I.D. FOODS CORPORATION
Decisions
v.
THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE
Appeal Nos. AP-90-175 and AP-90-177
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Ottawa, Wednesday, April 7, 1993
Appeal Nos. AP-90-175 and AP-90-177
IN THE MATTER OF an appeal heard on February 3, 1993, under section 81.19 of the Excise Tax Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. E-15;
AND IN THE MATTER OF decisions of the Minister of National Revenue dated October 29, 1990, with respect to notices of objection served under section 81.17 of the Excise Tax Act.
BETWEEN
I.D. FOODS CORPORATION Appellant
AND
THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE Respondent
The appeals are allowed.
Michèle Blouin ______ Michèle Blouin Member
Lise Bergeron ______ Lise Bergeron Member
Michel P. Granger ______ Michel P. Granger Secretary
These are two appeals under section 81.19 of the Excise Tax Act from determinations of the Minister of National Revenue dated November 13, 1987, and December 8, 1989. The issue in these appeals is whether "Zumnsa" brand sangria non-alcoholic wine is exempt under section 1 of Part V of Schedule III to the Excise Tax Act from the imposition of federal sales tax under paragraph 50(1.1)(a) of the Excise Tax Act.
HELD: The appeals are allowed.
Tribunal Members: W. Roy Hines, Presiding Member Michèle Blouin, Member Lise Bergeron, Member
Counsel for the Tribunal: Shelley Rowe
Clerk of the Tribunal: Janet Rumball
These are two appeals under section 81.19 of the Excise Tax Act [1] (the Act) from determinations of the Minister of National Revenue (the Minister). The issue in these appeals is whether "Zumnsa" brand sangria non-alcoholic wine is exempt under section 1 of Part V of Schedule III to the Act from the imposition of federal sales tax (FST) under paragraph 50(1.1)(a) of the Act.
The appellant imported "Zumnsa" brand sangria non-alcoholic wine produced by Zumos de Navarra S.A., Tafalla (Navarra), Spain, and thereafter, in September 1987, applied for a refund in the amount of $6,210.12 representing FST incorrectly imposed under paragraph 50(1.1)(a) of the Act on goods exempt under section 1 of Part V of Schedule III to the Act. The appellant filed a subsequent refund claim in October 1989 in the amount of $2,470.48 based on the reasons in the first application for refund. By notices of determination dated November 13, 1987, and December 8, 1989, the respective applications for refund were disallowed. The appellant objected to these notices on January 28, 1988, and March 7, 1990. In notices of decision both dated October 29, 1990, the Minister disallowed the objections and confirmed the determinations.
The Tribunal notes that the parties filed an agreed statement of facts on January 20, 1993, and asked the Tribunal to proceed on the basis of written documentation before it in accordance with rule 25 of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal Rules. [2] A review of the agreed statement of facts reveals that the respondent acknowledges that de-alcoholized wine is exempt under section 1 of Part V of Schedule III to the Act from the imposition of FST under paragraph 50(1.1)(a) of the Act as established with respect to a similar product in the Tribunal's decision in I-D Foods Corporation v. The Minister of National Revenue. [3] Further, the respondent adopts the findings in an independent laboratory report that the "Zumnsa" brand sangria non-alcoholic wine is not carbonated. For the above reasons, the respondent agrees that the "Zumnsa" brand sangria non-alcoholic wine is exempt under section 1 of Part V of Schedule III to the Act from the imposition of FST under paragraph 50(1.1)(a) of the Act.
After having considered the agreed statement of facts, the Tribunal agrees with the view taken by both the appellant and the respondent, and allows the appeals.
[ Table of Contents]
1. R.S.C. 1985, c. E-15.
2. SOR/91-499, August 14, 1991, Canada Gazette Part II, Vol. 125, No. 18 at 2912.
3. Appeal Nos. AP-90-176 and AP-90-178, March 10, 1992.
Initial publication: July 9, 1997