WORLD TRADE G/SG/N/1/SVK/2
6October 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-4192)
Original: English Committee onSafeguards
NOTIFICATIONS OFLAWS, REGULATIONS AND
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES RELATING
TOSAFEGUARD MEASURES
SLOVAK REPUBLIC
Thefollowing communication, dated 22September 1997, hasbeenreceived fromthePermanent
Mission oftheSlovak Republic.
_______________
Pursuant toArticle 12.6oftheAgreement onSafeguards, Iwish hereby tosubmit tothe
Committee onSafeguards acopyofthenewActonImport Safeguard Measures oftheSlovak Republic,
No.214of2July1997.G/SG/N/1/SVK/2
Page2
214
ACT
OnImport Safeguard Measures
from 2July1997
National Council ofSlovak Republic passed thefollowing Act:
FIRST PART
ELEMENTARY PROVISIONS
§1
Subject oftheAct
ThisActdefines theconditions applicable forsafeguard measures concerning theimport of
product, imported inquantities andconditions which cancause serious injury tothedomestic industry
thatproduces likeordirectly competitive products.
§2
Defining theTerms
Forthepurpose ofthisActshould beunderstood as:
(a) importedproductsuchproductwhichisimportedfromabroadincompliancewithspecial
Act1;
(b) likeordirectly competitive product asaproduct produced bydomestic industry with
identical ordirectly competitive characteristics imported fromanexporting country,
orproduct produced bydomestic industry withdirectly competitive characteristics,
composition andattributions asproduct imported from anexporting country which
canbecommuted foranimported product;
(c) domestic product suchidentical ordirectly competitive product, which isproduced
bydomestic industry from domestic rawmaterials andcomponents orproduct
domestically produced from partly orfullyimported rawmaterials andparts;
(d) adomestic industry from thepoint ofviewofdetermination theserious injury orits
threat every domestic producer oflikeordirectly competitive product, ordomestic
producers, whose production oflikeordirectly competitive product represents amajor
proportion ofthetotaldomestic production ofthose product;
1§2,ad(d)oftheNational Council ofSlovak Republic 'sActNo.180/1996 Coll. ofLaws, Customs Act.G/SG/N/1/SVK/2
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(e) anexporteranyindividualorlegalpersonexportingproductsfromtheproductexporting
country toSlovak Republic;
(f) animporter anyindividual orlegalperson whoisadeclarer ofimported product to
Slovak Republic;
(g) aserious injury suchsignificant impairment ofadomestic industry orconsiderable
deterioration ofadomestic industry 'sposition onthemarket caused bysignificant
amount ofimport oftheimported product;
(h) threat ofserious injury when itcanbewell-founded, unambiguous andclearexpectation
ofasignificant impairment ofadomestic industry ordeterioration ofadomestic
industry 'sposition onthemarket;
(i) anexporting country acountry ofproduct origination2:iftheexporting country is
notidentical withthecountry ofproduct origination theexporting country istobe
understood thecountry exporting theproduct toSlovak Republic.
§3
Safeguard Measures
Topreserve adomestic industry against import oflargequantities ofimported product, which
cancause orthreats tocreate aserious injury, Ministry ofEconomy ofSlovak Republic (hereafter
referred as"Ministry") mayaccording itsownconsideration todecide on:
(a) taking temporary safeguard measure informofsetting increased import duties (§16);
or
(b) taking safeguard measure informofsetting increased import duties orsetting ofallowed
annual quantity ofimported product (§17).
SECOND PART
PROCEDURE OFSAFEGUARD MEASURES
§4
Proposition ofSetting theSafeguard Measures
(1) Proposition ofsetting thesafeguard measures (hereafter referred as"proposition") may
berequired byproducer oflikeordirectly competitive product orother legal person concerned or
individualpersonbeinginbusinessontheterritoryofSlovakRepublic(hereafterreferredas"proposer").
(2) Theproposition should bedelivered toMinistry inwriting.
