Burroughs-Wellcome Co. v. United States

Wilson, Judge: The plaintiff in this case imported from Canada certain merchandise,' described on the invoice as “Dried Digitalis Lanata Leaves.” The collector of customs assessed duty thereon at — 161 — the rate of 20 per centum ad valorem under the eo nomine provision in paragraph 36 of the Tariff Act of 1930 for “digitalis.” Plaintiff claims the merchandise properly' dutiable at only 5 per centum ad valorem under paragraph 34 of the said act, as modified by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, T. D. 51802, as a drug, advanced in value or condition, or, in the alternative, that it is properly free of duty under paragraph 1669 of the act as a crude drug. The pertinent provisions of the statutes here in question read as follows: [Paragraph 36, Tariff Act of 1930]: Coca leaves, 10 cents per pound; digitalis, 20 per centum ad valorem. [Paragraph 34, Tariff Act of 1930, as modified, supra]: Drugs, such as barks, beans, berries, buds, bulbs, bulbous roots, excrescences, fruits, flowers, dried fibers, dried insects, grains, herbs, leaves * * * , and all other drugs of vegetable or animal origin * * * any of the foregoing which are natural and uncompounded drugs and not edible, and not specially provided for, but which are advanced in value or condition by shredding, grinding, chipping, crushing, or any other process or treatment whatever beyond that essential to the proper packing of the drugs and the prevention of decay or deterioration pending manufacture, * * * 5% ad val. [Paragraph 1669, Tariff Act of 1930]: Drugs such as barks, beans, berries, buds * * * leaves, * * * and all other drugs of vegetable or animal origin; all the foregoing which are natural and uncompounded drugs and not edible, and not specially provided for, and are in a crude state, not advanced in value or condition by shredding, grinding, * * * or any process or treatment whatever beyond that essential to the proper packing of the drugs and the prevention of decay or deterioration pending manufacture: * * * The record consists of the testimony of six witnesses, all of whom testified on behalf of the plaintiff, together with a sample of “digitalis lanata” (plaintiff’s illustrative exhibit 1), which, in its imported condition, has been dried and shredded. The position of the plaintiff is that the eo nomine provision for “digitalis” in paragraph 36 of the aforesaid act, both as commonly understood and as used in the trade and commerce of the United States, refers only to a certain type of digitalis known as “digitalis 'purpurea” The position of the defendant, on the other hand, is that said eo nomine provision for “digitalis” provides for digitalis in all its forms and that the imported merchandise, being a species of the digitalis family, is properly dutiable, as classified. Plaintiff’s witness Fonda, vice president in charge of the research and development department of the importing concern, stated that his firm was engaged in business as manufacturing pharmacists and chemists. He testified that the imported merchandise, “digitalis lanata,” was a botanical plant and that it was used in the production of a drug, known by the trade name of “digoxin” (R. 13), which is used in the treatment of heart ailments. The witness described the lanata plant as follows: — 162 — A. Well, it is a low growing plant, green in character, that has lance-like leaves, that in length are anywheres from 15 cc to 30 cc long and from four cc to five cc wide; the normal plant, under normal growing conditions, * * * that has a span of eighteen to twenty-four inches in its greatest growth and probably fifteen to eighteen inches high. As it grows up it may throw off a bolting spear which is the flowering spear which may go as high as two feet or higher under cultivation, particularly in well matured and fertilized plants (R. 16). On cross-examination, the witness testified that the plant “foxglove” was commonly known as “digitalis” and that foxglove, to his knowledge, was “digitalis purpurea,” a different species of the digitalis family than the imported “digitalis lanata,” here under consideration. He agreed that both species are used for medicinal purposes in the treatment of heart disease (R. 22-23). With respect to differences in the two plants, the witness described the leaf of the “purpurea” as a more oblong-shaped leaf, “with a broader stubble and has a fuzzy fur-like coating” and stated that digitalis “purpurea,” in its imported condition, was “powdered, very fine,” differing in appearance from the imported condition of the “lanata” (plaintiff’s illustrative exhibit 1). The process employed in the production of the drug digoxin, by the use of merchandise such as that imported, “digitalis lanata,” is best described in the testimony of plaintiff’s witness Goff, head of the chemical manufacturing division of the importing firm, who