7018 — Glass beads, imitation pearls, imitation precious or semi-precious stones and similar glass smallwares, and articles thereof (excl. imitation jewellery); glass eyes (excl. prosthetic articles); statuettes and other ornaments of lamp-worked glass (excl. imitation jewellery); glass microspheres with a diameter of <= 1 mm

7018 Glass beads, imitation pearls, imitation precious or semi-precious stones and similar glass smallwares, and articles thereof other than imitation jewellery; glass eyes other than prosthetic articles; statuettes and other ornaments of lamp-worked glass, other than imitation jewellery; glass microspheres not exceeding 1 mm in diameter: 7018 10 – glass beads, imitation pearls, imitation precious or semi-precious stones and similar glass smallwares 7018 20 – glass microspheres not exceeding 1 mm in diameter 7018 90 – other

This heading covers a variety of glass articles, most of which are used directly or after further processing for decorative purposes and decorations. This includes: (A) Glass beads (for example, used in necklaces, beads, artificial colors, ornaments on graves, etc.; for the decoration of textile products (finishing, embroidery, etc.), in the decoration of handbags or similar products; or used as electrical insulators). These beads, painted or unpainted, have the appearance of small grains of a more or less round shape with a through hole; they are obtained from tubes cut into parts of approximately equal length and diameter. The resulting small cylinders are then placed together with a mixture of powdered substances in (charcoal, graphite, plaster, etc.) in a metal drum rotating above the oven. Glass cylinders are softened by heat, friction gives them a more or less spherical shape, and powdery substances do not allow them to stick to each other. (B) Imitating pearls products, whole or hollow, of any colors, shapes and sizes, imitating real pearls. The most commonly encountered hollow pearls are obtained by blowing thin glass spheres from a glass tube of very small diameter, and then separating them from each other. Thanks to the applied method of manufacture, these pearls have two holes located against each other through which you can pull a thread. Hollow pearls can also be blown out of a glass rod. Then a substance containing a pearl essence (paste-like substance from the scales of some fish species dissolved in ammonia) is blown into the glass spheres; sometimes they are filled with white wax to increase hardness. From real pearls, artificial pearls can be easily distinguished by their light weight and splitting into pieces under very little pressure.

Solid imitation pearls are obtained by turning a drop of glass on a copper wire in a flame or by casting glass in small moulds with a thin copper tube placed crosswise. After cooling, the metal is dissolved in nitric acid; the acid does not attack the glass, and through-holes are left in the pearls. These pearls are then coated with pearl essence and afterwards with a protective layer of transparent varnish. (C) Imitation precious stones (including imitations of semi-precious stones), which should not be confused with the synthetic or reconstructed precious stones of heading 7104 (see the relevant Explanatory Note). These imitations are made of special glass (e.g., strass) having a high refractive index, which may be colourless or coloured with metallic oxides. The imitation stones are usually obtained by cutting pieces of the required size from a block of glass; these fragments are then placed on a metal sheet coated with tripoli and put into a small furnace, where their edges become rounded. The stones so obtained may then be cut (e.g., given the form of brilliants, rose-cut diamonds, etc.) or engraved (to obtain cameos or intaglios). Such stones may also be obtained directly by moulding (e.g., for making stones of particular shapes for charms). The back of such stones is often coated with a reflecting metallic paint (the final stage of working). (D) Other small glass forms, such as imitation coral. (E) Various articles of glass (other than imitation jewellery) obtained by assembling certain individual articles mentioned above, such as flowers, foliage or pearl ornaments for wreaths; fringes of beads or bugles for lampshades, shelves, etc.; curtains and portières of bugles or beads, and table mats made in a similar way; rosaries of glass beads or of imitation precious or semi-precious stones. (F) Glass eyes (other than prostheses for humans, heading 9021) intended, for example, for dolls, robots, stuffed animals. However, dolls' eyes with a mechanism for closing the eyes are excluded (heading 9503). (G) Statuettes and other ornaments (other than imitation jewellery) obtained by working glass in a plastic state with a blowpipe. These articles are intended to be placed on shelves (figures of animals, representations of plants, statuettes, etc.). They are usually made of clear glass (lead crystal, strass, etc.) or of "enamel" glass. (3) Glass microspheres not exceeding 1 mm in diameter, used for making panels of road signs, reflecting signs or cinema screens, or for cleaning aircraft jet engines or metal surfaces. These solid articles are perfectly spherical in shape. Flowers, foliage and fruit for interior decoration and similar articles, cast or moulded of glass, are excluded from this heading (heading 7013). Trinkets of lamp-worked glass containing precious metal, or containing metal clad with precious metal, to more than a minor extent, or constituting imitation jewellery as specified in Chapter 71, fall in that Chapter. This heading also excludes: (a) glass powder, very often silvered or coloured, for decorating postcards, Christmas tree ornaments, etc. (heading 3207);