2§23,par2and3oftheNational Council ofSlovak Republic 'sActNo.180/1996 Coll. ofLaws.G/SG/N/1/SVK/2
Page4
(3) Theproposition should contain:
(a) specification oftheproposer; anindividual person 'sfirstname, lastname, citizens
index number, business name, object ofbusiness, identification number ofthe
organization, ifanyandhis/her permanent address; orincaseoflegal person the
business name, location, object andsiteofthebusiness, identification number ofthe
organization anddataofthestatutory body;
(b) detailed description ofdomestic product: technical data,description ofcharacteristics
andform ofuse,inclusive ofindication according ofcombined nomenclature ofthe
Custom Tariff3(hereafter referred as"nomenclature");
(c) detailed description ofimported product: technical data,description ofcharacteristics
andform ofuse,inclusive ofindication according ofnomenclature;
(d) country ofproduct import2;
(e) proving thatdomestic product isidentical orsimilar totheimported one;
(f) specification oftheforeign producer andexporter oftheimported product (business
name, business siteorpermanent residence, object ofbusiness andstatutory body);
(g) specification oftheimporter oftheimported product: incaseofindividual person
toindicate firstandlastname, business name, citizens index number, identification
number oftheorganization, ifany,object ofbusiness andpermanent residence; in
caseoflegalperson thebusiness name, object ofbusiness, identification number of
theorganization, itssiteandspecification ofstatutory body;
(h) quantity anddutyvalue oftheimported product according ofcustom statistics forlast
three years preceding thedateofthepresentation ofproposal andestimated quantity
ofimported product intheyearoftheprocedure;
(i) quantity andvalue ofthedomestic product produced forlastthree years preceding
thedateofthepresentation ofproposal andestimated quantity ofproduced product
intheyearoftheprocedure;
(j) extent ofcaused serious injury orthreat oftheserious injury duetoimport oflarger
quantities ofimported product todomestic industry;
(k) proving thatduetolarger quantities ofimported product wascaused orthereisathreat
ofserious injury todomestic industry (decrease ofsale,employment, productivity,
using ofproduction capacity, worsening themarketing situation, undue influence of
prices, etc.);
(l) listofknown producers ofthelikeordirectly competitive product inSlovak Republic;
(m) reasoning theproposition.
(4) Iftheproposer requires decision concerning thetemporary safeguard measure itmust
bestated intheproposition; insuchcaseintheproposition mustinclude same terms inparagraph 3
3§21,par5and§22oftheNational Council ofSlovak Republic 'sActNo.180/1996 Coll. ofLaws.G/SG/N/1/SVK/2
Page5
facts, proving thenecessity oftaking thetemporary safeguard measure, especially thatpoint thatin
caseofdelay ofthesafeguard measure anirreparable orhardly retrievable serious injury tothedomestic
manufacturer.
(5) Thesupplement oftheproposition shallbeespecially:
(a) document supporting theproposition from concerned domestic manufacturers ofthe
product, representing thelarger partoftheproduction ofthedomestic industry;
(b) document proving theserious injury orthreat ofserious injury todomestic industry
caused byimport oflarger quantity ofimported product.
(6) Ministry mayrequire from theproposer tosubmit more datanecessary tobegin the
procedure ofsafeguard measures.
(7) Iftheproposal isnotinaccordance withparagraphs 3to5oriftheproposer doesnot
submit therequired dataaccording toparagraph 6,Ministry should summon theproposer toeliminate
thedrawbacks oftheproposal inperiod of15days.
§5
Examination oftheProposal
After delivering theproposal Ministry should:
(a) examinethecomplexityofallrelevantprerequisitesinaccordancewith§4,paragraphs3
to6;
(b) toobtain thewritten standpoint oftheAntimonopoly Office oftheSlovak Republic
andofcentral authority ofthestateadministration oftheSlovak Republic, towhich
belong theconcerned domestic industry, having suffered serious injury orbeing
submitted tothreat oftheserious injury byimport oflarger quantity ofimported product
andintheliketimesetadatetosubmit theirstandpoint, notlonger than30daysfrom
thedateofdelivery oftherequirement.
