4.9.1997
EN
Official Journal of the European Communities
L 242/1
COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1713/97
of 3 September 1997
derogating from Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 in respect of the definition of the concept of originating products used for the purposes of the scheme of generalized preferences to take account of the special situation of Laos regarding certain exports of textiles to the Community
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of 12 October 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code ( 1 ) , as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 82/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 2 ) , and in particular Article 249 thereof,
Having regard to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 ( 3 ) , as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1427/97 ( 4 ) , laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code, and in particular Article 76 thereof,
Whereas, by Council Regulation (EC) No 3281/94 of 19 December 1994 applying a four-year scheme of generalized tariff preferences (1995 to 1998) in respect of certain industrial products originating in developing countries ( 5 ) , as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 998/97 ( 6 ) the Community gave such preferences to Laos;
Whereas Articles 67 et seq. of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 establish the definition of the concept of originating products to be used for the purposes of generalized tariff preferences; whereas Article 76 of the Regulation provides however, for derogations to those provisions in favour of least-developed GSP beneficiary countries which submit an appropriate request to that effect to the Community;
Whereas the Government of Laos has applied for such a derogation in respect of certain textile products; whereas at the Community's request Laos has provided the requisite additional economic information;
Whereas the request submitted by Laos satisfies the requirements of Article 76; whereas in particular the introduction of quantitative conditions (on annual basis) reflecting the Community market's capacity to absorb the Lao products, Laos's export capacity and actual recorded trade flows is such as to prevent injury to the corresponding branches of Community industry;
Whereas in order to encourage regional cooperation among beneficiary countries it is desirable to provide that the raw materials to be used in Laos in the context of this derogation should originate in countries belonging to the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) (except Myanmar), the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) or the Lome Convention;
Whereas any demand to extend application of the derogation beyond the quantities provided for must be considered in consultation with the Lao authorities;
Whereas the derogation may not in any case apply beyond 31 December 1998, when the current scheme of generalized tariff preferences for industrial products expires;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation is in conformity with the opinion of the Customs Code Committee (Origin Section),
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
1. By way of derogation from Articles 67 et seq. of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93, products listed in the annex to this Regulation which are manufactured in Laos from woven fabric (woven items) or yarn (knitted items) imported into that country and originating in a country belonging to the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) (except Myanmar), the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) or the Lome Convention shall be regarded as originating in Laos in accordance with the arrangements set out below.
2. For the purposes of paragraph 1, products shall be considered as originating in Asean or SAARC when they are obtained in these countries according to the rules of origin provided in Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93, or as originating in the beneficiary countries of the Lome Convention when they are obtained in these countries according to the rules of origin provided in Protocol No 1 to the Fourth ACP-EEC Convention ( 7 ) .
3. The competent authorities of Laos shall undertake to take all of the necessary measures to ensure compliance with the provisions of paragraph 2.
Article 2
The derogation provided for in Article 1 shall apply to products, imported into the Community from Laos during the period from 1 August 1997 to 31 December 1998, up to the annual quantities listed in the Annex against each product.
Article 3
The quantities referred to in Article 2 shall be managed by the Commission, which may take any appropriate administrative measures to ensure that they are managed efficiently.
Where an importer presents a declaration for release for free circulation in a Member State, applying to take advantage of the provisions of this Regulation, and the declaration is accepted by the customs authorities, the Member State concerned shall notify the Commission and draw an amount corresponding to its requirements.
Requests for drawings, indicating the date on which the declarations were accepted, shall be sent to the Commission without delay.
Drawings shall be granted by the Commission by reference to the date on which the customs authorities of the Member State concerned accepted the declaration for release for free circulation, to the extent that the available balance so permits.
If a Member State does not use the amount drawn it shall return it as soon as possible to the corresponding quantity.
If the amounts requested are greater than the available balance of the quantity in question, the balance shall be allocated among applicants pro rata. The Commission shall inform the Member States of the drawings made.
Each Member State shall ensure that importers of the products in question have equal and continuous access to the quantities for as long as the balance of the relevant quantity so permits.
Article 4
When drawings under Article 3 account for 80 % of the quantities shown in the Annex, the Commission, in consultation with the Lao authorities, shall consider whether it is necessary to extend application of the derogation beyond those quantities.
Article 5
The following shall be entered in box 4 of certificates of origin Form A issued under this Regulation:
‘Derogation — Regulation (EC) No 1713/97’
Article 6
In case of doubt, the Member States may demand a copy of the document certifying the origin of the materials used in Laos under this derogation. Such a demand may be made at the time of entry into free circulation of the goods benefiting from the provisions of this Regulation, or within the framework of the administrative cooperation for which provision is made in Article 94 of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93.
Article 7
This Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities .
