1. The customs authorities are hereby directed, pursuant to Article 14(5) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036, to take the appropriate steps to register imports of single mode optical fibre cables, made up of one or more individually sheathed fibres, with protective casing, whether or not containing electric conductors, currently falling under CN code ex 8544 70 00 (TARIC code 8544700010) and originating in the People's Republic of China. The following products are excluded:
(i)
cables in which all the optical fibres are individually fitted with operational connectors at one or both extremities; and
(ii)
cables for submarine use. Cables for submarine use are plastic insulated optical fibre cables, containing a copper or aluminium conductor, in which fibres are contained in metal module(s).
2. Registration shall expire nine months following the date of entry into force of this Regulation.
3. All interested parties are invited to make their views known in writing, to provide supporting evidence or to request to be heard within 21 days from the date of publication of this Regulation.