§6
Abandoning theProposal
(1) TheMinistry deposits theproposal iffinds that:
(a) theproposal doesnotcontains allrequirements (§4paragraph 3to6)andtheproposer
didnoteliminate theshortcomings ofproposal despite written requirement andin
scheduled termbyMinistry (§4paragr. 7);or
(b) because standpoints ofcompetent authorities, delivered inwriting (§6,ad(b))the
required conditions forsuchsafeguard measures arenotmet.
(2) Decision concerning abandoning theproposal should notbereleased. Ministry informs
theconcerned proposer inwritten form.G/SG/N/1/SVK/2
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Beginning oftheProcedure
(1) Ministry begins theprocedure ofsafeguard measures (hereafter referred as"procedure")
then,when afterexamination oftheproposal obtains sufficient information concerning thesubstantiation
ofsetting thesafeguard measures. Theprocedure begins ondateofpublication oftheannouncement
ofthebeginning theprocedure inCommercial Gazette. Publication oftheannouncement inCommercial
Gazette isanobligation oftheMinistry. AttheliketimeMinistry should deliver theannouncement
ofthebeginning theprocedure totheWorld Trade Organization, totheparticipants intheprocedure
andtotheauthorities concerned inthecountry ofexport oftheproduct.
(2) Theannouncement ofthebeginning theprocedure should contain inparticular:
(a) identification oftheproposer;
(b) identification oftheimported product subjected totheprocedure according to
nomenclature anditsdescription, characteristics andpurpose ofuse;
(c) proof ofserious injury orimminent threat oftheserious injury todomestic industry
caused bylargeamount ofimported product toSlovak Republic, delivered byproposer,
termtostatetheopinion ofproducers ofthelikeordirectly competitive product in
Slovak Republic, exporters andimporters oftheimported product, official (state)
authorities andother individual orlegalpersons legally concerned onoutcome ofthe
procedure, inwriting orotherwise inform about points tobetaken intoaccount inthe
procedure. Thetermshould notbeshorter than30daysandbegins ondateofthe
procedure 'sbeginning.
§8
Participants oftheProcedure
Participant oftheprocedure are:
theproposer;
exporter oftheimported product from theexporting country;
importer oftheimported product;
domestic producers oflikeordirectly competitive product supporting theproposal, orthose
whomade statement totheproposal ortheir representative, association ofthementioned
manufacturersorapublic-legalinstitution,representinginterestsofthementionedmanufacturers;
representative oftheappropriate authority oftheexporting country oftheimported product.
§9
Determination theFacts Necessary fortheAnnouncement oftheDecision
(1) Ministry particularly inquires:
(a) rateofgrowth ofimport oftheimported product, inrelative orabsolute terms related
toproduction oflikeordirectly competitive product produced bydomestic industry
inquantitative termandintermofvalue forthelastthree years preceding thedate
oftheproposal;G/SG/N/1/SVK/2
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(b) terms ofimport oflarger amounts ofimported product (price, quality, conditions of
sale,ratiooftheimported product ondomestic market andchanges insales ofthe
domestic product -prices, quantity, quality, marketability ofthedomestic product,
growth ofunsaleable stocks etc.);
(c) important circumstances ofobjective andmeasurable nature, influencing theexisting
situation indomestic industry, which didorareabletocause serious injury tothe
domestic industry asaresult ofimport oflarger amount ofimported product;
(d) influence oftheimport oflarger amount ofimported product oneconomic indicators
ofthedomestic industry forconcerned period oftime, especially onprice, profit or
loss,productivity,usingofdomesticcapacities,unsaleablestocks,returnofinvestments,
employment, money flow, ability toobtain capital orinvestments, share ofimported
anddomestic product onthemarket;
(e) exporting capacity oftheexporting country inthetimeofsubmission oftheproposal
andpresumed further growth ofimport oftheproduct;
(f) extent ofthedamage ofthedomestic industry orthepresumed damage andcausal
relation between import oflarger amount ofimported product andcaused serious injury
orthreat ofserious injury, although factors, which arenotincausal relation withcaused
serious injury orthreat ofserious injury arenotaccounted forimpairment ofdomestic
industry.
