHG is patent or
proprietary medicament and is, therefore, classifiable under Chapter
Heading 3003.10 and only 15% duty is paid. There are certain chapter
notes attached to Chapter 30 as well and first two notes are relevant for
our purposes which we reproduce below:
“1. This Chapter does not cover:
(a) Foods or beverages (such as, dietetic, diabetic or fortified foods,
food supplements, tonic beverages and mineral waters) (Section 1V);
(b) Plasters specially calcined or finely ground for use in dentistry
(Chapter 25);
(c) Aqueous distillates or aqueous solutions of essential oils, suitable
for medicinal uses (Chapter 33);
(d) Preparations of Chapter 33 even if they have therapeutic or
prophylactic properties;
(e) Soap or other products of Chapter 34 containing added medicaments;
(f) Preparations with a basis of plaster for use in dentistry (Chapter
34);
(g) Blood albumin not prepared for therapeutic or for prophylactic uses
(Chapter 35).
2. For the purposes of heading No. 30.03—
(i) 'medicaments' means goods (other than foods or beverages such as
dietetic, diabetic or fortified foods, tonic beverages) not falling within
heading No. 30.03 or 30.04 which are either:—
(a) products comprising two or more constituents which have been
mixed or compounded together for therapeutic or prophylactic uses; or.
(b) unmixed products suitable for such uses put up in measured
doses or in packings for retail sale or for use in hospitals;
(ii) 'Patent or proprietary medicaments' means any drug or medicinal
preparation, in whatever form, for use in the internal or external
treatment of, or for the prevention of ailments in human beings or animals,
which bears either on itself or on its container or both, a name which is
not specified in a monograph, in a Pharmacopoeia, Formulary or other
publications, namely:—
(a) The Indian Pharmacopoeia:
(b) The International Pharmacopoeia;
(c) The British Pharmacopoeia;
(d) The British Pharmacopoeia;
(e) The British Pharmaceutical Codex;
(f) The British Veterinary Codex;
(g) The United States Pharmacopoeia;
(h) The National Formulary of the U.S.A.;
(i) The Dental Formulary of the U.S.A; and
(j) The State Pharmacopoeia of the U.S.S.R.;
or which is a brand name, that is, a name or a registered trade mark under
the Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958 (43 of 1958), or any other mark
such as a symbol, monogram, label, signature or invented words or any
writing which is used in relation to that medicine for the purpose of
indicating or so as to indicate a connection in the course of trade between
the medicine and some person, having the right either as proprietor or
otherwise to use the name or mark with or without any indication of the
identity of that person.”
While contrasting the two Entries, namely, Entry 3304.00 on the one hand
and 3003.10 on the other, it can be discerned that if it is a product for
care of the skin, then it would fall under Chapter Heading 3304.00 but if
it is for the cure of skin disease then the product in-question would be
medicament; meaning thereby the inquiry has to be whether it is a care
product or a product meant for cure. Another aspect, while comparing the
two Entries, which needs to be mentioned is that Entry 3304.00 specifically
excludes medicaments. The obvious purpose is that if it is a medicament, it
has to fall under Chapter 30. Because of this specific exclusion of
medicament from Chapter Heading 3304.00, necessary consequence is that if
the Revenue wants to cover it under 3304.00, the onus is on the Revenue to
show that the particular product is not a medicament. At the same time,
reading of this Entry along with chapter notes 2 and 5, already extracted
above, would indicate that if pharmaceutical or antiseptic constituents
contained in the product are only subsidiary in nature, or having
subsidiary curative or prophylactic value, then that would not make the
product as medicament. Again, certain preparation for skin like
preparations for use in manicure or chiropody and barrier creams which give
protection against skin irritants are still to be treated as preparations
for care of the skin and would not be treated as curing the skin diseases.
That is the clear intent of chapter note 5 of Chapter 33. This is made
further clear with the heading of chapter note no. 1(d) of Chapter 30 which
specifically excludes preparation of Chapter 33 even if they have
therapeutic or prophylactic properties. However, a conjoint reading of note
5 of Chapter 33 and note 1(d) of Chapter 30 needs us to clarify that in
order to see as to whether a particular preparation falls under Chapter 33
or not (or gets excluded from Chapter 30), such therapeutic or prophylactic
properties have to be subsidiary in nature. Further, medicaments are
specifically defined in note 2 of Chapter 30 and the attributes of this
definition are to be kept in mind in order to decide whether a particular
product is a medicament or not.