supervised its production, as follows: The material comes in from our source, British Columbia, it is labelled digitalis lanata. We assay the material to make, sure that we find our active drug in the raw material; from that time on, it is first ground to a particle size of approximately eight mesh. After that, it is mixed with a diluted alcohol; it is percolated and the percolate treated with chemicals to remove the fats and tannins, after which these precipitates are filtered off. The clear filtrates are extracted with a solvent which is dried. The solution of glycosides in the dried solvent is then concentrated to obtain the total glycosides of digitalis lanata. These glycosides are further purified by repeated recrystallizations to give us our finished drug of Digoxin. (R. 34.) The witness explained that a “glycoside” is an alkoid that contains a type of sugar connected to the molecule of that particular alkoid; that digitalis lanata contains glycosides, only one of which is isolated, for the purpose of being used in the drug digoxin. He further testified that digitalis purpurea also contains glycosides and that, from the “purpurea” species, a drug known as “digitoxin” is obtained. He stated, however, that while digitoxin is a glycoside, that particular glycoside is not found in digitalis lanata and, further, that the glyco-side digoxin is not an ingredient of nor does it occur in digitalis “purpurea.’] (R. 37.) Plaintiff’s witness Ranges, a practicing physician, whose qualifications as a heart specialist were conceded by the defendant, testified that, in the course of his medical experience over a period of 19 years, — 163 — he had administered digitalis “In the form of powdered extract; fluid extract, alcohol extract and tinctures.” (R. 41.) He stated that, when he writes a prescription for “digitalis as such,” very commonly, in such case, it is merely written as “digitalis,” with the qualifying words “whole leaf” or “powder,” or “tincture” in brackets, depending on the type of administration of the drug, followed by the dosage, and that the digitalis tablets, prepared by the pharmacist, contain digitalis “purpurea,” which the witness stated “is the only form that the pharmacist has ever put up in that way.”* (R. 44.) He testified that the description “digitalis (whole leaf)” means a powdered leaf — -“A digitalis leaf which is powdered and ground up and compressed into a tablet.” The witness further stated that he had never seen a tablet made out of digitalis “lanata” and that, to the best of his knowledge, such tablets are not used. He then testified that digitalis lanata, in its original condition, is never prescribed or used, as such, but that it is only the source material in the production of the drug digoxin, which is one of the glycosides of digitalis lanata; that, when digoxin is prescribed, the term “digoxin” is used. The witness explained that there was considerable difference in the size of the dose between digitalis purpurea and the ordinary digoxin dose; the ordinary dose of digitalis purpurea is between one-tenth and two-tenths of a gram; “whereas the ordinary therapeutic dose of Digoxin is between 25 hundreds and .5 mg per dose.” It was the opinion of the witness that digoxin has superior properties over the “whole leaf digitalis,” the digitalis purpurea. (R. 50.) On cross-examination, the witness agreed that the drug digitoxin is obtained from the plant digitalis purpurea and that such drug, as well as digoxin obtained from the plant digitalis lanata, is prescribed by him for ailments of the heart but stated that “They are two different drugs.” (R. 53.) Plaintiff’s witness Githens was also a practicing physician, whose stated qualifications indicate wide experience in pharmaceuticals. This witness gave it as his opinion that the imported merchandise, in its dried and shredded condition, has not been advanced in value or condition beyond that essential to the proper packing and the prevention of decay or deterioration pending manufacture. (R. 60.) Plaintiff’s witness Acton was the “works chemist” of the importing-company, an experienced and qualified pharmaceutical chemist and analyst, whose duties consisted of employment on private and confidential working formulas for the company and the issuance of such formulas for the manufacture of all the company’s preparations. He corroborated the testimony of the previous witness as to the use of digitalis lanata in the production of the drug digoxin. Contrasting the indicated processing of the digitalis “lanata” with the processing — 164 — of the digitalis “purpurea,” for the purpose of preparing it for administration to a heart patient, the witness stated as follows: The powdered digitalis purpurea leaves are purchased from a supplier; they are assayed to determine that they contain the correct potency; the powdered leaves are then mixed with an amount of diluent