(2) Iftheproposer requires decision tobemade ontaking temporary safeguard measure,
Ministry apartfromdatasetinparagraph 1establishes ifgrowth ofimport oflarger amount ofimported
product isrealized insuchconditions thatdelayed decision ontaking safeguard measures cancause
incorrigible orwithdifficulty reparable injury tothedomestic industry.
§10
Evidence
(1) During theprocedure Ministry enables toparticipants oftheprocedure tosubmit
information andevidence important forexplaining thefactsofthecase. From oralstatements the
Ministry assures anofficial record.
(2) Persons mentioned inparagraph 1areobliged toprovide information within 30days
from dateofthedelivery oftherequirement oftheMinistry. Injustified cases theMinistry can
reasonably prolong thementioned term.
(3) Forthepurpose ofestablishing ifthereisacaseofimport oflarger amount ofimported
product, which caused orthreats tocause aserious injury tothedomestic industry, ministries andother
stateadministration authorities onrequest oftheMinistry areobliged toprovide necessary information
andproofs which canbeimportant fortheprocedure anddecision-making.
(4) TheMinistry mayrequest information andproofs from affected citizens ofother
countries, iftheappropriate authority oftheaffected country isinformed andifthementioned body
intermsettled bytheMinistry doesnotobject tothisrequest.G/SG/N/1/SVK/2
Page8
§11
Information totheParticipants oftheProcedure
Ministry intheduration oftheprocedure givetotheparticipants oftheprocedure access to
allinformationandproofs,importantfordecision-making.Toallinformationandproofstheparticipants
canexpress theiropinion inwritten formintermstated byMinistry. Thetermshould notbelessthan
15andlonger than30days.
§12
Protection ofconfidential information
(1) Forpurpose ofthisActconfidential information istobeunderstood suchinformation,
release ofwhich should giveanimportant advantage forthird persons orwhich cancause negative
effect forthatperson whogavetheinformation.
(2) Confidentialinformationgivenincourseofprocedurecannotbereleasedwithoutconsent
oftheinformer.Theinformerhoweverisobligedtosubmitnon-confidentialsummaryofthisinformation
orprovide reasons notdoing so.IfMinistry concludes thatrequest ofconfidentiality isnotunreasoned
andtheperson, whogavethisinformation isnotwilling toagree withtherelease oftheinformation
orwiththerelease ofitsnon-confidential summary, Ministry isnotobliged toconsider thisinformation
when considering thecause.
(3) Thegiven information shallbeusedonlyforrequired purpose.
(4) Persons withaccess toconfidential information during theprocedure areobliged to
reticence andcarefornecessary secrecy.
§13
Verbal Proceeding
(1) Ministry decides onverbal proceeding ifrequired byparticipant oftheprocedure.
Ministry inframework ofverbal proceeding allows theparticipants toconfront theirconflicting views.
(2) DateoftheverbalproceedingistobeacknowledgedbyMinistryinCommercialGazette.
(3) During theverbal proceeding theMinistry accepts onlyinformation aproofs given
inwritten form andonscheduled time.
§14
Suspending theProcedure
(1) Ministry suspends theprocedure iffinds outthattherequirements oftheapplication
ofsafeguard measures inaccordance withthisActarenotmet.
(2) Decision concerning thesuspension oftheprocedure submits theMinistry tothe
participants oftheprocedure. Attheliketimethisdecision theMinistry announces totheWorld Trade
Organization andpublish intheCommercial Gazette.G/SG/N/1/SVK/2
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(3) There isnolegalremedy against thedecision ofsuspending theprocedure.