It shall apply from 1 August 1997.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 3 September 1997.
For the Commission
Mario MONTI
Member of the Commission
( 1 ) OJ L 302, 19. 10. 1992, p. 1 .
( 2 ) OJ L 17, 21. 1. 1997, p. 1 .
( 3 ) OJ L 253, 11. 10. 1993, p. 1 .
( 4 ) OJ L 196, 24. 7. 1997, p. 31 .
( 5 ) OJ L 348, 31. 12. 1994, p. 1 .
( 6 ) OJ L 144, 4. 6. 1997, p. 13 .
( 7 ) OJ L 229, 17. 8. 1991, p. 1 .
ANNEX
Order No
Textile category
Combined Nomenclature
Description of goods
Quantity (1.1-31.12)
09.8001
4
6105 10 00
6105 20 10
6105 20 90
6105 90 10
6109 10 00
6109 90 10
6109 90 30
6110 20 10
6110 30 10
Shirts, T-shirts, lightweight fine-knit roll-, polo- or turtle-necked jumpers and pullovers (other than of wool or fine animal-hair), undervests and the like, knitted or crocheted
2 130 748 pieces
09.8002
5
6101 10 90
6101 20 90
6101 30 90
6102 10 90
6102 20 90
6102 30 90
6110 10 10
6110 10 31
6110 10 35
6110 10 38
6110 10 91
6110 10 95
6110 10 98
6110 20 91
6110 20 99
6110 30 91
6110 30 99
Jerseys, pullovers, slip-overs, waistcoats, twinsets, cardigans bed-jackets and jumpers (other than jackets and blazers), anoraks, windcheaters, waister jackets and the like, knitted or crocheted
1 094 326 pieces
09.8003
6
6203 41 10
6203 41 90
6203 42 31
6203 42 33
6203 42 35
6203 42 90
6203 43 19
6203 43 90
6203 49 19
6203 49 50
6204 61 10
6204 62 31
6204 62 33
6204 62 39
6204 63 18
6204 69 18
6211 32 42
6211 33 42
6211 42 42
6211 43 42
Men's or boys' woven breeches, shorts other than swimwear and trousers (including slacks); women's or girls' woven trousers and slacks, of wool, of cotton or of man-made fibres; lower parts of tracksuits with lining, other than category 16 or 29, of cotton or of man-made fibres
2 594 821 pieces
09.8004
7
6106 10 00
6106 20 00
6106 90 10
6206 20 00
6206 30 00
6206 40 00
Women's or girls' blouses, shirts and shirt-blouses, whether or not knitted or crocheted, of wool, of cotton or of man-made fibres
199 378 pieces
09.8005
8
6205 10 00
6205 20 00
6205 30 00
Men's or boys' shirts, other than knitted or crocheted, of wool, of cotton or of man-made fibres
254 998 pieces
09.8006
10
6111 10 10
6111 20 10
6111 30 10
ex 6111 90 00
6116 10 20
6116 10 80
6116 91 00
6116 92 00
6116 93 00
6116 99 00
Gloves, mittens and mitts, knitted or crocheted
1 100 pairs
09.8007
12
6115 12 00
6115 19 10
6115 19 90
6115 20 11
6115 20 90
6115 91 00
6115 92 00
6115 93 10
6115 93 30
6115 93 99
6115 99 00
Panty-hose and tights, stockings, understockings, socks, ankle-socks, sockettes and the like, knitted or crocheted, other than for babies, including stockings for varicose veins, other than products of category 70
1 100 pairs
09.8008
13
6107 11 00
6107 12 00
6107 19 00
6108 21 00
6108 22 00
6108 29 00
Men's or boys' underpants and briefs, women's or girls' knickers and briefs, knitted or crocheted, of wool, of cotton or of man-made fibres
10 208 pieces
09.8009
14
6201 11 00
ex 6201 12 10
ex 6201 12 90
ex 6201 13 10
ex 6201 13 90
6210 20 00
Men's or boys' woven overcoats, raincoats and other coats, cloaks and capes, of wool, of cotton or of man-made fibres (other than parkas of category 21)
40 853 pieces
09.8010
15
6202 11 00
ex 6202 12 10
ex 6202 12 90
ex 6202 13 10
ex 6202 13 90
6204 31 00
6204 32 90
6204 33 90
6204 39 19
6210 30 00
Women's or girls' woven overcoats, raincoats and other coats, cloaks and capes; jackets and blazers, of wool, of cotton or of man made fibres (other than parkas of category 21)
48 091 pieces
09.8011
16
6203 11 00
6203 12 00
6203 19 10
6203 19 30
6203 21 00
6203 22 80
6203 23 80
6203 29 18
6211 32 31
6211 33 31
Men's or boys' suits and ensembles, other than knitted or crocheted, of wool, of cotton or of man-made fibres, excluding ski suits; men's or boys' tracksuits with lining, with an outer shell of a single identical fabric, of cotton or of man-made fibres.
