WORLD TRADE G/SG/N/1/BGR/1
27March 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-1284)
Original: English Committee onSafeguards
NOTIFICATIONS OFLAWS, REGULATIONS AND
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES RELATING
TOSAFEGUARD MEASURES
BULGARIA
Thefollowing communication, dated 20March 1997, hasbeenreceived fromthePermanent
Mission ofBulgaria.
_______________
FurthertotherequirementsunderArticle12:6oftheAgreementonSafeguardsandinaccordance
withtherelated decisions adopted bytheCommittee established under thisAgreement, theRepublic
ofBulgaria hasthehonour toprovide acopyoftheEnglish translation ofRegulation No300(published
inStateGazetteNo109/27.12.1996)of16December1996onsafeguardmeasuresonimportsofproducts
intheRepublic ofBulgaria.G/SG/N/1/BGR/1
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Translation
REGULATION No.300
of16December 1996
onsafeguard measures onimports ofproducts intheRepublic ofBulgaria
THE COUNCIL OFMINISTERS
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Art.1.(1) ThisRegulation establishes theterms andconditions fortheintroduction and
application ofsafeguard measures onimports ofproducts intheRepublic ofBulgaria inaccordance
with:
1. Article XIXoftheGeneral Agreement onTariffs andTrade 1994 (GATT 1994);
2. TheAgreement onSafeguards annexed totheMarrakesh Agreement Establishing the
World Trade Organization (WTO), signed on15April 1994 atMarrakesh;
3. Article 6oftheAgreement onTextiles andClothing annexed totheMarrakesh
Agreement Establishing theWTO;
(2) ThisRegulation applies tosafeguard measures onimports ofproducts intotheRepublic
ofBulgaria from thirdcountries, including thetextile products andclothing.
(3) ThisRegulation applies toproducts originating incountries, parties totradeagreements
withtheRepublic ofBulgaria asfarastherespective international arrangements donotprovide for
other terms andconditions.
(4) TheRegulation doesnotapply tomeasures introduced ormaintained pursuant to
provisions ofGATT 1994other thanArticle XIX, andother multilateral tradeagreements inAnnex IA
totheMarrakesh Agreement Establishing theWTO otherthantheagreements referred toinparagraph 1,
subparagraphs 2and3.
Art.2.(1) Asafeguard measure maybeintroduced andapplied when aproduct isbeing
imported forconsumption intheRepublic ofBulgaria insuchincreased quantities, absolute orrelative
toBulgarian production, andunder suchconditions astocause orthreaten tocause serious injury to
Bulgarian industry thatproduces likeordirectly competitive products.
(2) Safeguard measures areapplied toaproduct being imported irrespective ofitssource
-country oforigin, country ofexport and/or supplier.
Art.3(1) Asafeguard measure maybeintroduced under theconditions ofthisRegulation
following aninvestigation procedure which shallseektodetermine whether theincreased imports are
causing orthreatening tocause serious injury totheBulgarian industry. Forthepurposes ofthis
Regulation:
1. ”serious injury ”means asignificant overall impairment intheposition ofBulgarian
industry;G/SG/N/1/BGR/1
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2. ”threat ofserious injury ”means serious injury thatisclearly imminent, andthe
determination oftheexistence ofathreat ofserious injury isbased onfactsandnot
merely onallegation, conjecture orremote possibility;
3. ”Bulgarian industry ”shallbeunderstood tomean:
(a) national producers asawhole ofthelikeordirectly competitive products
operating within theterritory oftheRepublic ofBulgaria; or
(b) producers whose collective output ofthelikeordirectly competitive products
constitutes amajor proportion ofthetotalBulgarian production ofthese
products.