which is inert matter and after thorough mixing that mixture is compressed on a tablet machine into a compressed tablet, each tablet to contain one grain or grains or whatever strength is desired. On cross-examination, the above witness agreed that, in addition to tablets being made out,of digitalis purpurea, the purpurea species is also employed as a source material in the production of the drug digitoxin, obtained by the isolation of one of the glycosides in the product (R. 72). Plaintiff’s final witness was the purchasing agent of the importing firm. He had purchased both the purpurea and lanata types of digitalis. The testimony of this witness established that, in purchasing the lanata species, “digitalis lanata" is specified, whereas “digitalis U. S. P. powder, 60 mesh” is indicated in an order for digitalis purpurea, and that a delivery of the “purpurea” form would not be a compliance with an order for digitalis “lanata,” nor would a delivery of digitalis lanata be considered as a good delivery against an order for digitalis “purpurea.” From the foregoing, it is apparent that while digitalis purpurea and digitalis lanata are different species of the so-called digitalis family, they differ in use both in manufacture and in the manner of administration for medicinal purposes. The imported merchandise is never administered to a patient, as such, but is merely a source material used to produce the drug “digoxin,” after a process of manufacture, whereas digitalis purpurea is used not only in the production of another drug, “digitoxin,” but can be used per se after reduction to tablet form. It has been further established that the active ingredient, digoxin, found in the imported merchandise, is not contained in digitalis purpurea. In our opinion, Congress did not use the term “digitalis,” as it appears in paragraph 36, supra, as a mere descriptive term denominating all forms of digitalis, but as the eo nomine designation of a particular species of the digitalis family, namely, digitalis purpurea. Tariff acts are drafted in the language of commerce, which is presumptively that in common use. Meyer & Lange et al. v. United States, 6 Ct. Cust. Appls. 181, 182, T. D. 35436. Plaintiff’s witnesses, who dealt in digitalis in the trade and commerce of the United States, were of one accord in stating that “digitalis,” as used in the pertinent paragraph, referred only to digitalis “purpurea,” and such testimony has not been controverted by any evidence on the part of the defendant. This commercial understanding of the term is the same as the common meaning, as indicated by standard dictionary definitions:- — 165 — Webster’s New International Dictionary, 1930 edition, page 623, gives the following definition of “digitalis”: digitalis, n. * * * 2. Pharm. The leaves of the purple foxglove (D. purpurea), one of the most important drugs, used as a remedy in derangements of the circulatory system. * * * At page 860: foxglove, n. 1. Any plant of the genus Digitalis. The common foxglove (D. purpurea) is an ornamental European perennial or biennial, having racemes of dotted white or purple tubular flowers; * * *. Its leaves yield the important drug digitalis. [Italics supplied.] Funk & Wagnall’s New Standard Dictionary, 1939 edition, page 710: digitalis, n. 1. The dried leaves of foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), or a powder, tincture, or the like prepared from them: used as a remedy in diseases of the heart. At page 972: foxglove, n. 1. Any plant of the genus, Digitalis, especially the English D. purpurea, having flowers in long one-sided racemes and leaves of medicinal value. * * * The above definitions also indicate physical characteristics for digitalis “purpurea” different from those indicated in the record for digitalis “lanata.” Our conclusion that the term “digitalis,” appearing in the tariff act, embraces only the species digitalis “purpurea,” is fortified by reference to it in the “Pharmacopoeia of .the United States,” tenth decennial revision, stated to be “official from January 1, 1926,” wherein, at page 126, under the heading “Digitalis,” it is stated:- Digitalis is the dried leaf of Digitalis purpurea Linné. In Kingzett’s Chemical Encylopaedia, 1952 edition, at page 310, we find: Digitalis — * * * . The drug commonly used in medicine consists of the powdered dry leaf of Digitalis purpurea which- is standardized biologically and may also be used to prepare an alcoholic tincture. * * * In the same volume, at page 311, it is stated: Digoxin * * * . For medical purposes, it is preferred to preparations of D. purpurea, since, being a pure chemical'entity, it can be standardized by chemical means and does not require biological standardization. In-the United States Dispensatory, by Horatio C. Wood and Arthur Osol, 23d edition, under the heading “Digitalis,” at page 367, we find: * * * When Digitalis is