Proposal for a Council Decision on a Community position within the Joint Committee on the adaptation of Protocol No 3, concerning the definition of the concept of "originating products" and methods of administrative co-operation, set out in the Agreement between the European Economic Community, and the Swiss Confederation pursuant to the enlargement of the European Union
Date: 2004-08-10
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Switzerland, accession to the European Union, administrative cooperation, originating product, revision of an agreement, trade agreement (EU)

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 10.8.2004 
COM(2004) 546 final 

2004/0186 (ACC) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION  

on a Community position within the Joint Committee on the adaptation of Protocol No 
3, concerning the definition of the concept of "originating products" and methods of 
administrative co-operation, set out in the Agreement between the European Economic 
Community, and the Swiss Confederation pursuant to the enlargement of the European 
Union 

(presented by the Commission) 

EN 

   EN 

 
 
 
  
 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

The  accession  of  the  new  Member  States  implies  that  Protocol  No  3  concerning  the 
definition  of  the  concept  of  originating  products  and  methods  of  administrative 
cooperation, set out in this Agreement, shall be amended.  

According  to  Article  38  of  Protocol  No  3,  the  provisions  of  this  Protocol  shall  be 
amended by decision of the Joint Committee. 

The  text  of  the  decision  includes,  on  the  one  hand,  some  technical  amendments 
concerning  the  addition  of  the  new  language  versions  of  the  administrative  remarks 
contained in the Protocol and, on the other hand, some transitional provisions aiming at 
smoothing the transitional process and at guaranteeing legal security. 

Pending  the  formal  adoption  of  this  decision,  it  was  agreed,  via  an  exchange  of 
correspondence, between the Commission services and the Swiss Federal administration 
that the customs administrations on both sides would abide to the content of this text as 
of 1st May 2004. 

The Council is invited to adopt the proposed Community position for the adoption by the 
EC-Switzerland Joint Committee of the decision amending Protocol No 3. 

EN 

2 

   EN 

 
2004/0186 (ACC) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION  

on a Community position within the Joint Committee on the adaptation of Protocol 
No 3, concerning the definition of the concept of "originating products" and 
methods of administrative co-operation, set out in the Agreement between the 
European Economic Community, and the Swiss Confederation pursuant to the 
enlargement of the European Union 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community,  and  in  particular 
Article 133 in conjunction with Article 300 paragraph 2, second subparagraph, 

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,  

Whereas Article 29 of the Agreement between the European Economic Community, on 
the  one  part,  and  the  Swiss  Confederation,  of  the  other  part,  signed  on  22  July  1972, 
hereinafter referred to as "the Agreement" establishes a Joint Committee, 

Whereas Article 38 of Protocol No 3 to the Agreement, concerning the definition of the 
concept  of  "originating  products"  and  methods  of  administrative  co-operation,  provides 
that the Joint Committee may decide to amend the provisions of this Protocol, 

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 

Sole Article 

The position to be adopted by the Community within the Joint Committee established by 
virtue of the Agreement on the adaptation of Protocol No 3, concerning the definition of 
the concept of "originating products" and methods of administrative co-operation, is that 
defined in the attached draft decision of the Joint Committee. 

Done at Brussels, 

For the Council 
The President 

EN 

3 

   EN 

 
Draft 

Decision of the EC-Switzerland Joint Committee 

amending Protocol No 3 of the Agreement between the European Economic 
Community and the Swiss Confederation concerning the definition of the concept of 
‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation  

The Joint Committee, 

Having  regard  to  the  Agreement  between  the  European  Economic  Community  and  the 
Swiss Confederation1, signed in Brussels on 22 July 1972, hereinafter referred to as “the 
Agreement”,  

Having  regard  to  Protocol  No  3  to  the  Agreement  concerning  the  definition  of  the 
concept  of  originating  products  and  methods  of  administrative  cooperation,  hereinafter 
referred to as "Protocol No 3"2, and in particular Article 38 thereof, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

1  
2  
3  

The  Czech  Republic,  the  Republic  of  Estonia,  the  Republic  of  Cyprus,  the 
Republic  of  Latvia,  the  Republic  of  Lithuania,  the  Republic  of  Hungary,  the 
Republic  of  Malta,  the  Republic  of  Poland,  the  Republic  of  Slovenia  and  the 
Slovak Republic, hereinafter referred to as ‘new Member States’, acceded to the 
European Union on 1 May 2004, 

The  trade  between  the  new  Member  States  and  Switzerland  is  covered  upon 
accession  by  this  Agreement  and  the  application  of  the  trade  agreements 
concluded  between  the  Swiss  Confederation  and  the  new  Member  States 
concerned is discontinued,  

After  accession  of  the  new  Member  States,  goods  originating  in  these  countries 
imported into Switzerland in the framework of the Agreement shall be treated as 
of Community origin, 