To put it in a nutshell, if a particular product is
substantially for the care of skin and simply because it contains
subsidiary pharmaceutical or antiseptic constituents or is having
subsidiary curative or prophylactic value, it would not become medicament
and would still qualify as the product for the care of the skin. There
would be certain products which would be purely for the care of skin and
certain other products would be clearly medicament and such cases may not
pose any problem. The issue of determination as to whether a particular
product falls in Chapter 33 or Chapter 30 would arise in those cases where
certain products have the shades or qualities of both, namely, skin care as
well as cure of skin diseases. In such cases, the necessary exercise
requires to be undertaken. Whenever product has curative or prophylactic
value as well, but the Department still wants the said product to be
brought under Chapter Heading 3304.00, onus is on the Department to show
that it is not medicament. For this, it will have to demonstrate that
curative or prophylactic value is only subsidiary in nature or that the
product is covered by the description under chapter notes 5, namely, either
it is chiropody or barrier cream to give protection against skin irritants.
If the Department fails to discharge this onus, the product has to be
treated as medicament and would be covered under Chapter 30.
In BPL Pharmaceuticals Ltd. v. CCE, Vadodra[1], this Court has laid down
the principles which are to be kept in mind while deciding as to whether a
particular product would fall under Chapter 30 or under competing Chapter
33. That was a case where the assessee was engaged in manufacture of
Selenium Sulfide Lotion which contained 2.5% selenium sulfide W/V. The
assessee was manufacturing this product under a loan licence from Abbott
Laboratories in accordance with Abbott's specifications, raw materials,
packing materials and quality control. It was sold under the private name
'Selsun'. The assessee in that case claimed that this product was used in
the therapeutic quantity i.e. 2.5% W/V which was the only active ingredient
and other ingredient merely served the purpose of a bare medium. It was
also claimed that the product is manufactured under a drug licence issued
by the Food and Drug Administration. The assessee, thus, wanted the
product to be classified under heading 3003.19 as Pharmaceutical Product
under Chapter 30. However, the Revenue took the plea that it would fall
under sub-heading 3305.90 i.e. under Chapter 33. Thus, the respective
contentions of the Department as well as the assessee were almost on the
same lines as in the present case, namely, whether the said product was
Pharmaceutical product or it was a cosmetic/toiletry preparation. The only
difference was of sub-headings under those Chapters. This Court went into
the essential characteristics of the product and found it that dominant use
of the product was medicinal, as it was sold only on medical prescription
as a medicine for treatment of disease known as Seborrhoeic Dermatitis,
commonly known as Dandruff. It was manufactured under a Drug Licence; the
Food and Drug Administration had certified it as a Drug; and the Drug
Controller had categorically opined that Selenium Sulfide present in Selsun
was in a therapeutic concentration etc. The relevant passages from the
said judgment throwing light on these aspects are reproduced below:
“19. So far as medicinal properties of the product are concerned it can be
gathered from the technical and/or pharmaceutical references that Selenium
Sulfide has anti-fungal and anti-seborrhoeic properties and is used in a
detergent medium for the treatment of dandruff on the scalp which is milder
form of Seborrhoeic Dermatitis and Tinea Versicolour 2.5% of this compound
is the therapeutic quantity.
xx xx xx
24. Elaborating the above submissions, the learned counsel for the
respondents invited our attention to chapter notes of Chapter 30 and
Chapter 33 and also the rules of interpretation. According to the learned
counsel a careful reading of chapter notes of Chapter 30 would show that
preparations of Chapter 33 even if they have therapeutic or prophylactic
properties would not fall under Chapter 30. However, he fairly admitted
that ‘medicaments’ are those that have therapeutic or prophylactic uses.
Nevertheless those medicaments, if they are classifiable under Chapter 33
or Chapter 34 will not fall under Chapter 30, according to him, if they are
more specifically preparations falling under Chapter 33 or Chapter 34. In
other words, he wants to equate the product in question to ‘shampoo’
enumerated under Heading No. 33.05. He also invited our attention to the
fact that the appellants before the coming into force of the new Tariff Act
described the product as shampoo and they have omitted the word ‘shampoo’
deliberately only to claim that the product would fall under Chapter 30.
