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Showing contexts for: cosmetics in Commnr. Of Central Excise vs M/S. Wockhardt Life Science Ltd on 22 February, 2012Matching Fragments
40. In CCE, Nagpur v. Vicco Laboratories, (2005) 4 SCC 17, the point in consideration before this Court was that whether the products, namely; Turmeric skin cream, vajradanti toothpaste and tooth powder manufactured by the assessee would be classifiable as Pharmaceutical products under Chapter 30 or cosmetics under Chapter 33 of the Tariff Act. In that case, the assessee's products were classifiable as pharmaceutical products before and after the enactment of the Tariff Act. However, the revenue issued show cause notices on the basis of the decision of this Court in Shree Baidyanath, (1996) 9 SCC 402 alleging that the products are understood as cosmetics in common parlance.
The revenue further contended before this Court that the product was classifiable under Chapter 33 as a cosmetic as there was no need for a medical practitioner's prescription and the same was sold in general/departmental store. The assessee took the stand that products were classifiable under Chapter 30 as being pharmaceutical product. This Court held that mere decision of a court of law without more cannot be a justification enough for changing the classification without a change in the nature of a product or a change in the use of the product, or a fresh interpretation of the tariff heading by such decision. This Court has held that the Show cause notices having issued on the misapprehension of the tests laid down in Shree Baidyanath cannot be sustained, even though, the adjudicating authority had found from the market survey that the products are understood as cosmetics in common parlance.
42. In Puma Ayurvedic Herbal (P) Ltd. v. Commissioner of Central Excise, Nagpur (Supra), the issue before this Court was that whether the ayurvedic goods manufactured by the assessee are classifiable under the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985 as cosmetics under Chapter 33 or as medicaments under Chapter 30. The assessee contended that their products are manufactured as per the Ayurveda pharmacopoeia and other text books and have curative, therapeutic or prophylactic value which are meant to give relief in body ailments and they are not items of cosmetics.
43. In Commissioner of Central Excise, Delhi v. Ishaan Research Lab (P) Ltd. (Supra), the issue before this Court was whether the products manufactured by the assessee would fall under Sub-Heading 3003.30 as medicament or under Chapter 33 as cosmetics. The assessee contended that each of the products was having ayurvedic medicinal herbs in it and even the labels on these products claim specifically the medicinal properties of the product. The assessee further urged that even if the user of product leads to improvement in appearance of a person that by itself cannot bring it into the category of "cosmetics" if otherwise the product is having a medicinal value and is marketed as such. According to the revenue, all these products were understood to be the "cosmetics" in common parlance and not actually the "ayurvedic medicines" for various reasons, the said products should have been held to be covered under Chapter 33. This Court after inspecting the labels of the product has held that the assessee had claimed in each of the label regarding its medicinal properties and, the product is not a cosmetic. This Court also observed that the common parlance test is not "be all and end all", and held that the miniscule percentage used is also not a deciding factor. This Court concluded that the products in question are medicinal products and, therefore, are covered by Chapter 30 and not under Chapter 33. That case would not assist revenue as this Court after taking into account the labels on the products observed that these products have medicinal ingredients and are marketed as ayurvedic medicines not cosmetics, however it incidentally improve the appearance, and also held that the common parlance test by itself is not conclusive.