WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1806/97 by Robert EVANS to the Commission. EU quotas on electrical goods
Date: 1997-05-28
Institutions: EVANS, European Parliament
Subjects: application of EU law, approximation of laws, electrical equipment, import, import policy, import restriction, market supervision, product quality, product safety, third country

C 21/98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22. 1. 98

All the specific amounts which form part of the duty applied to processed agricultural products including food
preparations containing cassava falling under code 1901 90 99 of the combined nomenclature were bound in the
General agreement on tariffs and trade Uruguay Round settlement. These bindings were based upon the average
of the levies applied over the period 1986 to 1988.

(1)  OJ L 318, 20.12.1993.

(98/C 21/201)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1806/97

by Robert Evans (PSE) to the Commission

(28 May 1997)

Subject: EU quotas on electrical goods

Would the Commission give a detailed outlay of any restrictions on the import of electrical wiring accessories
(plugs, switches, sockets), into the European Union?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(18 July 1997)

Electrical wiring accessories, like switches, plugs and sockets, are not subject to Community quotas on imports.
Some restrictions are applied to such products imported from Iraq or Libya (1).

No particular restriction based on technical rules and standards exists for imported electrical equipment subject
to Community harmonisation.

In fact, as far as conditions applicable to placing on the Community market are concerned, electrical equipment,
including  wiring  accessories,  is  subject  to  Directive  73/23/EEC,  as  modified  by  Directive  93/68/EEC,  on  the
harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain
voltage limits (the low voltage Directive) (2).

Products imported from third countries into the Community must comply with exactly the same Community
rules which apply to domestically produced electrical equipment. The low voltage Directive sets the essential
safety requirements applicable. A declaration of conformity by the manufacturer or his authorised representative
is required and must be kept at the disposal of market surveillance authorities. No third party certification is
required.

For  plugs  and  sockets  for  domestic  use  excluded  from  the  scope  of  that  Directive,  national  provisions  and
standards are in force.

(1)  The electrical apparatus for switching or protecting electrical circuits or for making connections to or in electrical circuits (switches, fuses
lightning  arresters,  voltage  limiters,  surge  suppresors,  plugs,  junction  boxes  and  the  like),  for  a  voltage  exceeding  1,000  volts,  of  CN
heading 8535 and the same types of apparatus, for a voltage not exceeding 1,000 volts, of heading 8536 intended strictly for essential
civilian needs or for medical purposes are excluded from the ban applying to products originating in Iraq, but require a preliminary import
authorisation,  pursuant  to  paragraph  23  of  United  Nations  Security  Council  Resolution  687/1991,  to  be  delivered  by  the  committee
established  under  Security  Council  Resolution  661/1990,  before  their  import  into  the  Community  can  be  approved.  Import  into  the
Community  of  all  components  for  use  in  certain  types  of  aircraft  within  the  two  mentioned  headings  originating  in  Libya  is  banned,
pursuant to Council Regulation (EEC) 3274/93 › OJ L 295, 30.11.1993.

(2)  OJ L 220, 30.8.1997.

(98/C 21/202)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1807/97

by Robert Evans (PSE) to the Commission

(28 May 1997)

Subject: EU safety regulations and the disabled

Is the Commission aware of the problems of access for the disabled sometimes created by buildings conforming
to fire and other safety regulations (heavy doors and so on)?