25. We do not think that we can accept all the contentions of the learned
counsel for the respondents except certain obvious admitted positions. The
submission that the product in question must be equated to shampoo falling
under Chapter 33 is not at all correct.
26. It is true that the learned counsel for the appellants have placed
reliance on the definition of the words “cosmetic and drug” as defined in
the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. On a perusal of the definitions, we can
broadly distinguish cosmetic and drug as follows:
“A ‘cosmetic’ means any article intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled or
sprayed on, or introduced into, or otherwise applied to, the human body or
any part thereof for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or
altering the appearance, and includes any article intended for use as a
component of cosmetic.”
and
“A ‘drug’ includes all medicines for internal or external use of human
beings or animals and all substances intended to be used for or in the
diagnosis, treatment, mitigation or prevention of any disease or disorder
in human beings or animals, including preparations applied on human body
for the purpose of repelling insects.”
27. We cannot ignore the above broad classification while considering the
character of the product in question. Certainly, the product in question is
not intended for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness or
altering appearance. On the other hand it is intended to cure certain
diseases as mentioned supra.
xx xx xx
35. The learned counsel also placed reliance on a number of judgments to
support his argument that in common and commercial parlance the product is
known as medicine rather than cosmetic. As pointed out already and in
support of that submission, affidavits and letters from chemists, doctors
and customers are filed to show that the product is sold under prescription
only in chemists’ shops unlike shampoos sold in any shop including
provision shops. This conclusion, namely, that the product is understood in
the common and commercial parlance as a patent and proprietary medicine was
also found by the Central Board of Excise and Customs as early as in 1981
and accepted by the Excise authorities and in the absence of any new
material on the side of the respondents there is no difficulty in accepting
this contention without referring to decision cited by the counsel for the
appellants.”
The aforesaid case draws and delineates a clear distinction between a
'cosmetic' and a 'drug'. It further lays down that essential character of
the product in question is to be kept in mind for ascertaining whether it
would be a cosmetic or a drug. Another relevant consideration, which is
highlighted, is to see whether in common and commercial parlance the
product is known as medicine or cosmetic/skin care product. If the product
is registered as medicament by the Drug Controller, that would be a strong
factor to consider it as having curative or prophylactic value and it is
not for the care of the skin per se.
This Court in Muller & Phipps (India) Ltd. v. Collector of Central Excise,
Bombay-I[2] was called upon to decide as to whether prickly heat power,
which was manufactured and marketed by the appellant/assessee therein under
the brand name Johnson's Prickly Heat Powder and Phipps Processed Talc, was
a medicament or was simply a product for care of the skin. The case put-
forth by the assessee therein was that prickly heat power contains a range
of medicines and is used only for the treatment and prevention of a skin
ailment known as Milaria Rubra, commonly known as prickly heat. Prickly
heat powders are manufactured under a Drug Licence issued under the Drug
and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and have been treated as a drug and not a cosmetic
by the authorities under the Drugs Act. On a reference made by the Finance
Ministry, the Drug Controller of India has opined that due to the high
content of 5% boric acid in a prickly heat powder, it would be classifiable
as a drug or medicament and not as a cosmetic. From 1970 till 1985,
prickly heat powders have been classified and assessed under Tariff Item
14E of the old tariff as 'Patent or Proprietary Medicines'. It was also
contended that prickly heat power not only relieves prickly heat faster but
actually helps prevent it. When a person perspires profusely the sweat
stays on the skin too long and the person becomes a potential victim of
prickly heat. This specially formulated prickly heat powder absorbs the
sweat better and faster and prevents the build up of bacteria on the skin.
Therefore, the person avoids getting a red rash, itching and burning. No
person who requires ordinary talk for the purposes of beautifying her or
himself would use the said products which contain the aforesaid active
therapeutic ingredients. These products are known as, as already mentioned
above, prickly heat/ Milaria Rubra. The sale of these products is much
higher in hot summer months when this disease frequently erupts.
Accepting the aforesaid case set up by the assessee therein, the Court held
that the said prickly heat power was a medicament for treatment of red
rashes, itching and burning and not merely a powder for care of skin or for
the purpose of beauty. The Court was greatly influenced by the fact that a
department like Drug Controller and Central Sales Tax authorities had
accepted the product in question as medicinal preparation. The discussion
which is relevant for our purposes is contained in paras 11 and 12 of the
said judgment and we reproduce the same hereinbelow:
“11. But in the present case when throughout the meaning given to products
in question not only by the department itself but also by other departments
like Drug Controller and Central Sales Tax authorities is that the product
in question is a medicinal preparation should be accepted.
