CELEX: 51982PC0874
Language: en
Date: 1982-12-21
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) introducing quantitative restrictions on the imports of certain categories of wood in France (submitted to the Council by the Commission)

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DE LA COMMISSION
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DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (82) 874
Vol. 1982/0267
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 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                          COM(82 ) 87 ^ final
                                          Brussels , 21 December 1982
                          i
                         Proposal for a
                   COUNCIL REGULATION ( ESC )
  introducing quantitative restrictions on the imports of
                 certain categories of wood in France
         ( submitted to the Council by the Commission )
                               A'" - r
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  COM ( 82 ) 87 ^ final          V
 ---pagebreak---                             EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
With telex of 7 December 1982 , the French government has informed the Commission
that French forestry was seriously effected by the storm which occurred on 7 no­
vember 1982 and that the volume of trees destroyed or damaged , in twenty depart­
ments particularly in the " massif central' , reaches     eleven million cubic metres ,
of which 80% was resinous , representing more than half of the amount normally
felled in a full year in all of France ; to make use of these trees will involve
a production of sawn wood which is estimated at 350 000 m3 of fir and spruce and
1 000 000 m3 of other conifers .
Especially as regards sawn wood of fir and spruce the distribution of a quantity
of 350 000 m3 on a rigid market which       combines an excessive  supply and an in­
elastic demand creates considerable difficulties which are likely to provoke
serious disturbances in that industry ; these difficulties of disposal also risk
hindering the uprooting of these trees that have been destroyed thus endangering
the preservation of forest in the regions affected .
In order to resolve the consequences of this natural disaster the French Republic
introduced an urgent programme involving aids for the producers concerned .
This programme is nevertheless inadequate to solve all the aspects of the problem
and in particular to ensure the disposal of the excess quantity of sawn fir wood
on the market .
In these circumstances the Commission proposes to the Counsil a derogation from
Regulation ( EEC ) No . 288 / 82 imposing common rules for imports from third countries
and Regulation ( CEE ) No . 1765 / 82 laying down common rules for imports from state
trading countries , to make imports to France of fir and spruce wood subject to
quota until 31 December 1983 .
The Commission proposes that this quota be fixed at 1 200 000 m3 which is approci-
mately equal to the average imports in France in the last five years <1 500 000 m3 )
minus the excess quantity ( 350 000 m3 ).
An appropriate draft regulation is attached for approval .
 ---pagebreak---                              Proposal for a
                      COUNCIL REGULATION ( EEC )
     introducing quantitative restrictions on the imports of
                certain   categories of wood   in France
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 ;
Whereas the French government has informed the Commission that French
forestry was seri,ously affected by the storm which occurred on 7 November
1982 and that the volume of trees destroyed or damaged , in twenty
departments particularly in the " massif central ", reach eleven million
cubic metres , of which 80% was resinous , representing more than half of
the amount normally felled in a full year in all of France ; whereas to
make use of these trees will involve a production of sawn wood which
is estimated at 350 000 m3 of fir and spruce and 1 000 000 m3 of other
coni fers ;
Whereas especially as regards sawn wood of fir and spruce the distribution
of a quantity of 350 000 m3 on a rigid market which combines an excessive
supply and an inelastic demand creates considerable difficulties which
are likely to provoke serious disturbances in that industry ; whereas
these difficulties of disposal also risk hindering the uprooting of
these trees that have been destroyed thus endangering the preservation of
forests in the regions affected ;
Whereas in order to resolve the     consequences of this natural disaster the
French Republic introduced an urgent programme involving aids for the
producers concerned ;
Whereas this programme is nevertheless inadequate to solve all the aspects
of the problem and in particular to ensure the disposal of the excess
quantity of sawn fir wood on the market ;
 ---pagebreak---                                          - 2 -
          Whereas the size of this natural catastrophe and its consequences for
          the sector concerned and the preservation of the forests in the regions
          affected justifies the introduction on an exceptional and temporary
          basis of quantitative restrictions on imports into France of sawn fir
          and spruce wood originating in third countries in derogation from
          Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 288 / 82(1 ) of 5.2.1982 establishing common
          rules for imports from third countries from Council Regulation ( EEC)N° 1765 / 82(2 )
30 June .
       ' 1982 laying down common rules for imports from state trading countries ;
          Whereas in settling these quantitative restrictions , the importance
          of maintaining traditional trade patterns and contracts concluded
                                                 4
          previously under normal conditions should , insofar as possible be taken
          into account ;
          HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION :
                                      Article 1
          In derogation from Council Regulations ( EEC ) N° 288 / 82 and N    1765 / 82 ,
          imports into France of the products listed hereafter originating in and
          coming from third countries shall be subject to a quota of 1 200 000 m3 :
          Common Customs Tariff             Nimexe Code            Description of goods
          Heading No
                 nc-
          ex 44.05
                                              ,,
                                             44.05-ex 40
                                                                   Fir
                                                                   ,
                                                                       and spruce
                                                                                _ 7 _.
                                                                                       wood~ sawn
                                                                                             _   1 ,
                                                                   lengthwise , sliced or peeled ,
                                                                   but not further prepared , of
                                                                   a thickness exceeding 5 mm
 ---pagebreak---                        Article 2
Imports which are in transit to the French Republic or effected pursuant
to contracts previously concluded under normal conditions are excluded
from the application of the restrictions referred to in Article 1 .
                       Article 3
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in
the Official Journal of the European Communities and shall expire on
31  December 1983 .
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable
in all Member States .
Done at Brussels ,