(2) Examination ofthetrends ofimports, theconditions inwhich theytakeplace, the
existence ofserious injury orthreat ofserious injury, cover factors ofanobjective andquantifiable
nature having abearing onthesituation ofthatindustry, inparticular:
1. therateandamount oftheincrease ofimports oftheproduct concerned inabsolute
orrelative terms;
2. theshare ofthedomestic market taken byincreased imports;
3. thepriceofimports, inparticular where therehasbeenasignificant priceundercutting
ascompared withtheprice ofalikeproduct intheRepublic ofBulgaria;
4. theimpact onBulgarian industry asindicated bycertain factors suchas:
(a) production;
(b) productivity;
(c) capacity utilization;
(d) stocks;
(e) sales;
(f) market share;
(g) prices (i.e.depression ofprices orprevention ofprice increases which would
havenormally occurred);
(h) profits andlosses;
(i) return ofcapital employed;
(j) cashflow;
(k) employment.
(3) Where athreat ofserious injury isalleged, inaddition tothefactors under paragraph 2,
thefollowing shallbealsoexamined:
1. therateofincrease oftheexports totheRepublic ofBulgaria;
2. export capacity inthecountry oforigin orexport, andthelikelihood thatthiscapacity
willbeusedtoexport totheRepublic ofBulgaria.
(4) Adetermination thattheincreased import cause orthreatens tocause serious injury
toBulgarian industry canbemade onthebasis ofobjective evidence oftheexistence ofacausal link
between increased imports oftheproduct concerned andserious injury orthreat thereof. When factors
other thantheincreased import aresimultaneously causing injury totheBulgarian industry suchinjury
shallnotbeattributed toincreased imports.G/SG/N/1/BGR/1
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Art.4.(1) Theprocedure under Article 3paragraph 1shallbeinitiated exofficio orupon
request byBulgarian producers constituting amajor proportion ofBulgarian industry oflikeordirectly
competitive products, oranassociation ofsuchproducers.
(2) Therequest toinitiate aprocedure under paragraph 1shallbesubmitted inwriting
beforetheMinisterofTradeandForeignEconomicCooperationandshallcontainthefollowingelements:
1. name, domicile andaddress oftheapplicant, orhisauthorised representative;
2. principal activity;
3. thevolume andvalue ofBulgarian production ofaproduct likeordirectly competitive
withtheimported product;
4. adescription, interms ofvolume andvalue, oftheshare oftheproduction ofthe
applicant ofthetotalBulgaria production;
5. thelegalbasis oftherequest;
6. description oftheimported product, specifications showing itsquality incomparison
withtheproducts ofBulgarian origin andother distinguishing details, thevolume and
value imported, based ontheappropriate unitofmeasure, tariff classification;
7. information fortheimporter orimporters;
8. country oforigin oftheproduct andinformation fortheexporter;
9. competitivepositionofalikeproduct,producedbyBulgarianproducers,onthedomestic
market;
10. aprogramme foradjustment thatwillbeinstituted incaseofapplication ofasafeguard
measure;
11. factsshowing thatthesoleorprincipal cause ofserious injury orthreat thereof to
Bulgarian production oflikeordirectly competitive product isthesubstantial increase
inimports.
(3) Therequestreferredtoinparagraph2shallcontainevidenceofthecircumstancessubject
toinvestigation under Article 3,paragraph 1.
(4) Therequest shallbeconsidered byaninteragency commission which members shall
bedetermined bytheMinister ofTrade andForeign Economic Co-operation ontheproposal ofthe
relevant ministers andheads ofadministrative bodies, referred hereinafter “theCommission ”.
(5) Inonemonth period fromthereceiving oftherequest theCommission shallinvestigate
theconditions andtrends ofimport andmake acomplex valuation ofallaspects oftheeconomic and
trade situation, related totheconcerned good. TheCommission:
1. undertakes noconsideration oftherequest andinforms theapplicant about thereasons
forthis,or
2. makes aproposal totheMinister ofTrade andForeign Economic Co-operation for
initiating investigation procedure.
(6) Theprocedure shallbeinitiated exofficio incases ofsubstantial evidence fortrends
inimport, requesting undertaking ofsafeguard measures.
(7) Theprocedure shallbeinitiated onanOrder oftheMinister ofTrade andForeign
Economic Co-operation. InState Gazette shallbepublished anannouncement that:
1. declares theinitiation ofaprocedure;G/SG/N/1/BGR/1
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2. gives asummary ofthereceived information andinstructs thattheinformation, related
totheprocedure shallbepresented attheMinistry ofTrade andForeign Economic
Co-operation;
3. determines time-limit fortherelevant persons fordeclaring theirinterest inparticipation
intheprocedure, submitting statement inwritten andinformation which shall be
considered intheinvestigation;
4. determines time-limit fortheinterested parties torequire tobeinterrogated under the
provisions ofArticle 5paragraph 4.
Art.5.(1) TheCommission undertakes investigation bythemeans of:
1. collecting evidences andinformation necessary fortheinvestigation;
2. check thedataavailable onthecase, including withtheassistance oftheimporters,
traders, agents, producers, trade associations andorganizations;
3. incases ofnecessity conducts audits andinspections.
(2) Officials fromtherelevant government andlocalauthorities shallassist theCommission
infulfilling itsfunctions referred inparagraph 1.
(3) Persons thathavedeclared theirinterest inparticipating intheprocedure under Article 4
paragraph 7sub-paragraph 3andrepresentatives oftheimporting country mayexamine thematerials
onthecase, excluding theinternal official documents andthose consisting confidential information.
Theinterested parties havetherighttopresent theirstatements onthematerials totheCommission
andtheCommission takes them intoconsideration incaseofsubstantial evidences.
(4) Interestedpartiesmaybeinterrogated.TheCommissionhastheobligationtointerrogate
those parties thathavemade written request intheperiod determined intheannouncement under
Article 4,paragraph 7,sub-paragraph 4,havealegal interest oftheresult oftheinvestigation and
havespecified reasons forthenecessity tobeinterrogated.
(5) When aparty participating intheinvestigating procedure doesnotpresent therequired
information intimeorinother wayhamper theinvestigation theCommission maymake conclusions
onthebasisoftheavailable facts. IftheCommission determines thattheinterested orthirdparty has
presented wrong ormisleading information theCommission excludes itfromthematerial onthecase.
(6) Interested parties havetherighttopresent evidence onthecaseandstatements onthe
object oftheinvestigation, including onthefactwhether theimplementation oftherelevant measure
willprovide protection oftheBulgarian industry.
Art.6.(1) Theprocedure shallbecompleted notlaterthanninemonths from thedate
ofitsinitiation under Article 4,paragraph 7.Inexceptional cases thisperiod maybeprolonged with
twomonths andanannouncement shallbepublished inState Gazette.
(2) Fortheresults oftheinvestigation theCommission presents report totheMinister of
Trade andForeign Economic Co-operation inwhich proposes:
1. termination oftheprocedure -incases inwhich ithasdetermined nonecessity of
application ofsafeguard measures onimport intheRepublic ofBulgaria ofthegood
concerned;
2. application ofsafeguard measure under Article 9.G/SG/N/1/BGR/1
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(3) Incases under Article 2,paragraph 1theprocedure shallbeterminated uponanorder
oftheMinister ofTrade andForeign Economic Co-operation, published inState Gazette.
(4) Theprocedure shall beterminated under theprovisions ofparagraph 3incaseof
withdrawal oftherequest under Article 4,paragraph 2,except inthecasewhere theCommission
determines tocontinue theprocedure.
(5) Incaseoftermination oftheprocedure without application ofsafeguard measures the
applied provisional safeguard measures shallbeabrogated.
(6) Anexcerpt oftheCommission ’sreport containing conclusion fromtheinvestigation
andactual findings, andlegalconclusions, onwhich itisbased, shallbepublished.
Art.7.(1) Information received pursuant tothisRegulation shallbeusedonlyforthe
purpose forwhich ithasbeenrequested.
(2) Theinformation isconfidential:
1. bynature, ifitsdisclosure islikely tohaveasignificantly adverse effect upon the
supplier orthesource ofsuchinformation; or
2. when provided onaconfidential basisifjustifiable reasons forthathavebeenpresented.
(3) Anyconfidential information shallnotberevealed without specific written permission
from itssupplier.
(4) Thesupplier ofconfidential_information mayberequested tofurnish non-confidential
summary thereof, andifthesupplier indicates thatsuchinformation cannot besummarized hemust
specify thereasons forthat.
