Connie: Food processing from the other end of the pipeline, so to speak! I'd say that was a very imaginative and creative customs agent; what a breath of "fresh air". --Gary On Aug 19, 2005, at 11:28 AM, chbenneck@juno.com wrote:
Hi Gang,
While we're on this subject, let me add a laugh for the day.
When we had our Tripp-Lentsch on the Chiemsee in Southern Germany, our direct toilet discharge into a lovely pristine mountain lake bothered me.
In those days, The Raritan Company made a Macerater / Chlorinator to hang on the output side of the toilet which emulsified and added chlorine and had a holding tank to allow chemistry to function, before sending the result overboard.
Great solution said I, and ordered one from Raritan, who sent it to Munich, Germany by air freight.
Now I had to fill out German Customs paper work to import it into the country.
I went to their office and went through all their categories of products looking for a good product number to fill in on my Customs Form, which I then had to take to the Airport and hand to the Customs Agent.
Not finding anything like a macerator / chlorinator listed, I was forced to pick a number - any number - just to get a stamp on my Customs Import papers.
Then it was off to the Airport.
I got a very young Customs Inspector. We opened the wooden crate, and there it was: a white rectangular plastic box, with various pipe connection plugs around the outside, and an electric motor sticking out on top.
I explained what it was used for, which only caused wrinkles on the Customs agent's forehead.
Finally he departed, leaving me standing there with my white plastic box.
A few minutes later he returned with his boss.
He asked me to give him the explanation again, which I did.
This is hooked up to a marine toilet, I said, when you flush the toilet, what was in the toilet bowl goes into the first chamber of this white box. Then you press the button and the electric motor chops everything up and adds chlorine. It sits there and is sanitized.
With the next toilet use, what was in compartment No.1 goes to compartment No. 2, while the new arrival is processed in compartment No. 1 again.
As I explained it: when you press the button, the motor starts and inside the box, the music goes round and round....
He stood there for a moment, then turned to the young Customs Inspector and said, ..... Simple! It's a food processor accessory, and is Category 325175, with a 5% duty; ....turned and walked away.
I paid my 5% duty, grabbed my Raritan Macerater / Chlorinater and took off........
So now you know: German Customs says we're talking about a food processor accessory!
Connie
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