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COM (84) 374 
 
 
 
Vol. 1984/0 161 
  
 
Disclaimer  
Conformém ent au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983 
concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique 
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, 
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003 
(JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents 
classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit 
règlem ent. 
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 
concerning the openi ng to the public of the historical archives of the European Econom ic 
Community and the European Atomic Energy Communit y (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as 
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243, 
27.9.2003, p. 1), this f ile is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this 
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation.  
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom  1. 
Februar 198 3 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen  
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgem einschaft (ABI. L 43 vom  15.2.1983,  
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. Septem ber 2003  
(ABI. L 243 vom 27 .9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit  
erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5  
der genannten Verordnung freigegeben.  
COMMISSION O F THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
C O M (84) 374 fin a l
B r u s s e ls , 3 J u ly  1984
D r a ft
DECISION OF THE ACP EEC CUSTOMS COOPERATION COMMITTEE
d e r o g a tin g  fro m  th e  d e f i n i t i o n  o f th e  co n c e p t o f o r i g i n a t i n g  
p r o d u c ts  t o  ta k e  a c c o u n t o f th e  s p e c ia l s i t u a t i o n  o f Ma u r i t i u s  
w ith  re g a rd  to  i t s  p r o d u c tio n  o f canned tu n a
COM(84) 374 final

Ù  0  H  3  i t %EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
S in c e  th e  end o f 1 9 77, M a u r itiu s  has been g ra n te d  a s e r ie s  o f d e r o g a tio n s  
fro m  th e  o r i g i n  r u le s  in  o rd e r to  a llo w  i t s  canned tu n a , p ro c e s s e d  fro m  non­
o r i g i n a t i n g  f i s h ,  to  come in  u n d e r th e  p r e f e r e n t i a l  a rra n g e m e n ts  la id  down 
u n d e r th e  Lomé C o n v e n tio n . T h is  s p e c ia l c o n c e s s io n  has fro m  th e  o u ts e t been 
seen as a re s p o n s e  t o  th e  c o n s id e ra b le  d i f f i c u l t i e s  e x p e rie n c e d  by th e  i s l a n d 's  
s o le  c a n n e ry  in  o b t a in in g  s u p p lie s  o f f i s h  w ith  o r i g i n a t i n g  s t a t u s .
M a u r it iu s  has been m aking g re a t e f f o r t s  to  p u t an end to  t h i s  s i t u a t i o n ,  and 
in  1979 th e  o p e r a to r  a c q u ire d  a v e s s e l w hich was to  s u p p ly  m ost o f th e  
c a n n e r y 's  re q u ire m e n ts . B ut th e  u n c e r t a in t y  re g a rd in g  f i s h i n g  r i g h t s  in  
t h i s  p a r t o f th e  In d ia n  O cean, and th e  lim it e d  p o t e n t i a l ,  in  th e s e  c irc u m ­
s ta n c e s , o f a s in g le  b o a t, have meant th a t so f a r  th e  v e s s e l has managed to  
p r o v id e  o n ly  j u s t  o v e r h a lf  o f th e  o f th e  c a n n e ry 's  o u tp u t. M a u r it iu s  has 
been im p o r tin g  th e  re m a in d e r o f th e  f i s h  f o r  p ro c e s s in g  on th e  s tr e n g th  o f 
th e  d e r o g a tio n .
'  i
.j
The la s t  d e r o g a tio n  in  fa v o u r o f th e  is la n d  ran f o r  tw o y e a r s , and r e la te d  
t o  1  000 to n n e s  o f canned tu n a  a y e a r , m a n u fa c tu re d  fro m  f i s h  o r i g i n a t i n g  
in  th e  M a ld iv e s . I t  e x p ir e s  on 31 J u ly .
i
By l e t t e r  No. A C P /6 4 /7  ( V o l. 1) 84 o f 11 A p r i l  t h i s  y e a r th e  ACP S ta te s  ;
s u b m itte d  a re q u e s t on b e h a lf o f th e  M a u r itia n  G overnm ent f o r  a f u r t h e r  ;
d e r o g a tio n  in  re s p e c t o f th e  same q u a n t i t i e s ,  to  run fro m  1  A ugust 1984 ^
u n t i l  th e  e n t r y  in t o  fo r c e  o f th e  new C o n v e n tio n , f o llo w in g  on th e  e x p ir y  i
o f Lomé I I .  The te rm s  s u g g e s te d  in  th e  l e t t e r  w ould a ls o  e n a b le  M a u r it iu s  j
to  o b t a in  s u p p lie s  fro m  s o u rc e s  o th e r  th a n  th e  M a ld iv e s . j
j
The re q u e s t is  based on th e  f o llo w in g  c o n s id e r a tio n s  :  j
th e  c a tc h e s  o f th e  M a u r itia n  v e s s e l (th e  "L a d y  S ushi l " )  d id  n o t exceed j
3 000 to n n e s  in  1983. To re m a in  v ia b le  th e  ca n n e ry  needs a minimum o f 4 500 j
to n n e s  o f fr e s h  tuna;:
■