§15
Obligation toReport before Exercising theSafeguard Measures
(1) IfMinistry during theprocedure determines thatimport oflarger amount ofimported
product caused aserious injury orthreats tocause aserious injury tothedomestic industry, reports
thisfacttotheparticipants oftheprocedure andtotheWorld Trade Organization. Thisreport contains:
(a) detaileddescriptionoftheimportedproduct(technicaldata,marking,physicalproperties
anduse,including itsindication according tonomenclature);
(b) exporting country oftheproduct2;
(c) detaileddescriptionofthedomesticproduct(technicaldata,marking,physicalproperties
anduse,including itsindication according tonomenclature);
(d) factsproving thatimport oflarger amount ofimported goods caused serious injury
orthreat ofserious injury tothedomestic industry, producing likeordirectly
competitive product;
(e) suggested safeguard measure, dateofitsimplication, assumed termofitsduration and
timetable ofgradual liberalization;
(f) ifitisthecaseofprolongation ofsafeguard measure (§22paragr. 2),itisnecessary
tosubmit aproof ofaccommodation process ofthedomestic industry tothemarket
conditions;
(g) ifitisthecaseofimplication oftemporary safeguard measure, intheannouncement
itshould beindicated thenecessity oftheimplication oftemporary safeguard measure
taking intoconsideration thepossibility ofcausing incorrigible orwithdifficulty
reparable injury tothedomestic industry incaseofdelayed implementation ofthe
safeguard measure; insuchevent itshould bedetermined therateofincreased import
tariff oftheimported product andthedateofthebeginning andtheending of
implementation ofthetemporary safeguard measure.
(2) Theannouncement inaccordance ofparagraph 1theMinistry shallimmediately publish
inCommercial Gazette.
(3) Ministry intermstated inaccordance ofparagraph 1allows theimporters andexporters
ofimported product andother persons interested onoutcome oftheprocedure, toverify thefacts
mentioned intheannouncement inaccordance withparagraph 1andtoconsult theiropinion concerning
theproposed safeguard measure tolessen thenegative effects ofthesafeguard measures totheirbusiness
interests.
§16
Temporary Safeguard Measure
(1) Inexceptional cases afterchecking theproposal theMinistry discovers thatdelay of
implementation ofthesafeguard measure could cause tothedomestic industry incorrigible orwithG/SG/N/1/SVK/2
Page10
difficulty reparable serious injury, canmake adecision onimplementation oftemporary safeguard
measure. Thetermfordecision ontemporary safeguard measure is60daysfrom submission ofthe
proposal.
(2) IfMinistry decides toimplement temporary safeguard measure, itshallattheliketime
tostartinquiry onimplementation ofsafeguard measure (§17).
(3) Thetemporary safeguard measure should beimplemented inform ofhigher import
tarifforbydeclaring atariff, iftheproduct wasimported duty-free (hereafter referred as"higher import
tariff"). Thishigher import tariff isduebyimporter afterdelivering theproduct intotariff regime
freecirculation.4Iftheimporter doesnotmeethisduties concerning thehigher import tariff, thecustom
office doesnotallow theproduct intotariff regime freecirculation.
(4) Theobtained amount from higher import tariff shallnotbehigher thantheassumed
amount ofserious injury caused orthreatened tocause import oflarger amount ofimported product
tothedomestic industry.
(5) Thehigher import tariff iscollected bycustoms authorities. Thehigher import tariff
isincome ofthestatebudget.
(6) Temporary safeguard measure istobeimplemented atmostfortermof200continuous
days, atlatest totheimplementation ofsafeguard measures (§17).
(7) Ifinthetimeofimplementation oftemporary safeguard measure theimport oflarger
amount ofimported product didnotcause aserious injury tothedomestic industry. Ministry cancels
thetemporary safeguard measure.
(8) According thedecision oftheMinistry inaccordance withparagraph 7or§14the
amount oftemporary higher import tarifforitspartshallberepaid totheimporter bythesame custom
authority which collected thetariff. Itshallbedonewithin 60daysfrom delivery ofthementioned
decisions oftheMinistry totheparticipants oftheprocedure.
