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COM (83) 391 
 
 
 
Vol. 1983/0 148 
  
 
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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 opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Econom ic 
Communit y and the European Atom ic 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), t his file 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. 
Februa r 1983 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 v om 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 OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COM(83) 391 final
Brussels, 23 June 1983
Proposal for a  
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC)
opening, allocating and providing for the administration of a  
Community tariff quota for certain plywoods of coniferous species  
falling within heading No ex 44.15 of the  
Common Customs Tariff (1984)
(submitted to the Council by the Commission)
COM(83) 391 final

E X P L A N A T O R Y  M EM O R A N D U M
1. At the last GATT negociations the Community undertook to open, for 
certain coniferous plywood, as listed below, of heading ex 44.15 of the 
Common Customs Tariff, a Community tariff quota at zero duty of a total 
volume of 600,000 cubis metres.
Plywood of coniferous species, without the addition of other substances
- of thickness greater than 8.5 mm, the faces of which are not further 
prepared thant the peeling process, or
- sanded, and of a thickness greater than 18.5 mm.
In addition Protocol No 11 to the Act concerning the Conditions of 
Accession and the Adjustments to the Treaties and the bilateral exchange 
of letters undertaken at the start of the GATT negotiations foresee the 
Community opening autonomous Community tariff quotas at zero duty for 
these products at volumes to be decided for each year when it is 
established that all possibilities of supply on the intended market of the 
Community will be exhausted during the period for which the quotas are 
open.
2. This proposed Regulation concerns the Community tariff quotas in question 
to be opened on 1  January 1984 and allocated among Member States.
The application of Protocol No 11 was dealt with at advisory meetings of 
experts from the Member States held since 1975, at which it became clear 
that taking into account the possibilities of supply on the Community 
market, which are in faet somewhat limited although inereasing 
considerably, and on the basis of estimated submitted by the Member 
States, the tariff quotas in question could yet be grouped under a single 
quota.
The quota volume to be opened for 1984 was discussed by the "Economic 
Tariff Questions" group on 20 April 1983. It became clear from the 
discussion that :

a) third country import requirements estimated by Member States in the 
region of one million m3 for 1984 ; at the same time effective use made of 
quotas in the last years was only 768 000 m3 in 1979 (on a quota of 810 000 
m3), 687 500 m3 in 1980 (on a quota of 700 000 m3) and 600 000 m3 in 1981 
and 1982 (on a quota of the same volume).
Neither a growth in consumption nor the present economic situtation in the 
construction sector justify the proposed increase ;
b) as stated by the producing Member States, there is a risk that supplies to 
be obtained on the Community internal market may not be used up in 1983, 
which may make it difficult to open the autonomous quota envisaged by 
Protocol No 11 of the Act of Accession ;
3. Generally, the Commission considers that, taking account of the uncertain 
level of consumption and the need for parallel growth in Community 
production and supplies on favourable terms to user industries, great care 
should be taken in fixing the quota volume, so as not to endanger the 
market balance.
It has therefore been decided to limit the initital quota for 1984 to the  
GATT Consolidated volume of 600 000 m3, and to review the situtation, if  
necessary, during the year.
4. The method of administration proposed is the same as that usually adopted 
for autonomous Community tariff quotas and consists basically of the 
following :
- the setting up of a reserve of 5 000 cubic metres;
- the allocation of the first tranche in proportion to the needs expressed by 
Member States and in accordance with the effective utilisation of the 
quotas opened for the last three years;
- the charging of imports against Member States' shares as and when the 
products are entered with the customs authorities for free circulation.

Proposal for a
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC)
opening, allocating and providing for the administration of a Community tariff quota for  
certain plywoods of conifcrous species, falling within heading No ex 44.15 of the
Common Customs Tariff ( 1984 )
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN 
COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community, and in particular 
Article 113 thereof,
Having regarcl to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas the Community has undertaken to open an 
annual Community tariff quota of at least 600 000 m5  
for certain plywoods of coniferous species, falling 
within heading No ex 44.15 of the Common Customs 
Tariff; whereas, under Protocol 11 to the Act of 
Accession (*), the Community is required to open 
each year autonomous nil duty Community tariff 
quotas for the same products the volume thereof to 
be decided annually when it is established that all 
possibilities of supply on the intemal market of the 
Community have been exhausted during the period 
for which the quotas are open; whereas the condition 
laid down by the said Protocol does not seem to be 
met at the moment; whereas, in these circumstances, 
it is appropriate to limit oneself in the first stage to 
the contractual volume of 600 000 m’; whereas the 
fixing of the quota volume at this level does not 
exclude moreover recourse to the provisions of the 
abovementioned Protocol 11 during the quota period;
Whereas, to take more precise account of future 
trends in imports of the products concerned, the 
quota should be divided into two tranches, the first 
being allocated among all the Member States and the 
second held as a reserve to cover the subsequent 
requirements of .Member States which have exhausted 
their initial shares; whereas, in order to offer 
importers some degree of security, the first tranche of 
the quota should be fixed at a relatively high level, or 
about 99 % of its full amount; whereas, on the basis 
of Member States’  estimates for their needs, the initial 
shares may be fixed as set out in Article 2;
Whereas Member States may use up their initial 
shares at different rates; whereas, to provide for this 
eventuality and to avoid disruption of supplies, any 
Member State which has almost used up its initial 
share should draw an additional share from thereserve; whereas, each time its additional share is 
almost used up, a Member State should draw an 
additional share, and so on as many times as the 
reserve allows; whereas the initial and additional 
shares should be valid until the end of the quota 
period; whereas this form of administration requires 
close collaboration between Member States and the 
Commission, which latter must, in particular be able 
to keep a record of the extent to which the quota has 
been used up and to inform the Member States 
accordingly;
Whereas if, at a given date in the quota period, a 
considerable quantity of a Member State’s initial 
share remains unused, it is essentiai that that Member 
State should return a significant proportion to the 
reserve, so as to avoid a part of the quota remaining 
unused in one Member State when it could be used in 
others;
Whereas, since the Kingdom of Belgium, the 
Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Grand Duchy 
of Luxembourg are United within and jointly 
represented by the Benelux Economic Union, any 
measure conceming the administration of the shares 
allocated to that economic union may be carried out 
by any one of its members,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
A rticle 1
■ 1. During the period I January to 31 December 
1984, a Community tariff quota of 600 000 m5  shall 
be opened for the following products falling within 
heading No ex 44.15 of the Common Customs Tariff:
(a) plywood of coniferous species, without the 
addition of other substances, of a thickness 
greater than 8 ■ 5 mm, the faces of which are not 
further prepared than the peeling process;
(b) plywood of coniferous species, without the 
addition of other substances, sanded, and of a 
thickness greater than 18-5 mm.
2. Imports of the products in question may not be 
charged against this tariff quota if they are al r: ady 
free of customs duties under other preferentiai tariff 
arrangements.
(') OJ No L 73, 27. 3. 1972, p. 170.3. The Common Customs Tariff duty shall be
totally suspended within the limits of the above quota.

