Non-manipulation
Article 43
1. The products declared for release for free circulation in the Union shall be the same products as exported from the beneficiary country in which they are considered to originate. They shall not have been altered, transformed in any way or subjected to operations other than operations to preserve them in good condition or the adding or affixing of marks, labels, seals or any other documentation to ensure compliance with specific domestic requirements applicable in the Union, prior to being declared for release for free circulation. 2. The products imported into a beneficiary country for the purpose of cumulation under Articles 53, 54, 55 or 56 shall be the same products as exported from the country in which they are considered to originate. They shall not have been altered, transformed in any way or subjected to operations other than operations to preserve them in good condition, prior to being declared for the relevant customs procedure in the country of imports. 3. Storage of products may take place provided they remain under customs supervision in the country or countries of transit. 4. The splitting of consignments may take place where carried out by the exporter or under his responsibility, provided that the goods concerned remain under customs supervision in the country or countries of transit. 5. Paragraphs 1 to 4 shall be considered to be complied with unless the customs authorities have reason to believe the contrary; in such cases, the customs authorities may request the declarant to provide evidence of compliance, which may be given by any means, including contractual transport documents such as bills of lading or factual or concrete evidence based on marking or numbering of packages or any evidence related to the goods themselves.