12. Applying the principles enunciated in BPL Pharmaceuticals Ltd. case
and taking into consideration various circumstances as to the manner in
which the goods had been treated on the earlier occasions by the department
and the product having been utilised with reference to the commercial
parlance and understanding, that it had been treated as a drug it would not
cease to be one notwithstanding the fact that new tariff act has come into
force. What is to be seen in such cases is when in the common parlance,
for purposes of the Drug Act, for purposes of Sales Tax Act and in various
findings recorded on earlier occasions by the department itself having been
noticed, the conclusion is inevitable that the products in question must be
treated as medicinal preparations.”
Interplay of Chapter 30 vis-a-vis Chapter 34 (which deals with detergent
products) came up for consideration in Commissioner of Central Excise v.
Wockhardt Life Sciences Limited[3]. In that case, the Court again
emphasized 'common parlance test' or the 'commercial usage test' as the mot
common test for determining the classification in such cases. After taking
note of number of earlier decisions, this aspect was highlighted as under:
“33. There is no fixed test for classification of a taxable commodity.
This is probably the reason why the “common parlance test” or the
“commercial usage test” are the most common (see A. Nagaraju Bros. v. State
of A.P., (1994) Supp 3 SCC 122). Whether a particular article will fall
within a particular tariff heading or not has to be decided on the basis of
the tangible material or evidence to determine how such an article is
understood in “common parlance” or in “commercial world” or in “trade
circle” or in its popular sense meaning. It is they who are concerned with
it and it is the sense in which they understand it that constitutes the
definitive index of the legislative intention, when the statute was enacted
(see Delhi Cloth and General Mills Co. Ltd. v. State of Rajasthan, (1980) 4
SCC 71).
34. One of the essential factors for determining whether a product falls
within Chapter 30 or not is whether the product is understood as a
pharmaceutical product in common parlance (see CCE v. Shree Baidyanath
Ayurved Bhavan Ltd., (2009) 12 SCC 419, and CCE v. Ishaan Research Lab (P)
Ltd., (2008) 13 SCC 349). Further the quantity of medicament used in a
particular product will also not be a relevant factor for, normally, the
extent of use of medicinal ingredients is very low because a larger use may
be harmful for the human body. [Puma Ayurvedic Herbal (P) Ltd. v. CCE,
(2006) 3 SCC 266, State of Goa v. Colfax Laboratories Ltd., (2004) 9 SCC
83, and B.P.L. Pharmaceuticals Ltd. v. CCE, 1995 Supp (3) SCC 1].
35. However, there cannot be a static parameter for the correct
classification of a commodity. This Court in Indian Aluminium Cables Ltd.
v. Union of India, (1985) 3 SCC 284, has culled out this principle in the
following words: (SCC p. 291, para 13):
“13. To sum up the true position, the process of manufacture of a product
and the end use to which it is put, cannot necessarily be determinative of
the classification of that product under a fiscal schedule like the Central
Excise Tariff. What is more important is whether the broad description of
the article fits in with the expression used in the Tariff.”
36. Moreover, the functional utility and predominant or primary usage of
the commodity which is being classified must be taken into account, apart
from the understanding in common parlance. [See O.K. Play (India) Ltd. v.
CCE, (2005) 2 SCC 460, Alpine Industries v. CCE, (2003) 3 SCC 111, Sujanil
Chemo Industries v. CCE & Customs, (2005) 4 SCC 189, ICPA Health Products
(P) Ltd. v. CCE, (2004) 4 SCC 481, Puma Ayurvedic Herbal, (2006) 3 SCC 266,
CCE v. Ishaan Research Lab (P) Ltd., (2008) 13 SCC 349, and CCE v. Uni
Products India Ltd., (2009) 9 SCC 295].
37. A commodity cannot be classified in a residuary entry, in the presence
of a specific entry, even if such specific entry requires the product to be
understood in the technical sense (see Akbar Badrudin Giwani v. Collector
of Customs, (1990) 2 SCC 203 and Commnr. Of Customs v. G.C. Jain, (2011) 12
SCC 713). A residuary entry can be taken refuge of only in the absence of
a specific entry; that is to say, the latter will always prevail over the
former [see CCE v. Jayant Oil Mills (P) Ltd., (1989) 3 SCC 343, HPL
Chemicals Ltd. v. CCE, (2006) 5 SCC 208, Western India Plywoods Ltd. v.
