COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
C0M(89) 58 final 
Brussels, 22 May 1989 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
amending Regulation (EEC) No 802/68 on the common definition of the 
concept of origin of goods 
(presented by the Commission) 
Lpv^-5"? 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
1. The criteria concerning the size of origin certificates are laid down in 
Annex II of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 802/68. 
2. Recent developments show that the certification procedures are 
increasingly computerized by using continuous stationery. Thus it seems 
impossible to always respect the exact size and there might be a danger 
that certificates so issued will be rejected on the technicality that 
their size does not conform to the legal requirements. 
3. In order to overcome this situation it is proposed to insert into Annex 
II of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 802/68 a provision allowing for a 
certain tolerance in the length of the origin certificates. 
1 

Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
amending Regulation (EEC) N* 802/68 on the common definition 
of the concept of origin of goods 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and 
in particular Article 113 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
1 
Whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No. 802/68 , as last amended by Commission 
Regulation (EEC) No 3860/87 lays down in its Annex II the criteria to be applied 
as regards certificates of origin; whereas certificates of origin must measure 
210 x 297mm, 
Whereas the issue: of certificates of origin is increasingly computerised, 
which involves the use of continuous stationery; whereas it has been found 
impossible to conform brecisely to the prescribed measurements; 
whereas it is necessary to avoid obstacles to trade and to remove the danger 
that a certificate of origin may be rejected on the technicality that its size 
does not conform to the measurements; whereas it is necessary to introduce a 
tolerance of up to minus 5mm or plus 8mm in the length, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION : 
(1) 0J No. L 148, 28.06.1968, p.l 
(2) 0J No. L 363, 23.12.1987, p. 30 
Article 1 
Point 4 of Annex II to Regulation (EEC) No 802/68 is hereby replaced by the 
following : 
"4. The size of the certificate shall be 210 x 297mm. A tolerance of up to 
minus 5mm or plus 8mm in the length is to be allowed. The paper used shall be 
white, free of mechanical pulp, dressed for writing purposes and weigh at 
least 4Ug/m2 or between 25 and 30g/m2 where air-mail paper is used. It 
shall have a printed gui1loche pattern background in sepia such as to 
reveal any falsification by mechanical or chemical means". 
Article 2 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its 
publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in 
all Member States. 
Done at Brussels 
For the Council 
The President 
4-
m* 
Commission of the European Communities I 
COM(89) 58 final 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
amending Regulation (EEC) No 802/68 on the common definition of the 
concept of origin of goods 
(submitted to the Council by the Commission) 
22.5.1989 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L - 2985 Luxembourg 
Series: DOCUMENTS \ 
I 
1989-4 pp. - Format: 21.0 x 29.7 cm 
EN 
ISSN 0254-1475 
ISBN 92-77-49685-1 
Catalogue number: CB-CO-89-196-EN-C 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(89) 58 final 
DOCUMENTS 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
amending Regulation (EEC) No 802/68 on the 
common definition of the concept of origin of 
goods 
(submitted to the Council by the Commission) 
02 
Catalogue number: CB-CO-89-196-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-4968&-1 22.5.1989 
€ 
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES