NoL309/16 2.12.77 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities
COMMISSION DECISION
of31October1977
authorizingtheFrenchRepublicnottoapplyCommunitytreatmenttoknives
withcuttingblades,serratedornot,includingpruningknives(saveforknives
withhandlesofivoryorofgilt-orsilver-plated basemetals),fallingwithin
headingNoex82.09oftheCommonCustomsTariff,originatinginJapanand
infreecirculation intheotherMemberStates
(OnlytheFrenchtextisauthentic)
(77/736/EEC)
Whereasauthorizationshouldbegiven,foralimited
period,fortheapplicationofprotectivemeasures
underthefirstparagraphofArticle115,subjecttothe
conditionslaiddownbytheCommissionDecisionof
12May1971(J),andinparticularArticle1thereof;
Whereasuniformarrangements forimportsofthe
productsinquestioncouldbeadoptedundera
commercialpolicyvis-d-visJapan;
Whereasthesemeasuresshouldapplyonlyuntilsuch
arrangements areintroduced ,
HASADOPTED THISDECISION :
Article1THECOMMISSION OFTHEEUROPEAN
COMMUNITIES ,
HavingregardtotheTreatyestablishingtheEuropean
EconomicCommunity ,andinparticularthefirstpara­
graphofArticle115thereof,
Havingregardtotheapplicationunderthefirstpara­
graphofArticle115oftheTreaty,madeon26
October1977bytheFrenchGovernment tothe
CommissionbytelexfromtheofficeofitsPermanent
Representative totheEuropeanCommunities ,for
authorization nottoapplyCommunitytreatmentto
kniveswithcuttingblades,serratedornot,including
pruningknives(saveforkniveswithhandlesofivory
orofgilt-orsilver-platedbasemetals),fallingwithin
headingNoex82.09oftheCommonCustomsTariff,
originatinginJapanandinfreecirculationinthe
otherMemberStates,
Whereasaccordingtothisapplicationtheimportation
intoFranceoftheproductsinquestionoriginatingin
Japanissubjecttoacontractualquotaof$117000,
whichhasalreadybeenusedup;
Whereasdifferencesinthecommercial policy
measuresappliedinconnectionwiththeseproducts
byFranceandbytheotherMemberStatesasregards
Japanaregivingrisetodeflectionoftrade;
Whereasthisdeflectionoftradeispreventingthe
execution oftheabovementioned measuresof
commercialpolicycurrentlybeingappliedbyFrance
asregardsJapan;
Whereasaccordingtoinformationsuppliedbythe
Frenchauthoritiesitappearsthatthecutleryindustry
isfacedwithseriouseconomicdifficulties ,asaresult
ofthemassiveincreaseinlowpriceimportsfrom
thirdcountries;
Whereasitisnotpossibleatthepresenttimetosetin
motionthemachineryforbringingabouttheneces­
sarycooperationfromtheotherMemberStates;TheFrenchRepublicisauthorizednottoapply
Communitytreatmenttoimportsofkniveswith
cuttingblades,serratedornot,includingpruning
knives(saveforkniveswithhandlesofivoryorofgilt­
orsilver-platedbasemetals),fallingwithinheading
Noex82.09oftheCommonCustomsTariff,where
theyoriginateinJapanandareinfreecirculationin
theotherMemberStatesandinrespectofwhich
applicationsforimportlicenceswerelodgedafter20
October1977.
Article2
ThisDecisionshallapplyonlyuntiluniformimport
arrangements areintroducedunderacommon
commercialpolicyvis-a-visJapanoruntilnewoppor­
tunitiesariseintheFrenchRepublicfortheimporta­
(')OJNoL121,3.6.1971,p.26.

2.12.77 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoL309/17
tionoftheproductsinquestionfromJapanandin
anycasenotlaterthan31December1977.
Article3
ThisDecisionisaddressedtotheFrenchRepublic.DoneatBrussels,31October1977.
FortheCommission
AntonioGIOLITTI
MemberoftheCommission