(b) handbags and similar articles of leather or fabric, ornamented with glass beads, imitation pearls or imitation precious or semi-precious stones (heading 4202); (c) picture postcards, Christmas cards and the like, ornamented with glass (heading 4909); (d) textile articles appliquéd with glass beads (Section XI and, in particular, heading 5810); (e) textile materials coated with glass microspheres for cinema screens, etc. (heading 5907); (f) footwear, headgear, walking-sticks and umbrellas, ornamented with glass beads, imitation pearls or imitation precious or semi-precious stones (Chapters 64, 65 and 66); (g) imitation pearls or imitation precious or semi-precious stones, set in precious metal or in metal clad with precious metal (heading 7113 or 7114), or imitation jewellery of heading 7117 (see the relevant Explanatory Notes); (h) cuff-links (heading 7113 or 7117, as the case may be); (ij) toys, games, Christmas tree decorations (including thin-walled glass balls) (Chapter 95); (k) buttons and press-fasteners (heading 9606 or Chapter 71, as the case may be).

Notes

Machine translation. The original is the Russian text of the EAEU tariff, and customs goes by it; this translation is for understanding only and has no legal force.

1. This group does not include:

(a) the goods of heading 3207 (e.g. vitreous enamels and glazes, vitreous fritta, other glass in powder, granules or flakes);

(b) articles of Chapter 71 (for example, jewelry);

(c) fiber optic cables of heading 8544, electrical insulators (heading 8546) or fittings of insulating materials of heading 8547;

(d) front windshields, rear windows and other framed windows for vehicles of Chapters 86 to 88;

(e) front windshields, rear windows and other windows, whether or not framed, containing heating or other electrical or electronic devices for vehicles of Chapters 86 to 88;

(f) optical fibers, optically processed optical elements, subcutaneous injection syringes, artificial eyes, thermometers, barometers, hydrometers or other articles of Chapter 90;

(g) luminaires and lighting fixtures, light signs, light plates bearing a name or address or similar articles having an integrated light source or parts thereof of heading 9405;

(h) toys, games, sports equipment, Christmas tree decorations or other articles of Chapter 95 (except glass eyes without doll machinery or other articles of Chapter 95); or

(ij) buttons, assembled vacuum receptacles, sprayers or similar sprayers or other articles of Chapter 96.

2. For headings 7003, 7004 and 7005:

(a) the glass is not considered to be “treated” by whatever processes it undergoes prior to annealing;

(b) the cutting of the glass in its shape does not change its classification as sheet glass;

(c) the term “absorbing, reflective or non-reflective layer” means a microscopically thin coating with a metal or chemical compound (e.g., a metal oxide) that absorbs, for example, infrared radiation or improves the reflectivity of the glass while maintaining its degree of transparency or transmittance; or that prevents light from reflecting from the surface of the glass.

3. Articles falling within heading 7006 are also included where they have the character of finished articles.

4. For the purposes of heading 7019, the term “glass” means:

(a) mineral wool with a content of silica (SiO2) not less than 60 wt.%;

(b) mineral wool with a content of silica (SiO2) less than 60 wt.%, alkali metal oxide (K2O or Na2O) more than 5 wt.% or boron oxide (B2O3) more than 2 wt.%.

Other types of mineral wool are classified in heading 6806.

5. Throughout the Nomenclature, the term “glass” means fused quartz and other fused silica.

Subheading notes

Machine translation. The original is the Russian text of the EAEU tariff, and customs goes by it; this translation is for understanding only and has no legal force.

1. For the purposes of subheadings 7013 22, 7013 33, 7013 41 and 7013 91, the term “lead crystal” means only glass having a lead monoxide (PbO) content of at least 24 % by weight.