(5) However, ifitappears thatarequest forconfidentiality isunjustified andifthesupplier
oftheinformation wishes neither tomake itpublic nortoauthorize itsdisclosure ingeneral terms or
summary form, theinformation concerned maybedisregarded unless itcanbedemonstrated from
appropriate sources thattheinformation iscorrect.
(6) Paragraphs 1to5above shallnotpreclude theright ofreference bytherespective
competent authorities togeneral information contained inthedossier. Thesaidauthorities shalltake
intoaccount thelegitimate interest oflegalandnatural persons concerned thattheirbusiness secrets
should notbedivulged.
Art.8.(1) Provisional safeguard measures maybetaken:
1. incritical circumstances where delay would cause damage which would bedifficult
torepair; and
2. pursuanttoapreliminarydeterminationthatthereisclearevidencethatincreasedimports
havecaused orarethreatening tocause serious injury.
(2) Theduration oftheprovisional measure shallnotexceed 200days.
(3) Provisional safeguard measures shalltaketheform ofapplicable tariff increases. In
caseofrevocation oftheprovisional safeguard measures thetariffs collected shallberefunded.G/SG/N/1/BGR/1
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(4) Theduration ofsuchprovisional safeguard measure shallbecounted asapartofthe
totalperiod ofapplication ofasafeguard measure.
Art.9.(1) Where asaresult oftheinvestigation itisdetermined thatcertain product is
being imported intotheRepublic ofBulgaria insuchincreased quantities andunder suchconditions
astocause orthreaten tocause serious injury toBulgarian industry andthepublic interest should be
safeguarded, theMinister ofTrade andForeign Economic Co-operation shallrecommend totheCouncil
ofMinisters theintroduction ofasafeguard measure onimports forconsumption intheRepublic of
Bulgaria. Therecommendation shalltakeintoaccount:
1. theshort- andlong-term economic andsocial costs ofapplying themeasure;
2. thecosts ofnotapplying themeasures proposed;
3. theeffect ofthesafeguard measure onconsumers andoncompetition onthedomestic
market;
4. thenecessity tomaintain asubstantially equivalent level ofconcessions andother
obligations tothatexisting under GATT 1994 withregard totheexporting countries
which would beaffected bythesafeguard measure;
5. thepossible compensation which theRepublic ofBulgaria propose inaccordance with
Article 8,paragraph 1oftheAgreement onSafeguards;
6. incasethatnoagreement isreached with theaffected exporting countries on
compensation inaccordance withtheAgreement onSafeguards, thepossibility these
countries tosuspend theapplication ofsubstantially equivalent concessions orother
obligations under GATT 1994 tothetrade withtheRepublic ofBulgaria.
(2) Asafeguard measure shallbeapplied onlytotheextent necessary toprevent orremedy
serious injury toBulgarian industry andfacilitate adjustment. Thesafeguard measures maytakethe
form of:
1. additional duty-advalorem, specific oracombination ofboth;
2. quantitative restrictions onimports (quotas, quantitative limits etc.)
3. regime, under which forimportation ofcertain product intheRepublic ofBulgaria
isrequired animport document issued under theterms andconditions determined
(established) bytheCouncil ofMinisters.
(3) Fortheintroduction ofasafeguard measure referred toinparagraph 2above theCouncil
ofMinisters adopts aRegulation determining:
1. thetypeofthesafeguard measure;
2. theproduct subject tothemeasure anditstariff code;
3. theinitial period ofapplication ofthesafeguard measure;
4. thescheme forprogressive liberalization ofthemeasure;
5. theconditions forapplication ofthesafeguard measure;
6. thebasis fortheintroduction ofthesafeguard measure;
7. theapplication ofthesafeguard measure onimports fromcountries which areparties
totrade agreements withtheRepublic ofBulgaria, providing forspecial terms and
conditions fortheapplication ofsafeguard measures.
Art.10.(1) Incases ofestablishment ofaquantitative restriction onimports asasafeguard
measure account shallbetaken inparticular of:
1. traditional trade flows;G/SG/N/1/BGR/1
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2. thevolume ofgoods exported totheRepublic ofBulgaria under contracts concluded
before theentry intoforce ofthesafeguard measure;
3. negative sideeffects oftheestablishment ofaquantitative restriction onimports.