Collector of Customs, (2005) 12 SCC 731, and CCE v. Carrier Aircon Ltd.,
(2006) 5 SCC 596].
38. In CCE v. Carrier Aircon Ltd., (2006) 5 SCC 596, this Court held: (SCC
p. 601, para 14):
“14...There are a number of factors which have to be taken into
consideration for determining the classification of a product. For the
purposes of classification, the relevant factors inter alia are statutory
fiscal entry, the basic character, function and use of the goods. When a
commodity falls within a tariff entry by virtue of the purpose for which it
is put to (sic produced), the end use to which the product is put to,
cannot determine the classification of that product.”
39. In our view, as we have already stated, the combined factors that
require to be taken note of for the purpose of the classification of the
goods are the composition, the product literature, the label, the character
of the product and the user to which the product is put. However, the
miniscule quantity of the prophylactic ingredient is not a relevant factor.
In the instant case, it is not in dispute that this is used by the
surgeons for the purpose of cleaning or degerming their hands and scrubbing
the surface of the skin of the patient before that portion is operated
upon. The purpose is to prevent the infection or disease. Therefore, the
product in question can be safely classified as a “medicament” which would
fall under Chapter Sub-Heading 3003 which is a specific entry and not under
Chapter Sub-Heading 3402.90 which is a residuary entry.”
It is required to be noted that in para 36 quoted above, the Court also
laid importance to the functional utility and predominant or primary usage
of the commodity that is to be taken into account while classifying the
product. Another important aspect which needs to be noted is that the
combined effect of the aforesaid factors is to be taken into consideration,
which would include composition, the product literature, the label, the
character of the product and the user to which the product is put. It was
also clarified that miniscule quantity of the prophylactic ingredient is
not a relevant factor.
Discussion on this aspect was again revisited in the case of Commissioner
of Central Excise, Mumbai IV v. Ciens Laboratories, Mumbai[4]. In that
case, a moisturising cream sold under the brand name 'Moisturex' was the
product and it was to be determined as to whether it was used simply for
care of the skin or was intended for treating or curing dry skin complaints
like fissure feet, dry scaly skin conditions, ichthyosis etc. and,
therefore, was a medicament. The argument of the Revenue that this cream
was used merely for softening the skin was rejected in the following
manner:
“15. The contention that “Moisturex” is a moisturising cream used for
softening the skin cannot be appreciated. As we have already discussed,
the use of the cream is not for the care of the skin. “Moisturex” is also
not primarily intended to protect the skin from sun, tan or dryness, etc.
On the other hand, it is intended for treating or curing the dry skin
conditions of the human skin and for a few other skin complaints like
fissure feet, dry scaly skin conditions, ichthyosis, etc. The argument
advanced on behalf of the Central Excise that use of urea or lactic acid or
propylene glycon, etc. is only as subsidiary pharmaceutical constituents
and, hence, they cannot be held out as having curative, therapeutic or
prophylactic value, cannot also be appreciated. It is the presence of the
ingredients of the pharmaceutical constituents which makes the difference
and not the percentage of the ingredients as held by this Court in Meghdoot
Gramodyog Sewa Sansthan v. CCE, (2005) 4 SCC 15...”
Main feature which needs to be taken note of from the aforesaid discussion
is that small percentage of the ingredients of pharmaceutical constituents
would not be a reason by itself to conclude that pharmaceutical
constituents are subsidiary in nature. On the other hand, what is more
relevant is the purpose for which the product is used, namely, functional
test. On that basis, the product in that case was treated as medicament.
What is important is that the Court, in the process, laid down the guiding
principles which are to be kept in mind while determining the
classification. These principles are formulated in the following manner:
“22. Thus, the following guiding principles emerge from the above
discussion:
22.1. Firstly, when a product contains pharmaceutical ingredients that
have therapeutic or prophylactic or curative properties, the proportion of
such ingredients is not invariably decisive. What is of importance is the
curative attributes of such ingredients that render the product a
medicament and not a cosmetic.
