EN Official Journal of the European Union L 158/8

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2017/1092

of 20 June 2017

amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/670 introducing prior Union surveillance of imports of certain iron and steel products originating in certain third countries

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2015/478 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2015 on common rules for imports (1), and in particular Article 10 thereof,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2015/755 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 on common rules for imports from certain third countries (2), and in particular Article 7 thereof,

After consulting the Committee on Safeguards and Common Rules for exports,

Whereas:

(1) Following the entry into force of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/670 (3), certain comments were received from economic operators and national competent authorities. After carefully analysing these comments, it was concluded that certain amendments to the Annexes of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/670 are appropriate.

(2) The procedure for issuing the surveillance document should be clarified.

(3) The products subject to prior surveillance and falling under Harmonized System (‘HS’) heading 7318 are typically traded in numerous but relatively small sized transactions, which are often operated based on a just-in-time system. Given the specificities of this business model, in order to minimise any unnecessary constraints and not to disturb the activities of the companies active in this sector, in particular those close to the borders, imports of these products whose net weight does not exceed 5 000 kg should be excluded from the application of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/670.

(4) It became apparent that there are clerical errors in Annex I. Therefore, it is necessary to delete HS heading 7303 from Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/670 while HS heading 7229 should be added.

(5) Following comments received from the competent national authorities, it is also necessary to update the contact details in Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/670.

(6) National authorities should be encouraged to accept electronic versions of the surveillance document,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/670 is amended as follows:

(1) In Article 1(1), the last sentence of Paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: ‘This applies to imports whose net weight exceeds 2 500 kg established for each individual TARIC code and 5 000 kg for each individual TARIC code subject to prior surveillance and falling under HS heading 7318.’

(2) In Article 2, Paragraph 9 is replaced by the following: ‘9. In addition to the paper version, national authorities may create electronic versions of the surveillance document to facilitate its handling and transmission.’

(3) Annex I is replaced by the text in Annex I to this Regulation.

(4) Annex II is replaced by the text in Annex II to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 11 July 2017.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 20 June 2017. For the Commission The President Jean-Claude JUNCKER

(1) OJ L 83, 27.3.2015, p. 16.

(2) OJ L 123, 19.5.2015, p. 33.

(3) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/670 of 28 April 2016 introducing prior Union surveillance of imports of certain iron and steel products originating in certain third countries (OJ L 115, 29.4.2016, p. 37).

ANNEX I ANNEX I List of products subject to prior Union surveillance 7207 11 14 7208 7209 7210 7211 7212 7213 7214 7215 7216 7217 7219 7220 7221 7222 7223 7225 7226 7227 7228 7229 7301 7302 7304 7305 7306 7307 19 10 7307 23 7307 91 00 7307 93 11 7307 93 19 7307 99 80 7318 12 90 7318 14 91 7318 14 99 7318 15 42 7318 15 58 7318 15 68 7318 15 82 7318 15 88 7318 15 95 7318 16 40 7318 16 92 7318 16 99 7318 19 00 7318 21 00 7318 22 00