(2) Thequantitative restrictions under paragraph 1shallnotbesetlower thattheaverage
levelofimports overthepast3representative years forwhich statistics areavailable unless adifferent
levelisnecessary toprevent orremedy serious injury toBulgarian industry.
(3) Incases inwhich aquota isallocated among supplying countries, allocation ofshares
inthequota maybeagreed withthose ofthem having asubstantial interest insupplying theproduct
concerned forimport intotheRepublic ofBulgaria.
(4) Incasesinwhich themethod inparagraph 3isnotreasonably practicable, theallocation
ofshares inthequota tocountries having asubstantial interest insupplying theshares shallbebased
upon theproportions, supplied bythem during aprevious representative period, ofthetotalquantity
orvalue ofimports oftheproduct, dueaccount being taken ofanyspecial factors which mayhave
affected ormaybeaffecting thetrade intheproduct.
(5) Thequota allocation maydepart from themethod provided forinparagraphs 3and
4afterconsultations under theauspices oftheWTO Committee onSafeguards which provide aclear
demonstration thattheimports originating inoneormore supplier countries have increased in
disproportionate percentage inrelation tothetotalincrease ofimports oftheproduct concerned over
therelevant representative period. Theconditions ofsuchdeparture shallbeequitable toallsuppliers
onlyinthecaseofserious injury andforaperiod notexceeding fouryears.
(6) Theterms andconditions foradministration ofquantitative restrictions referred toin
Article 9,paragraph 2,subparagraph 2shall beestablished bytheMinister ofTrade andForeign
Economic Co-operation.
Art.11.(1) Thesafeguard measure shallapply toevery product which isputintofree
circulation afterthedateofentry ofintoforce theregulation foritsintroduction.
(2) Thesafeguard measure inparagraph 1shallnotprevent imports intotheRepublic of
Bulgaria ofproducts forwhich animport document hasbeenissued upon theentry intoforce ofthe
safeguard measure andunder theconditions oftheapplicable regime untilthatdate.
Art.12.(1) Thesafeguard measure shallbeapplied onlyforsuchperiod oftimeasmay
benecessarytopreventorremedyseriousinjurycausedtoBulgarianindustryandtofacilitateadjustment.
(2) Theinitial period ofapplication ofsafeguard measure shallnotexceed fouryears.
(3) Withtheexception ofcasesreferred toinArticle 10,paragraph 5,theperiod mentioned
inparagraph 2above maybeextended provided thatinconformity withthegeneral conditions ithas
beendetermined that:
1. thesafeguard measure continues tobenecessary toprevent orremedy serious injury;
and
2. there isevidence thattheindustry isadjusting.
(4) Asafeguard measure extended incases referred toinparagraph 3above:
1. shallnotbemore restrictive thanitwasattheendoftheinitial period; andG/SG/N/1/BGR/1
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2. shallcontinue tobeprogressively liberalized.
(5) Thetotalperiodofapplicationofasafeguardmeasure,includingtheperiodofapplication
ofanyprovisional measure, theperiod ofinitial application andanyextension thereof, shallnotexceed
eight years.
(6) Where theduration ofasafeguard measure isoveroneyear, themeasure shallbe
progressively liberalised atregular intervals during theperiod ofapplication.
(7) Iftheduration ofthemeasure exceeds three years, itsapplication shallbereviewed
notlaterthanthemid-term ofthemeasure and,ifappropriate, thesafeguard measure iswithdrawn,
amended orthepaceofliberalization increased.
Art.13.(1) Nosafeguard measure shallbeapplied again totheimport ofaproduct which
hasbeensubject tosuchameasure, foraperiod oftimeequal tothatduring which suchmeasure had
beenpreviously applied, provided thattheperiod ofnon-application isatleasttwoyears.