22.2. Secondly, though a product is sold without a prescription of a
medical practitioner, it does not lead to the immediate conclusion that all
products that are sold over/across the counter are cosmetics. There are
several products that are sold over the counter and are yet, medicaments.
22.3. Thirdly, prior to adjudicating upon whether a product is a
medicament or not, the courts have to see what the people who actually use
the product understand the product to be. If a product's primary function
is “care” and not “cure”, it is not a medicament. Cosmetic products are
used in enhancing or improving a person's appearance or beauty, whereas
medicinal products are used to treat or cure some medical condition. A
product that is used mainly in curing or treating ailments or diseases and
contains curative ingredients even in small quantities, is to be branded as
a medicament.”
After straitening the position in law, we now proceed to apply this
principles to the present case.
As pointed out above, the product in question, Vaseline Intensive Care Heel
Guard, is marketed as a solution for cracked heels and it is claimed that
this solution is specially developed by the scientists at Vaseline
Research. The composition of this product includes salicylic acid I.P.
1.5% w/w. lactic acid 8.0% w/w. Triclosan 0.1% w/w. Cream base – q.s.
Salicylic acid is described as keratolytic substance having bacteriostalic
and fungicidal properties used in the treatment of fungus infection of the
skin. The Tribunal, while deciding that the aforesaid product is a
medicament, pointed out that the product was formulated and essentially
used for treatment of 'cracked heels', protection from further cracks in
the human heels due to extreme climatic conditions and low humidity,
constant exposure of feet to water and due to absence of shoe or other
protection while walking. It also found that this product was manufactured
under a drug licence as drug authorities had treated the same as a
medicament. The Tribunal also found that the usage of this product was
related to the effect of therapeutic or mitigating substance of
prophylactic substances added. Thus, the effect of mitigation of an
external condition is primary effect and the effect of smoothing the skin
was secondary in nature and, therefore, it was to be treated as a
medicament and classified under Chapter 30.
Interestingly, all the aforesaid features of the product are accepted by
the Department. However, only on the ground that salicylic acid contained
in the product is marginal, the Department took the view that it was a
subsidiary substance. Having regard to the exposition of law narrated
above, this was clearly an erroneous approach on the part of the Revenue as
percentage of the said substance is immaterial to label it as subsidiary.
Another more important factor which needs to be stated at this stage is
that though the burden was on the Department, it did not lead any evidence
or produce any material to discharge this onus. It simply went by the
pamphlet of the product, that too selectively picking up that portion where
the product was described as good for care of the skin as well, ignoring
the fact that the same very literature gives more emphasis to the
therapeutic value of the product. On the other hand, the assessee had
filed various affidavits of the dealers as well as consumers in support of
its plea that the product was essentially a medicament, which material was
blissfully ignored by the Department.
From the aforesaid, we conclude that the decision of the Tribunal holding
the product in question to be a medicament and, therefore, covered by
Chapter Heading 3003.10 is perfectly justified and does not call for any
interference.
The civil appeal is, accordingly, dismissed with no order as to costs.
.............................................J.
(A.K. SIKRI)
.............................................J.
(ROHINTON FALI NARIMAN)
NEW DELHI;
AUGUST 25, 2015
ITEM NO.1A COURT NO.13 SECTION III
(FOR JUDGMENT)
S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Civil Appeal No(s). 1941/2006
C.C.E., CHENNAI Appellant(s)
VERSUS
HINDUSTAN LEVER LTD. Respondent(s)
Date : 25/08/2015 This appeal was called on for pronouncement of
Judgment today.
For Appellant(s) Mr. B. Krishna Prasad,Adv.
For Respondent(s) Mr. Rajan Narain,Adv.
Hon'ble Mr. Justice A.K.Sikri pronounced the Judgment of the Bench
comprising His Lordship and Hon'ble Mr. Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman.
The appeal is dismissed in terms of the signed non-reportable
judgment.
Pending application(s), if any, stand disposed of.
We have pronounced the judgment today whereby dismissing the appeal
of the Revenue. In the consequence, if any, amount is refunded to the
respondent, the same shall be done in accordance with law.
(Ashwani Thakur) (Renu Diwan)
COURT MASTER COURT MASTER
(Signed non-reportable judgment is placed on the file)
-----------------------
[1]
(1995) Supp 3 SCC 1
[2] 2004 (167) ELT 374 (SC)
[3] (2012) 5 SCC 585
[4] (2013) 14 SCC 133