The US Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has recently announced that denim certificates are no longer required to be filed as part of the entry documentation for import of acid-washed denim garments and/or accessories.
In 1986, the US Patent and Trademark Office granted a patent ("the patent") for a specific method of producing a random-faded effect (commonly known as "acid-washed") on cloth or made-up garments, and the end-product obtained by such a method.
Subsequently in 1992, the US International Trade Commission issued an exclusion order ("the exclusion order") to exclude in general entry into the US goods that were manufactured outside the US by any process covered by the patent.
Since then, denim certificates certifying that the patent was not infringed were required by CBP as part of the entry documentation for shipments of acid-washed denim garments and/or accessories.
As both the patent and the exclusion order expired on 22 October 2006, CBP announced on 3 November 2006 that the filing of denim certificate will no longer be required for imports of acid-washed denim garments and/or accessories.
Trade and Industry Department, Hong Kong
marketing@alchempro.com