(2) Notwithstandingtheprovisionsofparagraph1above,asafeguardmeasurewithaduration
of180daysorlessmaybeapplied again totheimport ofaproduct if:
1. atleastoneyearhaselapsed since thedateofintroduction ofasafeguard measure on
theimport ofthatproduct; and
2. suchasafeguard measure hasnotbeenapplied onthesame product more thantwice
inthefive-year period immediately preceding thedateofintroduction ofthemeasure.
Art.14. Safeguard measures shall notbeapplied against aproduct originating ina
developing country Member oftheWTO aslongas:
1. itsshare ofimports oftheproduct concerned intheRepublic ofBulgaria doesnotexceed
3%; and
2. developing country Members withlessthan3%import share collectively account for
notmore than9%oftotalimports oftheproduct concerned intheRepublic ofBulgaria.
Art.15.(1) Until theelapse ofthetransition period fortheintegration ofthetextiles and
clothing sector intoGATT 1994, theprovisions ofArticles 2to14ofthisRegulation shallnotapply
tothetextile andclothing products originating incountries Members oftheWTO, andcovered by
theAnnex oftheAgreement onTextiles andClothing:
1. which havenotbeenintegrated intoGATT 1994 inaccordance withArticle 2ofthe
Agreement onTextiles andClothing; and
2. forwhich theRepublic ofBulgaria hasretained therighttoapply thespecific transitional
safeguard mechanism provided forinArticle 6oftheAgreement onTextiles and
Clothing, hereafter referred toas“transitional safeguard measure ”.
(2) Transitional safeguard measure maybetaken when, onthebasis ofdetermination, it
isdemonstrated thataparticular product referred toinparagraph 1isbeing imported intheRepublic
ofBulgaria insuchincreased quantities astocause serious damage oractual threat thereof, tothe
Bulgarian industry producing likeand/or directly competitive products.G/SG/N/1/BGR/1
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(3) Serious damage oractual threat thereof ,referred toinparagraph 2above, must
demonstratively becaused bysuchincreased quantities intotalimports ofthatproduct andnotbysuch
other factors astechnological changes orchanges inconsumer preference.
(4) Inmaking adetermination ofserious damage oractual threat thereof under paragraph 2
theeffect ofthose imports onthestateoftheparticular industry shallalsobeexamined, asreflected
inchangesinsuchrelevanteconomicvariablesasoutput,productivity,utilizationofcapacity,inventories,
market share, exports, wages, employment, domestic prices, profits andinvestment; noneofwhich.,
either alone orcombined withother factors, cannecessarily givedecisive guidance.
(5) Transitional safeguard measures shallbeapplied onacountry-by-country basis. The
country orcountries shallbedetermined onthebasis ofasharp andsubstantial absolute increase in
imports fromsuchcountry orcountries individually, andonthebasisofthelevelofimports ascompared
withimports fromother sources, market share, andimport anddomestic prices atacomparable stage
ofcommercial transaction.
(6) Theperiod ofvalidity ofadetermination oftheexistence oftheconditions referred
toinparagraphs 2and3shallnotexceed 90daysfrom thedateofinitial notification assetforth in
Article 16,paragraph 1.
Art.16.(1) Iftheconditions ofArticle 15arefulfilled andithasbeendetermined thatit
isnecessary tointroduce atransitional safeguard measure:
1. consultation shallbeinitiated withthecountry orcountries which would beaffected
bythemeasure, withaviewtoreaching amutually acceptable agreement onthetype
andleveloftherestraint fortheproduct concerned;
2. inhighly unusual andcritical circumstances, where delay would cause damage that
would bedifficult torepair, atransitional safeguard measure maybetaken provisionally
onthecondition thattherequest forconsultations andnotification totheTextiles
Monitoring Body oftheWTO shallbeeffected within nomore thanfiveworking days
aftertaking theaction.
(2) If,intheconsultationsunderparagraph1,subparagraph1,thereismutualunderstanding
thatthesituation callsforrestraint ontheexports oftheparticular product fromthecountry orcounties
concerned, thelevelofsuchrestraint shallbefixed atalevelnotlower thantheactual levelofexports
orimports fromthecountry concerned during the12-month period terminating twomonths preceding
themonth inwhich therequest forconsultations wasmade.