(9) Thedecision onimplementation oftemporary safeguard measure consists of:
(a) resolution;
(b) justification;
(c) information oncorrective mean.
(10) Theresolution according toparagraph 9consists of:
(a) determination theregulation onwhich thedecision wasmade;
(b) indication oftheproposer andindication oftheconcerned imported product including
thenomenclature, towhich thetemporary safeguard measure applies;
(c) rateofthehigher import tariff;
(d) dateofthebeginning andtheendoftemporary safeguard measure.
4§§95to98oftheNational Council ofSlovak Republic ActNo.180/1996 Coll. ofLaws.G/SG/N/1/SVK/2
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(11) Injustification theMinistry shows which particularly factswere thedecision based
onandstates thenecessity ofimplementation oftemporary measure.
(12) Thedecision onending thetemporary safeguard measure consist of:
(a) resolution;
(b) justification;
(c) information oncorrective mean.
(13) Theresolution according toparagraph 12consists of:
(a) determination theregulation onwhich thedecision wasmade;
(b) number anddateofabrogated decision ontemporary safeguard measure;
(c) therateoftheimport tariff after abrogation thedecision ontemporary safeguard
measure;
(d) thedateofeffectiveness ofthedecision ofabrogation thedecision ontemporary
safeguard measure.
(14) Injustification theMinistry shows which particularly factswere thedecision based
on.
(15) Thedecision onimplementation oftemporary safeguard measure andontheabrogation
oftemporary safeguard measure isdelivered bytheMinistry toparticipants oftheprocedure andto
theMinistry ofFinance ofSlovak Republic (hereafter referred as"Ministry ofFinance"); the
announcement concerning thisdecision shallbeatthesame timesenttoWorld Trade Organization
andpublished inCommercial Gazette.
(16) Against thedecision onimplementation oftemporary safeguard measure canthe
participant oftheprocedure submit anappeal within 15daysafteritsdelivery. Theappeal haveno
suspensory effect.
(17) OnappealtheMinistermakedecisionbasedonproposalofspecialcommissionestablished
byhimself. Ifthedecision oftheMinistry isnotinaccordance withthisAct,Minister willcancel
thedecision, otherwise thedecision willbeconfirmed.
(18) Against thedecision onabrogation oftemporary safeguard measure isnolegalremedy.
§17
Safeguard Measure
(1) IftheMinistry upon investigating procedure establishes import oflarger amount of
imported product under suchconditions thatitcaused serious injury orthreatens tocause serious injury
tothedomestic industry andiftheprocedure progressed inaccordance withthisAct,itshalldecide
onimplementation ofsafeguard measure.G/SG/N/1/SVK/2
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(2) Thesafeguard measure shallbeimplemented by:
(a) implementation ofhigher import tariff onimported product; or
(b) determining theallowed yearly amount ofimported product.
(3) When implementing thesafeguard measure according toparagraph 2ad(a)itshall
proceed inaccordance with§16paragraph 3to5.
(4) When implementing thesafeguard measure according toparagraph 2ad(b)theMinistry
determines theallowed yearly amount ofimported product sothattheyearly amount ofimported product
should notbelower thantheaverage import forthelastthreeyears priortoimplementation ofsafeguard
measure, ifitisnotclearly stated thatforprotection orforeliminating ofserious injury caused tothe
domesticindustryisnecessarytoundertakedifferentlevelofallowedyearlyamountofimportedproduct.
(5) Thesafeguard measure shallnotapply onproduct import fromdeveloping countries,
Member oftheWorld Trade Organization,if therateofimport fromthisparticular country isnothigher
than3%ofthetotalvalue ofimported goods toSlovak Republic, oncondition thattheimport from
developing countries withratelower than3%doesnotrepresent more than9%oftotalamount of
import toSlovak Republic.
(6) Inprocess ofevaluation ofsafeguard measures theMinistry decides which safeguard
measure (paragraph 2)istobeusedintheparticular casetoprevent orremove aserious injury and
foreasing theadjustment ofdomestic industry tomarket conditions.
