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Showing contexts for: Fructose in Sumo Foods Pvt Ltd vs Hyderabad - G S T on 4 May, 2026Matching Fragments
8. Next comes the question of classification. The Department has classified the product, in question, under sub-heading 1702 90 90. Sub-heading 1702 90 90 comes under the 6 digit sub-heading 1702 90 90 which covers "other sugars including invert sugar and sugar syrup blends containing in the dry stage 50% by weight of fructose". The goods, in question, are sought to be classified under 1702n 90 90 as "sugar syrup blends containing in dry stage, 50% by weight of fructose". In our view for classification as "sugar syrup blend" in this sub-heading the product must contain 50% by weight of fructose sugar in dry stage. In these cases, the appellant's plea from the very beginning has been that the fructose sugar content is less than 5% and in this regard they have produced the test report of Shriram Institute of Industrial Research. It is seen that the Commissioner (Appeals) has not given any finding on this plea. Not only this, there is no evidence to show that before seeking classification of the goods, in question, under sub-
heading 1702 90 90, the samples drawn from the goods had been got tested by the CRCL to confirm as to whether the fructose content of the goods, in question, in dry stage is 50% by weight. Just because the appellant during period till June 2008 were paying duty on the goods by classifying the same under sub-heading 1702 90 90, it cannot be presumed that they had accepted that the goods, in question, conform to the description of sugar syrup blends of sub-heading 1702 90 for which the sugar syrup in dry stage must contain 50% by weight of fructose. The Apex Court in the case of Metlex (I) Pvt Ltd., Vs CCE, New Delhi reported in 2004 (165) E.L.T. 129 (S.C.) has held that filing of classification list mistakenly does not mean that party has to pay duty, if in law, he is not bound to pay duty. Same view has been taken by the Apex Court in its judgment in the case of Bonanzo Engg. & Chemical P. Ltd., Vs CCE reported in 2012 (277) E.L.T. 145 (S.C.). In view of this, we hold that the classification of the goods under sub-heading 1702 90 90 is not sustainable, as absolutely no evidence has been produced by the Department to show that the fructose content of the goods, in question, in dry state was 50%.
9. Even if it is assumed that the goods, in question, are covered by sub- heading 1702 90 90, for attracting Central Excise duty the goods must be proved to be marketable. The Tribunal had remanded this matter to Commissioner (Appeals) for examining the question of marketability of the & 31109/2017 goods, in question. In this regard it is settled law that the marketability of a product has to be established in the condition in which it emerges. In this regard the Apex Court in the case of Bata India Ltd., Vs CCE, New Delhi (supra) has held that the test of marketability is whether product is marketable in condition in which it emerges. In this regard the marketability of the goods produced by a particular manufacturer cannot be presumed on the basis of the marketability of the similar goods in different condition being produced by another manufacturer, unless it shown that the two products are identical. In these cases, the Commissioner (Appeals) has held that the goods, in question, to be marketable only on the basis that the "invert sugar syrup" being manufactured by M/s. Dampur Speciality Sugars Ltd., is being sold to M/s Britannia Industries, M/s J.B. Mangaram Food Industries and M/s. ITC Ltd., In our view this basis of holding that the goods, in question, are marketable is absolutely wrong, as it has been presumed that the sugar syrup being made by the appellants is identical to the "invert sugar syrup" being made by M/s Dhampur Speciality Sugars Ltd., for which there is no basis. Chemically, invert sugar is obtained by Hydrolysis of cane sugar (sucrose, a disaccharide with specific rotation of + 66.5 degrees) and the same is a mixture of glucose (with specific rotation of +52.7 degrees) and fructose (with specific rotation of -92 degrees), with net specific rotation of -19.7 degree. The process of hydrolysis of cane sugar (which is dextrorotatory i.e. with rotation of + 66.5 degrees) is also called inversion, as the mixture of glucose and fructose formed by this process is levorotatory with sp. Rotation of - 19.7 degrees and for this reason the mixture of glucose and fructose formed by hydrolysis of cane sugar is called invert sugar. The invert sugar has longer shelf life. Whether a sugar syrup is ordinary cane sugar syrup or is invert sugar syrup has to be ascertained by chemical test which has not been done. It is, therefore, totally wrong to presume a given sugar syrup as invert sugar syrup without test. The judgments of the Apex Court in the cases of Gujarat Narmada Valley Fert. Co. Ltd., Vs CCE & Cus. (supra), Nicholaas piramal India Ltd., Vs CCE, Mumbai (supra) and Medley Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Vs CCE & Cus, Daman (supra) cited by the learned DR are not applicable to the facts of this case.
24. This Bench also in the case of M/s Badami Foods, supra, has held as under:
"7. The demand of duty is on the sugar syrup which is manufactured and captively consumed by the appellants. It is the case of the department that the sugar syrup is marketable product and merits classification under 1702 9090 of CETA, 1985. However, on going through the said Chapter heading the sugar syrup ought to contain at least 50% by way of fructose. In the present case, though the department allleges that sugar syrup is classifiable under 1702 9090 there is no evidence adduced by the department as to what is the fructose content in the said syrup. In Rishi Bakers Pvt Ltd., (supra) on similar set of facts the contention of the department that sugar syrup falls under heading 1702 9090 and that the said item is marketable was not accepted by the Tribunal. In the said decision, the Tribunal held that marketability of the product has been perceived by the department on the basis of marketability of invert sugar syrup. Since the department has not conducted any chemical test to arrive at the percentage of fructose content in the syrup. The contention that it merits classification under heading 1702 9090 or that it is marketable product cannot be accepted."