(3) If,however, aftertheexpiry oftheperiod of60daysfromthedateonwhich therequest
forconsultations wasreceived, there hasbeennoagreement withthecountry orcountries concerned,
transitional safeguard measure maybeapplied within 30days following the60-day period for
consultations, andatthesame timethematter shallbereferred totheTextiles Monitoring Body of
theWTO. Theannual levelofsucharestraint shallnotbelower thantheminimum levelprovided
forinparagraph 2.
(4) UponrecommendationfromtheMinisterofTradeandForeignEconomicCo-operation,
theCouncil ofMinisters adopts aregulation fortheintroduction ofatransitional safeguard measure.
Art.17.(1) Transitional safeguard measures maybemaintained:
1. foruptothree years from thedateofitsintroduction, without extension; orG/SG/N/1/BGR/1
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2. untiltheproduct isintegrated intoGATT 1994,
whichever comes first.
(2) Should therestraint measure remain inforce foraperiod exceeding oneyear, thelevel
forsubsequent years shallbethelevel specified forthefirstyearincreased byagrowth rateofnot
lessthan6%perannum, unless otherwise justified totheTextiles Monitoring Body oftheWTO. The
restraint levelfortheproduct concerned maybeexceeded ineither yearofanytwosubsequent years
by10%:
1. bycarryover; and/or
2. carry forward, which shallnotrepresent more than5%.
(3) When more thanoneproduct isplaced under restraint, thelevel ofrestraint agreed
foreachofthese products maybeexceeded by7%,provided thatthetotalexports subject torestraint
donotexceed thetotalofthelevels forallproducts sorestrained. Where theperiods ofapplication
ofrestraints ofthese products donotcoincide witheachother, thisprovision shallbeapplied toany
overlapping period onaproratabasis.
(4) Noquantitative limits shallbeplaced onthecombined useofcarryover, carry forward
andtheprovision ofparagraph 3.
(5) When applying transitional safeguard measures:
1. fullaccount shall betaken ofsuch factors asestablished tariff classification and
quantitative units based onnormal commercial practices inexport andimport
transactions, bothasregards fibrecomposition andinterms ofcompeting forthesame
segment ofthedomestic market; and
2. avoidance ofover-categorization.
(6) Forproducts referred toinsub-paragraph 3oftheAnnex totheAgreement onTextiles
andClothing, theprovisions ofArticles 2to14ofthisRegulation inconnection withArticle XIXof
GATT 1994 shallbeapplicable.
Art.18. Foragricultural products subject oftariff concessions under Article 4ofthe
Agreement onAgriculture, forwhich theRepublic ofBulgaria hasretained therighttoinvoke special
safeguard provisions, suchmeasures maybeintroduced andapplied under theterms andconditions
provided forinArticle 5oftheAgreement onAgriculture.
Additional provision
§1. Pursuant toArticle 12oftheAgreement onSafeguards, theCommittee onSafeguards
shallbenotified upon:
1. initiating aninvestigatory process pursuant toArticle 4,paragraph 7;
2. taking asafeguard measure orextension oftheduration ofasafeguard measure;
3. forthcoming taking ofaprovisional safeguard measure;
4. review ofasafeguard measure pursuant toArticle 12,paragraph 7.G/SG/N/1/BGR/1
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Final andconcluding provisions
§2. Regulation No.180/1993 oftheCouncil ofMinisters forintroduction ofsafeguard
measures onimports intotheRepublic ofBulgaria ishereby repealed (published SGNo.81/193; am.
SGNo.38/1995 andSGNo.46/1996).
§3.(1) Safeguard measures, taken before entry intoforce ofthisRegulation, shallapply until
theexpiry oftheperiod fortheirapplication asestablished bytherespective regulations oftheCouncil
ofMinisters.
(2) Theapplication ofallsafeguard measures referred toinparagraph 1above shallbe
terminated notlaterthan1January 2000.
§4. Responsible fortheexecution ofthisRegulation shallbetheMinister ofTrade and
Foreign Economic Co-operation andtheMinister ofFinance.
§5. ThisRegulation shallenterintoforce 14daysafteritspublication intheStateGazette.