The accession of the new Member States requires some technical amendments to 
the text of Protocol No 3, as well as transitional measures, to ensure the transition 
process and guarantee legal security,  

Annex  IV  No.  5  of  the  Act  of  Accession  provides  similar  transitional  measures 
and procedures3, 

OJ L 300, 31/12/1972 
as last amended by Decision No. 1/2004 of the EC-Switzerland Joint Committee. 
OJ L 236, 23/09/2003 

EN 

4 

   EN 

 
                                                 
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 

SECTION I 

TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO THE TEXT OF THE PROTOCOL 

Article 1 

Rules of origin 

Protocol No 3, shall be amended as follows: 

1. in Articles 3(1) and 4(1), the reference to the new Member States shall be deleted. 

2. Article 18(4) shall be replaced by the following: 

‘4.  Movement  certificates  EUR.1  issued  retrospectively  must  be  endorsed 
with one of the following phrases: 

ES 

"EXPEDIDO A POSTERIORI" 

CS 

"VYSTAVENO DODATEČNĔ" 

DA  "UDSTEDT EFTERFØLGENDE" 

DE 

"NACHTRÄGLICH AUSGESTELLT" 

ET 

EL 

"VÄLJA ANTUD TAGASIULATUVALT" 

"ΕΚ∆ΟΘΕΝ ΕΚ ΤΩΝ ΥΣΤΕΡΩΝ" 

EN 

"ISSUED RETROSPECTIVELY" 

FR 

"DÉLIVRÉ A POSTERIORI" 

IT 

"RILASCIATO A POSTERIORI" 

LV 

"IZSNIEGTS RETROSPEKTĪVI" 

LT 

"RETROSPEKTYVUSIS IŠDAVIMAS" 

HU  "KIADVA VISSZAMENŐLEGES HATÁLLYAL" 

MT  "MAĦRUĠ RETROSPETTIVAMENT" 

NL 

"AFGEGEVEN A POSTERIORI" 

PL 

PT 

SL 

"WYSTAWIONE RETROSPEKTYWNIE" 

"EMITIDO A POSTERIORI" 

"IZDANO NAKNADNO" 

SK 

"VYDANÉ DODATOČNE" 

FI 

"ANNETTU JÄLKIKÄTEEN" 

SV 

"UTFÄRDAT I EFTERHAND"’ 

EN 

5 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
3. Article 19(2) shall be replaced by the following: 

‘2.  The  duplicate  issued  in  this  way  must  be  endorsed  with  one  of  the 
following words: 

ES 

"DUPLICADO" 

CS 

"DUPLIKÁT" 

DA  "DUPLIKAT" 

DE 

"DUPLIKAT" 

ET 

EL 

"DUPLIKAAT" 

"ΑΝΤΙΓΡΑΦΟ" 

EN 

"DUPLICATE" 

FR 

"DUPLICATA" 

IT 

"DUPLICATO" 

LV 

"DUBLIKĀTS" 

LT 

"DUBLIKATAS" 

HU  "MÁSODLAT" 

MT  "DUPLIKAT" 

NL 

"DUPLICAAT" 

PL 

PT 

SL 

"DUPLIKAT" 

"SEGUNDA VIA" 

"DVOJNIK" 

SK 

"DUPLIKÁT" 

FI 

"KAKSOISKAPPALE" 

SV 

"DUPLIKAT"’ 

4. Annex IV shall be replaced by the following: 

The  invoice  declaration,  the  text  of  which  is  given  below,  must  be  made  out  in 
accordance with the footnotes. However, the footnotes do not have to be reproduced. 

Spanish version 

El  exportador  de  los  productos  incluidos  en  el  presente  documento  (autorización 
aduanera  n°  …(1).)  declara  que,  salvo  indicación  en  sentido  contrario,  estos  productos 
gozan de un origen preferencial . …(2). 

Czech version 

Vývozce  výrobků  uvedených  v  tomto  dokumentu  (číslo  povolení  …(1))  prohlašuje,  že 
kromě zřetelně označených, mají tyto výrobky preferenční původ v …(2). 

EN 

6 

   EN 

 
Danish version 

Eksportøren  af  varer,  der  er  omfattet  af  nærværende  dokument,  (toldmyndighedernes 
tilladelse  nr.  ...(1)),  erklærer,  at  varerne,  medmindre  andet  tydeligt  er  angivet,  har 
præferenceoprindelse i ...(2). 

German version 

Der Ausführer (Ermächtigter Ausführer; Bewilligungs-Nr. ...(1)) der Waren, auf die sich 
dieses Handelspapier bezieht, erklärt, dass diese Waren, soweit nicht anders angegeben, 
präferenzbegünstigte ...(2) Ursprungswaren sind. 