prescribed, Digitalis Pulverata is to be dispensed. At page 368, seventh paragraph: For description of D. lanata see under Digoxinum. and under the latter heading, at page 373, the following appears: — 166 — Digoxin * * * . Chemical investigation has revealed * * * but that the third [lanatoside C] has no counterpart in D. •purpurea. It thus appears that, as recognized by lexicographers, scientific, and medical authorities, and by the trade and commerce of the United States dealing in digitalis, such product refers only to that type of digitalis obtained from the species “digitalis •purpurea,” and we conclude that it was the latter type of digitalis which Congress intended to be covered by the eo nomine provision for “digitalis” found in paragraph 36, supra, and that said provision does not include the merchandise here imported. The aforesaid conclusion is strengthened by advertance to the Summary of Tariff Information, 1929, compiled by the United States Tariff Commission for the use of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, in connection with the revision of the Tariff Act of 1922, wherein the provision for “digitalis” first appeared. At page 187 in said summary, the following appears: Digitalis Description and uses.-- * * * Production. — Digitalis purpurea, the source of the drue, is a plant native to southern and central Europe. * * * [Italics quoted.] Further in point, but not necessarily controlling in our disposition of the present matter, is the reference in the Summary of Tariff Information, 1948 edition, volume 1, part 2, wherein, at page 188, the following appears: Digitalis (Par. 36) Comment Digitalis, or foxglove, consists of the dried leaves of the herb, Digitalis purpurea. Only the purpurea species is official in the United States Pharmacopoeia, although there are several other species of digitalis, such as lanata, that have similar properties. * * * Our holding that the imported merchandise is not embraced within tiie eo nomine provision for “digitalis” in paragraph 36, supra, is consistent with the holding court in Nylos Trading. Co. v. United States, 21 Cust. Ct. 86, C. D. 1133, affirmed in Same v. Same, 37 C. C. P. A. (Customs) 71, C. A. D. 422, attention to which has been directed by plaintiff in its brief. It was there held that “palm oil,” provided for in paragraph 1732 of the Tariff Act of 1930, refers only to oil obtained from varieties of the palm “Elaeis guineensis” and that certain imported pataua oil, obtained from the palm “Oenocarpus batana,” a different species and having different physical and chemical characteristics from the palm oil of commerce, was not classifiable under the aforesaid provision for “palm oil,” as claimed, but was properly — 167 — classified under paragraph 53 of said act as “all other expressed or extracted oils, not specially provided for,” as classified. Other cases to which our attention has been called, need not be discussed, in view of our present conclusion. The record discloses, and it was conceded by the parties to the controversy, that the imported merchandise, digitalis lanata, has therapeutic properties and is chiefly used for medicinal purposes. Hence, it meets requirements for classification as a “drug.” United States v. Wm. Cooper & Nephews, Inc., 22 C. C. P. A. (Customs) 31, T. D. 47038. In our opinion, the merchandise at bar is properly classifiable as a drug, advanced in value or condition. The record indicates that the plant “digitalis lanata” is dried as soon as it is taken out of the ground and then heat-dried by circulating heated air. It is then ground with a shredding machine, packed in paper bags, and placed in tins for export. Plaintiff’s witness Fonda testified that the drying to which the leaves were subjected prevents fermentation and the destroying of the active principle extracted therefrom (R. 21). However, while plaintiff’s witness Githens gave it as his opinion “with reasonable certainty” that the drying and grinding of the digitalis lanata plant would not advance it in value or condition beyond that essential to the proper packing óf it and the prevention of decay or deterioration pending manufacture, there is no showing in this record that the grinding of the leaves was essential for such purposes. Confirmation of this appears from the testimony of plaintiff’s own witness Taclce, who testified that he had seen digitalis lanata delivered in its imported condition “in the containers in the plant” in the form of “a dried leaf” (R. 73). On the record presented, we hold the imported digitalis lanata properly classifiable under paragraph 34 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as modified by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, T. D. 51802, as a drug, advanced in value or condition, at the rate of 5 per centum ' ad valorem, as claimed. To such extent, the protest is sustained. Judgment will issue accordingly.