85 532 pieces
09.8012
17
6203 31 00
6203 32 90
6203 33 90
6203 39 19
Men's or boys' jackets and blazers, other than knitted or crocheted, of wool, of cotton or of man-made fibres
18 998 pieces
09.8013
18
6207 11 00
6207 19 00
6207 21 00
6207 22 00
6207 29 00
6207 91 10
6207 91 90
6207 92 00
6207 99 00
Men's or boys' singlets and other vests, underpants, briefs, nightshirts, pyjamas, bathrobes, dressing-gowns and similar articles, other than knitted or crocheted
4,4 tonnes
6208 11 00
6208 19 10
6208 19 90
6208 21 00
6208 22 00
6208 29 00
6208 91 11
6208 91 19
6208 91 90
6208 92 10
6208 92 90
6208 99 00
Women's or girls singlets and other vests, slips, petticoats, briefs, panties, nightdresses, pyjamas, negliges, bathrobes, dressing-gowns and similar articles, other than knitted or crocheted
09.8014
21
ex 6201 12 10
ex 6201 12 90
ex 6201 13 10
ex 6201 13 90
6201 91 00
6201 92 00
6201 93 00
ex 6202 12 10
ex 6202 12 90
ex 6202 13 10
ex 6202 13 90
6202 91 00
6202 92 00
6202 93 00
6211 32 41
6211 33 41
6211 42 41
6211 43 41
Parkas; anoraks, wind-cheaters, waister jackets and the like, other than knitted or crocheted, of wool, of cotton or of man-made fibres; upper parts of tracksuits with lining, other than category 16 or 29, of cotton or of man-made fibres
815 296 pieces
09.8015
24
6107 21 00
6107 22 00
6107 29 00
6107 91 10
6107 91 90
6107 92 00
ex 6107 99 00
Men's or boys' nightshirts, pyjamas, bathrobes, dressing-gowns and similar articles, knitted or crocheted
53730 pieces
6108 31 10
6108 31 90
6108 32 11
6108 32 19
6108 32 90
6108 39 00
6108 91 10
6108 91 90
6108 92 00
6108 99 10
Women's or girls' nightdresses, pyjamas, negliges, bathrobes, dressing-gowns and similar articles, knitted or crocheted
09.8016
26
6104 41 00
6104 42 00
6104 43 00
6104 44 00
6204 41 00
6204 42 00
6204 43 00
6204 44 00
Women's or girls' dresses, of wool, of cotton or of man-made fibres
42 919 pieces
09.8017
27
6104 51 00
6104 52 00
6104 53 00
6104 59 00
6204 51 00
6204 52 00
6204 53 00
6204 59 10
Women's or girls' skirts, including divided skirts
22 542 pieces
09.8018
28
6103 41 10
6103 41 90
6103 42 10
6103 42 90
6103 43 10
6103 43 90
6103 49 10
6103 49 91
6104 61 10
6104 61 90
6104 62 10
6104 62 90
6104 63 10
6104 63 90
6104 69 10
6104 69 91
Trousers, bib-and-brace overalls, breeches and shorts (other than swimwear), knitted or crocheted, of wool, of cotton or of man-made fibres
313 247 pieces
09.8019
29
6204 11 00
6204 12 00
6204 13 00
6204 19 10
6204 21 00
6204 22 80
6204 23 80
6204 29 18
6211 42 31
6211 43 31
Women's or girls' suits and ensembles, other than knitted or crocheted, of wool, of cotton or of manmade fibres, excluding ski-suits; women's or girls' tracksuits with lining, with an outer shell of an identical fabric, of cotton or of man-made fibres
17 794 pieces
09.8020
31
6212 10 00
Brassières, woven, knitted or crocheted
1 100 pieces
09.8021
68
6111 10 90
6111 20 90
6111 30 90
ex 6111 90 00
ex 6209 10 00
ex 6209 20 00
ex 6209 30 00
ex 6209 90 00
Babies' garments and clothing accessories, excluding babies' gloves, mittens and mitts of categories 10 and 87, and babies' stockings, socks and sockettes, other than knitted or crocheted, of category 88
44 tonnes
09.8022
69
6108 11 10
6108 11 90
6108 19 10
6108 19 90
Women's or girls' slips and petticoats, knitted or crocheted
1 100 pieces
09.8023
72
6112 31 10
6112 31 90
6112 39 10
6112 39 90
6112 41 10
6112 41 90
6112 49 10
6112 49 90
6211 11 00
6211 12 00
Swimwear, of wool, of cotton or of man-made fibres
8 620 pieces
