For the purposes of this subpart, “staple length” means the length of the fibers in a particular quantity of cotton designated in terms expressing the measurement by the millimeter or fraction thereof of a representative portion of the quantity in accordance with the Official Cotton Standards of the United States for length of staple, as established by the Secretary of Agriculture.

Invoices of cotton provided for in subheading 5201.00.10, 5201.00.20, 5201.00.50, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (19 U.S.C. 1202), shall show the following detailed information in addition to other required information:

(a) One of the following statements regarding each lot of cotton covered by the invoice:

(1) This is harsh or rough cotton under 19.05 millimeters in staple length;

(2) The staple length of this cotton is under 28.58 millimeters. (This statement is not to be used if paragraph (a)(1) of this section is applicable);

(3) The staple length of this cotton is 28.58 millimeters or more and under 34.93 millimeters;

(4) This cotton is harsh or rough cotton (other than cotton of perished staple, and cotton pickings), white in color, and has a staple length of 29.37 millimeters or more and under 44.45 millimeters;

(5) The staple length of this cotton is 34.93 millimeters or more and under 42.86 millimeters; or

(6) The staple length of this cotton is 42.86 millimeters or more.

(b) The name of the country of origin and, if practicable, the name of the province or other subdivision of the country of origin in which the cotton was grown.

(c) The variety of the cotton, such as Karnak, Gisha, Pima, Tanguis, etc.

For determining the staple length of any lot of cotton for any Customs purposes, samples of the lot shall be taken in accordance with commercial practice.

The Center director shall have one or more samples of each sampled bale of cotton stapled by a qualified Customs officer, or a qualified employee of the Department of Agriculture designated by the Commissioner of Customs for the purpose, and shall promptly mail the importer a notice of the results determined.

If the importer is dissatisfied with the port director's or Center director's determination made before January 19, 2017, or the Center director's determination made on or after January 19, 2017, he may file with the Center director, within 14 calendar days after the mailing of the notice, a written request in duplicate for a redetermination of the staple length. Each such request shall include a statement of the claimed staple length for the cotton in question and a clear statement of the basis for the claim. The request shall be granted if it appears to the Center director to be made in good faith. In making the redetermination of staple length, the Center director may obtain an opinion of a board of cotton examiners from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, if he deems such action advisable. All expenses occasioned by any redetermination of staple length, exclusive of the compensation of CBP officers, shall be reimbursed to the Government by the importer.