- 2 -
Within the limits of this tariff quota, Greece shall 
apply duties calculaied in accordance with the 
relevant provisions set out in the 1979 Act of 
Accession.
A rtic le  2
1. The tariff quota referred to in Article 1  (1) shall 
be divided into two tranches.
2. A first tranche of 595 000 m4  5  shall be allocated 
among the Member States; Member States’  shares 
which, subject to Article 5, shall be valid until 
31 December 1984, shall be as follows:
(cubic metres)
Benelux 154 000
Denmark 65 000
Germany 94 000
Greece 50
France 11 000
Ireland 8 950
Italy 24 000
United Kingdom 238 000
3. The second tranche of 5 000 m5  shall constitute 
the reserve.
A.rticle 3
1. If 90 % or more of a Member State’s initial 
share as fixed in Article 2 (2), or of that share minus 
any portion returned to the reserve where Article 5 
has been applied has been used up, that Member 
State shall forthwith, by notifying the Commission, 
draw a second share, to the extent that the reserve so 
permits, equal to 10 % of its initial share, rounded up 
as necessary to the next whole number.
2. If, after its initial share has been exhausted, 
90 % or more of the second share drawn by a 
Member State has been used up, that Member State 
shall, in the manner and to the extent provided in 
paragraph 1, draw a third share equal to 5 % of its 
initial share, rounded up as necessary to the next 
whole number.
3. If, after its second share has been exhausted, 
90 % or more of the third share drawn by a Member 
State has been used up, that Member State shall, in 
the manner and to the extent provided in paragraph 
1, draw a fourth share equal to the third.
This procedure shall apply until the reserve is used 
up.
4. By way of derogation from paragraphs 1, 2 and 
3, Member States may draw lesser shares than those 
specified therein if there are grounds for believing
that those specified may not be used in full. Theyshall inform the Commission of their reasons for 
applying this paragraph.
A rtic le  4
Additional shares drawn pursuant to Article 3 shall be 
valid until 31 December 1984.
A rtic le  5
Member States shall return to the reserve, not later 
than 1  October 1984, the unused portions of their 
initial shares which, on 15 September 1984, are in 
excess of 20 % of the initial amounts. They may 
return a greater portion if there are grounds for 
believing that such portion may not be used in full.
Member States shall notify the Commission, not later 
than 1  October 198^+, of the total quantities of the 
products in question imported up to 15 September 
198 4 and charged against the Community quota and 
of any portion of their initial shares returned to the 
reserve.
A rtic le  6
The Commission shall keep an account of the shares 
opened by the Member States pursuant to Articles 2 
and 3 and, as soon as it has been notified, shall 
inform each State of the extent to which the reserve 
has been used up.
It shall inform the Member States, not later than 
5 October 1984, of the amount still in reserve after 
ameunts have been returned thereto pursuant to 
Article 5.
It shall ensure that the drawing which exhausts the 
reserve does not exceed the balance available and, to 
this end, shall notify the amount of that balance to 
the Member State making the last drawing.
A rtic le  7
1. Member States shall take all appropriate 
measures to ensure that additional shares drawn 
pursuant to Article 3 are opened in such a way that 
imports may be charged without interruption against 
their aggregate shares of the Community quota.
2. Member States shall ensure that importers of the 
products in question,
have free access to the shares allocated to them.
3. Member States shall charge imports of the 
products in question against their shares as and when 
the products are entered with the cuistoms authorities 
for free circulation.

- 3 -
4. The extern to which a Member State has used 
up its share shall be determined on the basis of 
imports charged against that share in accordance with 
paragraph 3.
A rtic le  8
At the Commission’s request, Member States shall 
inform it of the imports actually charged against their 
shares.A rticle 9
Member States and the Commission shall cooperate 
closely to ensure that this Regulation is complied 
with.
A rticle 10
This Regulation shall enter into force on 1  January
1984.
This Regulation shall be'binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member 
Sutes.
Done at Brussels,
F or th e C o u n cil  
The P resident