09.8024
73
6112 11 00
6112 12 00
6112 19 00
Tracksuits, of knitted or crocheted fabric, of wool, of cotton or of man-made fibres
67 810 pieces
09.8025
74
6104 11 00
6104 12 00
6104 13 00
ex 6104 19 00
6104 21 00
6104 22 00
6104 23 00
ex 6104 29 00
Women's or girls' knitted or crocheted suits and ensembles, of wool, of cotton or of man-made fibres, excluding ski-suits
11 366 pieces
09.8026
75
6103 11 00
6103 12 00
6103 19 00
6103 21 00
6103 22 00
6103 23 00
6103 29 00
Men's or boys' knitted or crocheted suits and ensembles, of wool, of cotton or of man-made fibres, excluding ski-suits
1 100 pieces
09.8027
76
6203 22 10
6203 23 10
6203 29 11
6203 32 10
6203 33 10
6203 39 11
6203 42 11
6203 42 51
6203 43 11
6203 43 31
6203 49 11
6203 49 31
Men's or boys' industrial or occupational clothing, other than knitted or crocheted
6,6 tonnes
6204 22 10
6204 23 10
6204 29 11
6204 32 10
6204 33 10
6204 39 11
6204 62 11
6204 62 51
6204 63 11
6204 63 31
6204 69 11
6204 69 31
6211 32 10
6211 33 10
6211 42 10
6211 43 10
Women's or girls' aprons, smock-overalls and other industrial or occupational clothing, other than knitted or crocheted
09.8028
78
6203 41 30
6203 42 59
6203 43 39
6203 49 39
6204 61 80
6204 61 90
6204 62 59
6204 62 90
6204 63 39
6204 63 90
6204 69 39
6204 69 50
6210 40 00
6210 50 00
6211 31 00
6211 32 90
6211 33 90
6211 41 00
6211 42 90
6211 43 90
Garments, other than knitted or crocheted, excluding garments of categories 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 26, 27, 29, 68, 72, 76 and 77
111,1 tonnes
09.8029
83
6101 10 10
6101 20 10
6101 30 10
6102 10 10
6102 20 10
6102 30 10
6103 31 00
6103 32 00
6103 33 00
ex 6103 39 00
6104 31 00
6104 32 00
6104 33 00
ex 6104 39 00
6112 20 00
6113 00 90
6114 10 00
6114 20 00
6114 30 00
Overcoats, jackets, blazers and other garments, including ski-suits, knitted or crocheted, excluding garments of categories 4, 5, 7, 13, 24, 26, 27, 28, 68, 69, 72, 73, 74 and 75
7,7 tonnes
09.8030
84
6214 20 00
6214 30 00
6214 40 00
6214 90 10
Shawls, scarves, mufflers, mantillas, veils and the like, other than knitted or crocheted, of wool, of cotton or of man-made fibres
1,1 tonne
09.8031
86
6212 20 00
6212 30 00
6212 90 00
Corsets, corset-belts, suspender-belts, braces, suspenders, garters and the like, and parts thereof, whether or not knitted or crocheted
1 100 pieces
09.8032
156
6106 90 30
ex 6110 90 90
Women's or girls' blouses or pullovers, knitted or crocheted, of silk or of silk-waste
1,1 tonne
09.8033
157
6101 90 10
6101 90 90
6102 90 10
6102 90 90
ex 6103 39 00
6103 49 99
ex 6104 19 00
ex 6104 29 00
ex 6104 39 00
6104 49 00
6104 69 99
6105 90 90
6106 90 50
6106 90 90
ex 6107 99 00
6108 99 90
6109 90 90
6110 90 10
ex 6110 90 90
ex 6111 90 00
6114 90 00
Garments, knitted or crocheted, other than those of categories 1 to 123 and of category 156
1,1 tonne
09.8034
159
6204 49 10
6206 10 00
Dresses, blouses and shirt-blouses, not knitted or crocheted, of silk or of silk-waste
1,1 tonne
6214 10 00
Shawls, scarves, mufflers, mantillas, veils and the like, not knitted or crocheted, of silk or of silk-waste
6215 10 00
Ties, bow-ties and cravats, of silk or of silk-waste
09.8035
161
6201 19 00
6201 99 00
6202 19 00
6202 99 00
6203 19 90
6203 29 90
6203 39 90
6203 49 90
6204 19 90
6204 29 90
6204 39 90
6204 49 90
6204 59 90
6204 69 90
6205 90 10
6205 90 90
6206 90 10
6206 90 90
ex 6211 20 00
6211 39 00
6211 49 00
Garments, not knitted or crocheted, other than those of categories 1 to 123 and of category 159
1,1 tonne