Estonian version 

Käesoleva  dokumendiga  hõlmatud  toodete  eksportija  (tolliameti  kinnitus  nr.  ...(1)) 
deklareerib,  et  need  tooted  on  ...(2)  sooduspäritoluga,  välja  arvatud  juhul  kui  on  selgelt 
näidatud teisiti. 

Greek version 

Ο εξαγωγέας των προϊόντων που καλύπτονται από το παρόν έγγραφο (άδεια τελωνείου 
υπ΄αριθ. ...(1)) δηλώνει ότι, εκτός εάν δηλώνεται σαφώς άλλως, τα προϊόντα αυτά είναι 
προτιµησιακής καταγωγής ...(2). 

English version 

The exporter of the products covered by this document (customs authorization No ...(1)) 
declares  that,  except  where  otherwise  clearly  indicated,  these  products  are  of  ...(2) 
preferential origin. 

French version 

L'exportateur  des  produits  couverts  par  le  présent  document  (autorisation  douanière  n° 
...(1))  déclare  que,  sauf  indication  claire  du  contraire,  ces  produits  ont  l'origine 
préférentielle ... (2)). 

Italian version 

L'esportatore delle  merci  contemplate nel presente  documento  (autorizzazione  doganale 
n. ...(1)) dichiara che, salvo indicazione contraria, le merci  sono di  origine preferenziale 
...(2). 

Latvian version 

Eksportētājs produktiem, kuri ietverti šajā dokumentā (muitas pilnvara Nr. …(1)), deklarē, 
ka, iznemot tur, kur ir citādi skaidri noteikts, šiem produktiem ir  priekšrocību izcelsme 
no …(2). 

EN 

7 

   EN 

 
Lithuanian version 

Šiame  dokumente  išvardintų  prekių  eksportuotojas  (muitinès  liudijimo  Nr  …(1)) 
deklaruoja, kad, jeigu kitaip nenurodyta, tai yra …(2) preferencinès kilmés prekés. 

Hungarian version 

A jelen okmányban szereplő áruk exportőre (vámfelhatalmazási szám: …(1)) kijelentem, 
hogy eltérő jelzés hianyában az áruk kedvezményes …(2) származásúak. 

Maltese version 

L-esportatur  tal-prodotti  koperti  b’dan  id-dokument  (awtorizzazzjoni  tad-dwana  nru. 
…(1)) jiddikjara li, ħlief fejn indikat b’mod ċar li mhux hekk, dawn il-prodotti huma ta’ 
oriġini preferenzjali …(2). 

Dutch version 

De exporteur van de goederen waarop dit document van toepassing is (douanevergunning 
nr.  ...(1)),  verklaart  dat,  behoudens  uitdrukkelijke  andersluidende  vermelding,  deze 
goederen van preferentiële ... oorsprong zijn (2). 

Polish version 

Eksporter  produktów objętych  tym  dokumentem  (upoważnienie  władz celnych nr …(1)) 
deklaruje,  że  z  wyjątkiem  gdzie  jest  to  wyraźnie  określone,  produkty  te  mają  …(2) 
preferencyjne pochodzenie. 

Portuguese version 

O exportador dos produtos cobertos pelo presente documento (autorização aduaneira n°. 
...(1)),  declara  que,  salvo  expressamente  indicado  em  contrário,  estes  produtos  são  de 
origem preferencial ...(2). 

Slovenian version 

Izvoznik  blaga,  zajetega  s  tem  dokumentom  (pooblastilo  carinskih  organov  št  …(1)) 
izjavlja,  da,  razen  če  ni  drugače  jasno  navedeno,  ima  to  blago  preferencialno  …(2) 
poreklo. 

Slovak version 

Vývozca  výrobkov  uvedených  v  tomto  dokumente  (číslo  povolenia  …(1))  vyhlasuje,  že 
okrem zreteľne označených, majú tieto výrobky preferenčný pôvod v …(2). 

Finnish version 

Tässä asiakirjassa mainittujen tuotteiden viejä (tullin lupa n:o ...(1)) ilmoittaa, että nämä 
tuotteet  ovat,  ellei 
... 
alkuperätuotteita (2). 

toisin  ole  selvästi  merkitty,  etuuskohteluun  oikeutettuja 

EN 

8 

   EN 

 
Swedish version 

Exportören av de varor som omfattas  av  detta dokument (tullmyndighetens  tillstånd nr. 
...(1)) försäkrar att dessa varor, om inte annat tydligt markerats, har förmånsberättigande 
... ursprung (2). 

