20 October 2006 GST/HST Ruling 82610 - XXXXX

Please note that the following document, although correct at the time of issue, may not represent the current position of the Agency. / Veuillez prendre note que ce document, bien qu'exact au moment émis, peut ne pas représenter la position actuelle de l'Agence.

Dear XXXXX:

Thank you for your request XXXXX concerning the application of the Goods and Services Tax (GST)/Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) to XXXXX (The Product).

All legislative references are to the Excise Tax Act (ETA) and the regulations thereunder, unless otherwise specified.

Effective July 1, 2006, the rate of the GST has been reduced from 7% to 6% and the rate of the HST from 15% to 14%. The new rates apply to supplies for which the GST/HST is paid on or after July 1, 2006, without having become payable before that date. Specific transitional rules apply to certain supplies, for example, real property. For more information on the transitional rules for the reduction of the GST/HST rate, please refer to Reduction in the Rate of the GST/HST - Questions and Answers http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/agency/budget/2006/gstrateqa-e.html on the Canada Revenue Agency Web site.

Statement of Facts

Our understanding of the fact is as follows:

1. The Product is sold in XXXXX litre plastic bottles.

2. The ingredients of the Product are: XXXXX.

3. The nutrition facts table on the Product container indicates that a XXXXX serving of the Product contains the following vitamins and minerals:

% Daily Value

XXXXX

XXXXX

XXXXX

XXXXX

XXXXX

XXXXX

XXXXX

XXXXX

XXXXX

XXXXX

4. The Product labelling states that the Product is XXXXX.

5. The Product contains XXXXX% natural juice by volume.

6. The Product is non-carbonated.

Ruling Requested

You would like to know how the GST/HST applies to supplies of the Product.

Ruling Given

Based on the facts set out above, we rule that supplies of the Product are zero-rated pursuant to section 1 of Part III of Schedule VI.

This ruling is subject to the qualifications in GST/HST Memorandum 1.4, Goods and Services Tax Rulings. We are bound by this ruling provided that none of the above issues is currently under audit, objection, or appeal, that no future changes to the ETA, regulations or our interpretative policy affect its validity, and all relevant facts and transactions have been fully disclosed.

Explanation

Generally, every recipient of a taxable supply made in Canada shall pay tax calculated at the rate of 6% on the value of the consideration for the supply (14% in the participating provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador) unless the supply is zero-rated, pursuant to subsection 165(3). The tax rate in respect of a zero-rated supply is 0%, where a zero-rated supply is a supply that is included in Schedule VI.

Under Part III of Schedule VI, certain supplies of basic groceries are zero-rated. Section 1 of Part III of Schedule VI zero-rates supplies of food or beverages for human consumption, including sweetening agents, seasonings and other ingredients mixed with or used in the preparation of such food or beverages, other than supplies included in paragraphs (a) to (r) of that section.

The terms "food" and "beverage" are not defined in the ETA. However, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) considers a product to be a food or beverage if an average consumer would recognize and purchase the product as such in the ordinary course of buying basic groceries. Consumers usually consume food and beverages to allay hunger or quench thirst, or for enjoyment rather than for therapeutic or preventative effects.

GST/HST Policy Statement P-240, Application of GST/HST to Products Commonly Described as "Dietary Supplements", outlines the criteria that the CRA considers in determining whether a product is a food, beverage or ingredient for human consumption or a dietary supplement. These criteria consider the labelling, packaging, and marketing of the product.

The labelling, packaging, and marketing do not indicate that the Product is a dietary supplement. The Product is not identified as a supplement, but as a fruit juice beverage. The Product does not have a Drug Identification Number (DIN), a Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM), or a Natural Product Number (NPN). The only claims made on the label are general health claims. There are no restrictions on the amount of the Product that may be consumed, nor are there any warnings regarding the consumption of the Product. The Product is marketed as a beverage and is sold in grocery stores.

Based on the criteria in GST/HST Policy Statement P-240, the Product is a beverage for GST/HST purposes.

Supplies of non-carbonated fruit juice beverages or fruit flavoured beverages, other than milk-based beverages, that contain less than 25% by volume of

(i) a natural fruit juice or combination of natural fruit juices, or

(ii) a natural fruit juice or combination of natural fruit juices that have been reconstituted into the original state,

or goods that, when added to water, produce such a beverage, are excluded from zero-rating under paragraph 1(d) of Part III of Schedule VI.

The Product is a non-carbonated fruit juice or fruit flavoured beverage containing XXXXX% natural fruit juice by volume. As a result, its supplies are not excluded from zero-rating pursuant to paragraph (d) of Part III of Schedule VI.

Supplies of beverages (other than unflavoured milk), or pudding, including flavoured gelatine, mousse, flavoured whipped dessert product or any other products similar to pudding are excluded from zero-rating under paragraph 1(n) of Part III of Schedule VI, except

(i) when prepared and pre-packaged specially for consumption by babies,

(ii) when sold in multiples, pre-packaged by the manufacturer or producer, of single servings, or

(iii) when the cans, bottles or other primary containers in which the beverages or products are sold contain a quantity exceeding a single serving ^[x]footnote 1.

As a result of the application of subparagraph 1(n)(iii) in conjunction with section 1 of Part III of Schedule VI, supplies of the Product are zero-rated.

If you require clarification with respect to any of the issues discussed in this letter, please call me directly at (613) 952-9585.

Yours truly,

Ben Boboski
Goods Unit
General Operations and Border Issues Division
Excise and GST/HST Rulings Directorate

2006/10/16 — RITS 82614 — [Application of the GST/HST on Fruit Juice Beverages]