- 2 -
d e s p ite  re p e a te d  a tte m p ts , th e  M a u r it ia n  o p e r a to r  has been u n a b le  to  f i n d  
fr e s h  s o u rc e s  o f s u p p ly  in  o th e r  ACP S ta te s ;
c a tc h e s  o f f  th e  M a ld iv e s  have d ro p p e d  s h a r p ly .  The conse q u e n ce s f o r  th e  
M a u r it ia n  c a n n e ry  have been q u it e  s e r io u s ; i t  has tw ic e  been s h u t down f o r  
a b o u t a w eek;
in  o rd e r to  re m a in  f i n a n c i a l l y  sound and be a b le  to  pay f o r  a second b o a t 
l a t e r  o n , th e  M a u r it ia n  o p e r a to r  has to  be a b le  to  c o u n t on p r e f e r e n t i a l  
access to  th e  C om m unity m a rk e t f o r  a l l  i t s  e x p o r ts ;
th e  S e y c h e lle s  have r e c e n t ly  a c c o rd e d  f i s h i n g  r i g h t s  in  t h e i r  e x c lu s iv e  
econom ic zone t o  12 C om m unity v e s s e ls . H o w e ve r, th e  c o m m e rc ia l c h a n n e ls  
used by th e  f l e e t  do n o t seem t o  a llo w  f o r  r e g u la r  d e l i v e r i e s  a t q u a n t i t i e s  
a d a p te d  t o  th e  s to ra g e  c a p a c ity  o f th e  M a u r it ia n  f a c t o r y ;
in  a d d i t i o n ,  even in  th e  c o n te x t o f a E .D .F . r e g io n a l p r o j e c t ,  f o u r  In d ia n  
Ocean c o u n t r ie s ,  in c lu d in g  M a u r it iu s ,  a re  g e t t in g  re a d y  to  in tr o d u c e  c o n c e rte d  
program m es f o r  th e  d e v e lo p m e n t o f tu n a  f i s h i n g  in  th e  a re a , w h ich  w i l l  r e s u l t  
in  th e  s u p p ly  o f th e  n e c e s s a ry  q u a n t i t i e s  o f " o r i g i n a t i n g "  c a tc h e s  t o  th e  
f a c t o r y  in  th e  te rm s  r e q u ir e d .
In  c o n n e c tio n  w ith  th e  c u r r e n t  C o n v e n tio n  re n e w a l n e g o t ia t io n s ,  th e  ACP S ta te s  
a re  a g a in  p r e s s in g  f o r  m ore f l e x i b l e  o r i g i n  r u le s  f o r  f i s h e r y  p r o d u c ts . The 
C o m m u n ity 's  lin e  has been t h a t  th e  p ro c e d u re  f o r  d e r o g a tio n s  fro m  th o s e  r u le s  
has a lw a y s  made i t  p o s s ib le  to  s o lv e  p a r t i c u l a r  p ro b le m s  on t h e i r  m e r it s .  I f  th e  
Com m unity re fu s e s  to  a llo w  th e  d e r o g a tio n  h e re  a p p lie d  f o r ,  i t  c o u ld  u p s e t t h i s  
w hole n e g o t ia t in g  l i n e .
In  v ie w  o f th e  fo r e g o in g  and in  c o n fo r m ity  w ith  th e  p r o v is io n s  o f P r o to c o l No. 1, 
in  p a r t i c u l a r  A r t i c l e  30 t h e r e o f ,  th e  C om m ission p ro p o s e s  t h a t  a d e r o g a tio n  fro m  
th e  o r i g i n  r u le s  be g ra n te d  in  re s p e c t o f 600 to n n e s  o f canned tu n a  -  e q u iv a le n t ,  
f o r  th e  p e r io d  u n d e r c o n s id e r a t io n ,  t o  1  000 to n n e s  a y e a r -  to  ru n  fro m  1  A ugust 
1984 to  28 F e b ru a ry  1 9 8 5 , when th e  second Lomé C o n v e n tio n  e x p ir e s .