………….…………………………………………………………….........................3  
(Place and date) 

...……………………………………………………………………..............................4 
(Signature of the exporter, in addition the name of the person signing the declaration has to be indicated in clear script) 

1  
When the invoice declaration is made out by an approved exporter, the authorization number of 
the  approved  exporter  must  be  enter  in  this  space.  When  the  invoice  declaration  is  not  made  out  by  an 
approved exporter, the words in brackets shall be omitted or the space left blank. 
2  
Origin  of  products  to  be  indicated.  When  the  invoice  declaration  relates  in  whole  or  in  part,  to 
products  originating  in  Ceuta  and  Mellila,  the  exporter  must  clearly  indicate  them  in  the  document  on 
which the declaration is made out by means of the symbol "CM". 
3  
4  
exemption of the name of the signatory. 

These indications may be omitted if the information is contained on the document itself. 
In  cases  where  the  exporter  is  not  required  to  sign,  the  exemption  of  signature  also  implies  the 

EN 

9 

   EN 

 
                                                 
SECTION II 

TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS 

Article 2 

Proof of origin and administrative cooperation 

1. 
Proofs of origin properly issued by either Switzerland or a new Member State in 
the framework of preferential agreements or autonomous arrangements applied between 
them shall be accepted in the respective countries, provided that: 

the  acquisition  of  such  origin  confers  preferential  tariff  treatment  on  the 

(a) 
basis of the preferential tariff measures contained in the Agreement; 

the proof of origin and the transport documents were issued no later than 

(b) 
the day before the date of accession; 

the  proof  of  origin  is  submitted  to  the  customs  authorities  within  the 

(c) 
period of four months from the date of accession. 

Where goods were declared for importation in either Switzerland or a new Member State, 
prior to the date of accession, under preferential agreements or autonomous arrangements 
applied  between  Switzerland  and  that  new  Member  State  at  that  time,  proof  of  origin 
issued  retrospectively  under  those  agreements  or  arrangements  may  also  be  accepted 
provided that it is submitted to the customs authorities within the period of four months 
from the date of accession. 

2. 
Switzerland and the new Member States are authorised to retain the authorisations 
with  which  the  status  of  “approved  exporters”  has  been  granted  in  the  framework  of 
preferential  agreements  or  autonomous  arrangements  applied  between  them,  provided 
that: 

such a provision is also provided for in the agreement concluded prior to 

(a) 
the date of accession between Switzerland and the Community; and 

the  approved  exporter  apply  the  rules  of  origin  in  force  under  that 

(b) 
agreement. 

These authorisations shall be replaced no later than one year after the date of accession, 
by new authorisations issued under the conditions of the Agreement. 

3. 
Requests  for  subsequent  verification  of  proof  of  origin  issued  under  the 
preferential  agreements  or  autonomous  arrangements  referred  to  in  paragraphs  1  and  2 
above shall be accepted by the competent customs authorities of either Switzerland or the 
Member States for a period of three years after the issue of the proof of origin concerned 
and may be made by those authorities for a period of three years after acceptance of the 
proof of origin submitted to those authorities in support of an import declaration. 

EN 

10 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
Article 3 

Goods in transit 

1. 
The provisions of the Agreement may be applied to goods exported from either 
Switzerland to one of the new Member States or from one of the new Member States to 
Switzerland, which comply with the provisions of Protocol No 3 and that on the date of 
accession are either in transit or in temporary storage, in a customs warehouse or in a free 
zone in Switzerland or in that new Member State. 

2. 
Preferential treatment may be granted in such cases, subject to the submission to 
the  customs  authorities  of  the  importing  country,  within  four  months  of  the  date  of 
accession,  of  a  proof  of  origin  issued  retrospectively  by  the  customs  authorities  of  the 
exporting country. 

This decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption. 

Article 4 

It shall apply from 1st May 2004. 

Done at 

For the Joint Committee 
The President 

EN 

11 

   EN 

 
 
FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

1. 

Legal basis 

Article  133  of  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community,  in  conjunction  with 
Article 300 §2, second subparagraph. 

Article 38 of Protocol No 3 of the Agreement between the Economic Community and the 
Swiss Confederation. 

2. 

Title of the measure 

Decision  of  the  EC-Switzerland  Joint  Committee  amending  Protocol  No  3  of  the 
Agreement  between  the  European  Economic  Community  and  the  Swiss  Confederation 
concerning  the  definition  of  the  concept  of  ‘originating  products’  and  methods  of 
administrative cooperation 

3. 

Objective 

To take account of the accession of 10 new Member States to the European Union as of 
1st May 2004. 

4. 

Financial implications 

As the amendments proposed are purely technical and have no implication on the tariff 
concessions  granted  by  the  agreement,  the  proposal  does  not  have  any  financial 
implications. 

EN 

12 

   EN 

 
TIMETABLE 

In  order  to  enable  the  contracting  parties  to  apply  the  transitional  provisions  on  origin 
within the time limits set out in the Decision, an adoption of a Community position by 
the Council as soon as possible is recommended. 

EN 

13 

   EN