(7) IfMinistry divides theallowed yearly amount ofimported product intoquotas between
importing countries suchpartition istobemade according toagreement between allcountries with
essential interest onimporting goods toSlovak Republic.
(8) Ifthere isnoagreement possible concerning thedivision ofallowed yearly amount
intoquotas according paragraph 7,Ministry divides theallowed yearly amount tothecountries with
essential interest onimporting goods toSlovak Republic inprevious three years, taking intoaccount
suchcircumstances which could haveorshallinfluence themarketing oftheimported product.
§18
Requirements oftheDecision
(1) Decision onimplementation ofsafeguard measure shallbealways inwritten form.
(2) Decision onimplementation ofsafeguard measure contains:
(a) resolution;
(b) justification;
(c) information oncorrective mean.
(3) Theresolution according toparagraph 2consists of:
(a) determination theregulation onwhich thedecision wasmade;G/SG/N/1/SVK/2
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(b) indication oftheproposer andindication oftheconcerned imported product;
(c) indication oftheexporting country oftheimported product;
(d) rateofthehigher import tarifforamount ofallowed yearly amount ofimported product
anditsquotas between particular countries;
(e) termofvalidity ofthesafeguard measure;
(f) timetable ofgradual liberalization ofthesafeguard measure;
(g) dateofcontrol survey ofthejustification oftheimplementation ofsafeguard measure.
(4) Injustification ofthedecision theMinistry states onwhich circumstances isbased,
substantiation ofserious injury oritsthreat tothedomestic industry andcausal relation between
mentioned serious injury andthelarger amount ofimported product.
(5) Indecision shallbealsoindicated thedateofitsissuing, firstandlastname aswell
theposition ofrelevant person acting onbehalf oftheMinistry andhis/her signature. Thedecision
istobeconfirmed byofficial (rubber) stamp.
§19
Term ofDecision
TheMinistry shalldecide onsafeguard measure (§17)within sixmonths, incomplicated cases
within ninemonths from thebeginning oftheprocedure.
§20
Delivery oftheDecision
Thedecision onimplementation ofsafeguard measure (§17)theMinistry delivers tothe
participants oftheprocedure; announcement ofthedecision onimplementation ofsafeguard measure
shallbedelivered totheWorld Trade Organization andpublished inCommercial Gazette.
§21
Appeal
(1) Against thedecision oftheMinistry inaccordance with§17cantheparticipant of
theprocedure submit anappeal within 15daysafteritsdelivery. Theappeal havenosuspensory effect.
(2) OnappealtheMinistermakedecisionbasedonproposalofspecialcommissionestablished
byhimself. Ifthedecision oftheMinistry isnotinaccordance withthisAct,Minister willcancel
thedecision, otherwise thedecision willbeconfirmed.G/SG/N/1/SVK/2
Page14
§22
Term ofSafeguard Measures andControl Survey of
theJustification oftheFurther Implementation of
Safeguard Measures
(1) Thesafeguard measure theMinistry shallimplement onlytotheextent andduring the
termnecessary toprevent ortoremove theserious injury todomestic industry andtoeaseitsadaptation
tothemarket condition. Thetermofimplementation ofsafeguard measure shallnotexceed fouryears,
except when Ministry further prolong thisterm.
(2) Ministry decides onprolongation ofimplementation ofsafeguard measure onlyafter
control survey andaftersupply ofproof inaccordance with§§10and11andunder condition that
proposer submits totheMinistry sufficient evidence onfurther necessity ofsafeguard measure forreason
ofprevention orforremoval ofserious injury todomestic industry andaftertheproposer proofs his/her
adjustment tothemarket conditions.
(3) Thewhole termofimplementation ofsafeguard measure shall notbelonger than
eight years. Tothisperiod ofsafeguard measure isincluded thetermofimplementation oftemporary
safeguard measure.
