Article 1
The purpose of this Directive is to abolish the measures referred to in Articles 2 and 3, which were operative at the date of entry into force of the EEC Treaty.
Commission Directive 70/50/EEC of 22 December 1969 based on the provisions of Article 33 (7), on the abolition of measures which have an effect equivalent to quantitative restrictions on imports and are not covered by other provisions adopted in pursuance of the EEC Treaty
Commission Directive 70/50/EEC of 22 December 1969 based on the provisions of Article 33 (7), on the abolition of measures which have an effect equivalent to quantitative restrictions on imports and are not covered by other provisions adopted in pursuance of the EEC Treaty
Data as of 2026-07-04 Β· Compiled from an official source version. Later amendments or repeals may not be reflected; the official text prevails. Β· Read the official text β
Article 2
1. This Directive covers measures, other than those applicable equally to domestic or imported products, which hinder imports which could otherwise take place, including measures which make importation more difficult or costly than the disposal of domestic production. 2. In particular, it covers measures which make imports or the disposal, at any marketing stage, of imported products subject to a condition-other than a formality-which is required in respect of imported products only, or a condition differing from that required for domestic products and more difficult to satisfy. Equally, it covers, in particular, measures which favour domestic products or grant them a preference, other than an aid, to which conditions may or may not be attached. 3. The measures referred to must be taken to include those measures which: (a) lay down, for imported products only, minimum or maximum prices below or above which imports are prohibited, reduced or made subject to conditions liable to hinder importation; (b) lay down less favourable prices for imported products than for domestic products; (c) fix profit margins or any other price components for imported products only or fix these differently for domestic products and for imported products, to the detriment of the latter; (d) preclude any increase in the price of the imported product corresponding to the supplementary costs and charges inherent in importation; (e) fix the prices of products solely on the basis of the cost price or the quality of domestic products at such a level as to create a hindrance to importation; (f) lower the value of an imported product, in particular by causing a reduction in its intrinsic value, or increase its costs; (g) make access of imported products to the domestic market conditional upon having an agent or representative in the territory of the importing Member State; (h) lay down conditions of payment in respect of imported products only, or subject imported products to conditions which are different from those laid down for domestic products and more difficult to satisfy; (i) require, for imports only, the giving of guarantees or making of payments on account; (j) subject imported products only to conditions, in respect, in particular of shape, size, weight, composition, presentation, identification or putting up, or subject imported products to conditions which are different from those for domestic products and more difficult to satisfy; (k) hinder the purchase by private individuals of imported products only, or encourage, require or give preference to the purchase of domestic products only; (l) totally or partially preclude the use of national facilities or equipment in respect of imported products only, or totally or partially confine the use of such facilities or equipment to domestic products only; (m) prohibit or limit publicity in respect of imported products only, or totally or partially confine publicity to domestic products only; (n) prohibit, limit or require stocking in respect of imported products only ; totally or partially confine the use of stocking facilities to domestic products only, or make the stocking of imported products subject to conditions which are different from those required for domestic products and more difficult to satisfy; (o) make importation subject to the granting of reciprocity by one or more Member States; (p) prescribe that imported products are to conform, totally or partially, to rules other than those of the importing country; (q) specify time limits for imported products which are insufficient or excessive in relation to the normal course of the various transactions to which these time limits apply; (r) subject imported products to controls or, other than those inherent in the customs clearance procedure, to which domestic products are not subject or which are stricter in respect of imported products than they are in respect of domestic products, without this being necessary in order to ensure equivalent protection; (s) confine names which are not indicative of origin or source to domestic products only.
Article 3
This Directive also covers measures governing the marketing of products which deal, in particular, with shape, size, weight, composition, presentation, identification or putting up and which are equally applicable to domestic and imported products, where the restrictive effect of such measures on the free movement of goods exceeds the effects intrinsic to trade rules. This is the case, in particular, where: - the restrictive effects on the free movement of goods are out of proportion to their purpose; - the same objective can be attained by other means which are less of a hindrance to trade.
Article 4
1. Member States shall take all necessary steps in respect of products which must be allowed to enjoy free movement pursuant to Articles 9 and 10 of the Treaty to abolish measures having an effect equivalent to quantitative restrictions on imports and covered by this Directive. 2. Member States shall inform the Commission of measures taken pursuant to this Directive.
Article 5
1. This Directive does not apply to measures: (a) which fall under Article 37 (1) of the EEC Treaty; (b) which are referred to in Article 44 of the EEC Treaty or form an integral part of a national organisation of an agricultural market not yet replaced by a common organisation. 2. This Directive shall apply without prejudice to the application, in particular, of Articles 36 and 223 of the EEC Treaty.
Article 6
This Directive is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 22 December 1969. For the Commission The President Jean REY
Other acts of the same type
Council Directive of 30 March 1971 amending the Directives of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of beet seed, fodder plant seed, cereal seed and seed potatoes, the Directive of 30 June 1969 on the marketing of seed of oil and fibre plants and the Directive of 29 September 1970 on the marketing of vegetable seedCouncil Directive 71/140/EEC of 22 March 1971 amending the Directive of 9 April 1968 on the marketing of material for the vegetative propagation of the vineCouncil Directive 71/86/EEC of 1 February 1971 on harmonisation of the basic provisions in respect of guarantees for short-term transactions (political risks) with public buyers or with private buyersCouncil Directive 70/157/EEC of 6 February 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the permissible sound level and the exhaust system of motor vehiclesCommission Directive 70/32/EEC of 17 December 1969 on provision of goods to the State, to local authorities and other official bodiesCouncil Directive 69/493/EEC of 15 December 1969 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to crystal glassCouncil Directive 69/60/EEC of 18 February 1969 amending the Council Directive of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of cereal seedCouncil Directive 69/63/EEC of 18 February 1969 amending the Council Directive of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of fodder plant seedCouncil Directive 68/297/EEC of 19 July 1968 on the standardisation of provisions regarding the duty-free admission of fuel contained in the fuel tanks of commercial motor vehiclesCouncil Directive 68/221/EEC of 30 April 1968 on a common method for calculating the average rates provided for in Article 97 of the TreatyCouncil Directive 68/193/EEC of 9 April 1968 on the marketing of material for the vegetative propagation of the vineCommission Directive 66/683/EEC of 7 November 1966 eliminating all differences between the treatment of national products and that of products which, under Articles 9 and 10 of the Treaty, must be admitted for free movement, as regards laws, regulations or administrative provisions prohibiting the use of the said products and prescribing the use of national products or making such use subject to profitability /* unofficial English translation */
Source: EUR-Lex (Publications Office of the EU), Β© European Union, reuse permitted under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.
What to look at next
Browse all EU Legal ActsEvery instrument by type and year, full text free to read section by sectionEuropean Union legislationEU Legal Acts by type and yearGrouped by instrument type and year of enactment, so you can find others of the same kindBrowse by type and yearEuropean Union: what this database coversWhich datasets are here, which official source they come from, and how current they areEuropean Union overview