DRAFT DECISION
o f th e  ACP-EEC Customs C o o p e ra tio n  C om m ittee 
d e r o g a tin g  fro m  th e  d e f i n i t i o n  o f th e  co n ce p t o f o r i g i n a t i n g  p ro d u c ts  
to  ta k e  a c c o u n t o f th e ' s p e c ia l s i t u a t i o n  o f M a u r itiu s  w ith  re g a rd  to  i t s  
p r o d u c tio n  o f canned tu n a
THE CUSTOMS COOPERATION COMMITTEE,
H a v in g  re g a rd  t o  th e  Second ACP-EEC C o n v e n tio n  s ig n e d  a t Lomé on 31 O c to b e r 1979, 
h e r e in a f t e r  r e f e r r e d  to  as 'th e  C o n v e n tio n ',
W hereas A r t i c l e  30 o f P r o to c o l No. 1  to  th e  C o n v e n tio n  c o n c e rn in g  th e  d e f i n i t i o n  
o f th e  c o n c e p t o f o r i g i n a t i n g  p ro d u c ts  and m ethods o f a d m in is t r a t iv e  c o o p e ra tio n  
makes p r o v is io n  f o r  d e ro g a tio n s  to  be made fro m  th e  r u le s  o f o r i g i n  by th e  Customs 
C o o p e ra tio n  C o m m itte e , in  p a r t i c u l a r  to  f a c i l i t a t e  th e  d e ve lo p m e n t o f e x is t in g  
i n d u s t r ie s  o r th e  c r e a t io n  o f new i n d u s t r ie s ;
W hereas th e  A f r ic a n ,  C a rib b e a n  and P a c if ic  (ACP) S ta te s  have s u b m itte d  a re q u e s t 
fro m  th e  G overnm ent o f M a u r it iu s  f o r  a d e r o g a tio n  fro m  th e  d e f i n i t i o n  s e t o u t in  
P r o to c o l No 1  in  re s p e c t o f canned tu n a  p ro d u ce d  by M a u r it iu s ;
W hereas in  o r d e r t o  m a in ta in  i t s  e x is t in g  f is h e r y  in d u s t r y  and to  ta k e  th e  
m easures n e c e s s a ry  f o r  i t s  f in is h e d  p ro d u c ts  to  o b ta in  o r i g i n a t i n g  s ta tu s  th e r e  
M a u r it iu s  fro m  1  A u g u st 1982 t o  31 J u ly  1984 b e n e fite d  fro m  a d e r o g a tio n  fro m  
th e  d e f i n i t i o n  s e t o u t in  P ro to c o l No 1  f o r  canned tu n a  ;
W hereas M a u r it iu s  has a lre a d y  p u rc h a s e d  a v e s s e l w ith  a v ie w  t o  s u p p ly in g  i t s  
c a n n e rie s  w ith  f i s h  f o r  th e  p r o d u c tio n  o f canned tu n a ;
W hereas t h i s  v e s s e l,  w h ile  in c r e a s in g  i t s  c a tc h e s  s t e a d i l y ,  is  n o t in  a 
p o s i t i o n  t o  s u p p ly  s u f f i c i e n t  q u a n t it ie s  o f tu n a  f i s h  f o r  th e  c a n n e r ie s ; 
w hereas th e  company m ust s t a b i l i z e  i t s  f i n a n c i a l  s i t u a t i o n  in  o rd e r to  be a b le  
to  buy a second s h ip  s h o u ld  i t  p ro v e  im p o s s ib le  to  g u a ra n te e  fr e s h  s o u rc e s  o f 
o r i g i n a t i n g  f i s h ;