(4) Thesafeguard measure implemented afterprolongation oftheoriginal period ofits
validity cannot limittheimport ofproduct forlonger timeaswasthelimitation ofprevious safeguard
measure when itstermended.
(5) Thesafeguard measure onimport ofimported product applied after1January 1995
canberepeatedly implemented onlikeproduct ifafterending thetermofimplementation ofsafeguard
measure there isatimespanofthetermofsafeguard measure, which should benotshorter than
twoyears.
(6) Inaccordance withcondition mentioned inparagraph 3theMinistry mayrepeatedly
decide onimplementation ofsafeguard measure onimport ofthelikeimported product, iftherepeated
term ofimplementation ofsafeguard measure isnotlonger than180days under condition that
(necitatel'né):
(a) there isadelay atleastofoneyearfrom theimplementation ofsafeguard measure;
and
(b) suchsafeguard measure wasnotimplemented forthelikeproduct more thantwice
intheperiod offiveyears immediately preceding thedateofrepeated implementation
ofanewsafeguard measure.
(7) Ifthesafeguard measure isimplemented forperiod longer thanoneyear, theMinistry
regularly onceayearchecks thejustification ofitsimplementation aimed togradual liberalization of
thesafeguard measure taking intoconsideration thesituation ofdomestic industry 'sadjustment tothe
market condition oftheparticular product. Theproposer ofthesafeguard measure isobliged, if
summoned byMinistry, tosubmit information andproofs concerning theadjustment ofthedomestic
producing branch tothemarket conditions.
(8) Ifthesafeguard measure isimplemented forperiod longer thanthreeyears, theMinistry
checks itseffectiveness atlatest inthehalfofthetermofthesafeguard measure andinaccordanceG/SG/N/1/SVK/2
Page15
withtheresults ofthecontrol keeps thesafeguard measure ordecides onliberalization ofimport of
theproduct orcancels thedecision onimplementation ofsafeguard measure.
(9) Onimplementation ofparagraphs 2to8aretobeadequately applied the§§17to21.
§23
Realization ofDecisions onSafeguard Measures
(1) Thelegally binding decision onimplementation ofhigher import tariff according to
§§16and17paragr. 2ad(a)andparagr. 3andofprolongation ofthetermofimplementation ofhigher
import tariff according to§22theMinistry submits totheMinistry ofFinance, which shallensure
thecollecting ofhigher import tariff intheperiod mentioned inthedecision oftheMinistry. Therate
ofhigher import tariffshallbedetermined bytheGovernment incompliance withdraftoftheMinistry
andtheMinistry ofFinance inCustom Tariff.5
(2) Thelegally binding decision, concerning thecancellation ormodification ofthe
implementation ofhigher import tariff, imposed inaccordance with§§16,17and22theMinistry
submits totheMinistry ofFinance, which shallensure thecollecting ofhigher import tariffintheperiod
mentioned inthedecision oftheMinistry. Therateofmodified import tariff shallbedetermined by
theGovernment incompliance withdraftoftheMinistry andtheMinistry ofFinance inCustom Tariff.5
(3) Ministry inaccordance withdecision onyearly limitofallowed import ofproduct,
ofdecision onprolongation orcancellation ofthatparticular safeguard measure states bygenerally
binding legalregulation theallowed yearly amount ofimported product andimport quotas forrespective
supplier countries.
THIRD PART
COMMON AND FINAL REGULATIONS
§24
Final Regulation
(1) Forproceeding according tothisActdonotapply theregulations ofgeneral provisions
onadministrative proceedings6except provisions ondelivery andterms.
(2) Decisions made inaccordance withthisActaresurveyable bycourt inaccordance with
special Act.7
5§18paragr. 6and§21paragr. 2National Council oftheSlovak Republic ActNo.180/1996 Coll. ofLaws.
6ActNo.71/1967 Coll. onadministrative proceeding (Administrative rule).
7ActNo.99/1963 Coll. Civil Court Regulations aslateramended.G/SG/N/1/SVK/2
Page16
§25
Efficiency
ThisActisefficient from 1September 1997.