- 2 -
W hereas M a u r it iu s  has been u n a b le  to  o b t a in  s u f f i c i e n t  s u p p lie s  o f  f i s h  
o r i g i n a t i n g  in  o th e r  ACP S ta te s  o r in  th e  C om m unity; w hereas t h i s  d e f ic ie n c y  
may n e v e r th e le s s  s h o r t l y  be re m e d ie d  by f i s h e r y  d e v e lo p m e n ts  in  t h i s  p a r t o f 
th e  In d ia n  O cean; w hereas u n t i l  t h a t  tim e ,  th e  M a u r it ia n  c a n n in g  in d u s t r y  
m ust be a b le  to  use s u p p lie s  o f tu n a  fro m  t h i r d  c o u n t r ie s  t o  keep up i t s  
e x p o r ts  t o  th e  C om m unity;
W hereas M a u r it iu s  can o b t a in  some o f th e  tu n a  i t  r e q u ir e s  f o r  i t s  c a n n e rie s  
fro m  o th e r  d e v e lo p in g  c o u n t r ie s ;  w hereas p u rs u a n t t o  A r t i c l e  3 0 (5 ) o f P r o to c o l 
No. 1  th e  e x a m in a tio n  o f a re q u e s t f o r  a d e r o g a tio n  s h o u ld  ta k e  p a r t i c u l a r  
a c c o u n t o f  such a p o s s i b i l i t y ;
W hereas in  th e s e  c irc u m s ta n c e s  a te m p o ra ry  d e r o g a tio n  fro m  th e  d e f i n i t i o n  o f 
th e  c o n c e p t o f o r i g i n a t i n g  p ro d u c ts  s h o u ld  be a c c o rd e d  t o  M a u r i t i u s ,  to  
ru n  u n t i l  th e  e x p ir y  o f th e  second ACP-EEC C o n v e n tio n ,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS :
A r t i c l e  1
By way o f d e r o g a tio n  fro m  th e  s p e c ia l p r o v is io n s  o f L i s t  A in  Annex I I  to  
P r o to c o l No. 1 , canned tu n a  m a n u fa c tu re d  in  M a u r it iu s  fro m  n o n - o r ig in a t in g  
tu n a  and f a l l i n g  w it h in  h e a d in g  No. ex 1 6 .0 4  o f th e  Common Custom s T a r i f f  
s h a ll be c o n s id e re d  as o r i g i n a t i n g  in  M a u r it iu s  on th e  f o llo w in g  c o n d it io n s .

3
A r t i c l e  2
The d e r o g a tio n  p r o v id e d  f o r  in  A r t i c l e  1  s h a ll r e la t e  to  600 to n n e s  o f canned 
tu n a  f a l l i n g  w it h in  h e a d in g  No . ex 1 6 .0 4  o f th e  Common Customs T a r i f f  and e x p o rte d  
fro m  M a u r it iu s  betw een 1  A ugust 1984 and 28 F e b ru a ry  1985.
A r t i c le  3
The co m p e te n t a u t h o r i t i e s  o f M a u r it iu s  s h a ll ta k e  th e  n e c e s s a ry  s te p s  to  e n s u re  
t h a t  a q u a n t i t a t i v e  check is  ke p t on e x p o rts  o f th e  p ro d u c ts  r e f e r r e d  to  in  
A r t i c l e  2 . To t h i s  end th e y  s h a ll fo rw a rd  t o  th e  C om m ission e v e ry  th r e e  m onths a 
s ta te m e n t o f th e  q u a n t i t i e s  in  re s p e c t o f w hich movement c e r t i f i c a t e s  EUR.1 
have been is s u e d  on th e  b a s is  o f t h i s  D e c is io n , i n d ic a t in g  th e  p r e c is e  o r i g i n  
o f th e  tu n a  u se d .
A r t i c l e  4
The ACP S ta te s , th e  Member S ta te s  and th e  Com m unity s h a ll be b o u n d , each to  th e  
e x te n t to  w h ich  i t  is  c o n c e rn e d , to  ta k e  th e  m easures n e c e s s a ry  to  im p le m e n t 
t h i s  D e c is io n .
A r t i c l e  5
T h is  D e c is io n  s h a ll e n te r  in t o  fo r c e  on th e  day o f i t s  a d o p tio n .
I t  s h a ll a p p ly  fro m  1  A ugust 1984 u n t i l  28 F e b ru a ry  1985.
Done a t For th e  ACP-EEC Customs
C o o p e ra tio n  C om m ittee
J o in t  C hairm an