CELEX: 51989PC0031
Language: en
Date: 1989-02-14
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) on the origin of photocopying apparatus incorporating an optical system or of the contact type (Presented by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (89) 31
Vol. 1989/0011
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 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                    COM(89 ) 31 final
                                                    Brussels , 14 February 1989
                                       Proposal for a
                              COUNCIL REGULATION           ( EEC )
       on the origin of photocopying apparatus incorporating an
                  optical system or of the contact type
                           ( Presented by the Commission )
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 ---pagebreak---                                    EXPLANATORY hOORANDOM
  1 . The question has recently arisen whether assembly of photocopiers
       acccrnpamed by the manufacture of the harness , drum, rollers , side-plates
        roller bearings , screws and nuts confers origin in terms of Article 5 of
       Council Regulation (EEC) No. 802/68 on the canton definition of the concept
       of origin of goods ( 1 ) .
                              t
 2.    Article 5 rules that a product in the production of which two or more
       countries were involved snail be regarded as originating in the country in
       which the last substantial process or operation that is econcinically
       justified was performed , having been carried out in an undertaking equipped
       for the purpose , and resulting in the manufacture of a new product or
       representing an important stage of manufacture .
 3.    The first question which is to be answered in this context is whether the
       assembly of the photocopiers in question is the last substantial
       operation . Assembly operations are mainly carried out by means of electric
       screwdrivers . These screwdriver operations are accompanied by adjustment
      operations and by the incorporation of the harness into the machine . The
       starting point for the evaluation of the assembly was the consideration
      that simple assembly does not confer origin .
4.    The question of whether an operation is simple or not has to be evaluated
      in the context of the total operations necessary for the manufacture of a
      machine .    In the present case , taking an overall view which involves a
      ccrnparison with the importance of other operations and in particular of the
      importance of the manufacture of parts (production of printed circuit
      boards , lenses , motors , transformers and generators ) the assembly is not
      substantial .
5 . This interpretation fits perfectly within the framework of the last
      substantial operation ,     and does not introduce the criterion of most
      substantial operation as the qualifying element ( the latter would without
      any doubt be a misinterpretation of Article 5 of Regulation ( EEC ) NO ,
      802/68 .)
( 1 ) OJ No . L 148 of 28.06.1968 , p. 1 .
                                                                                    г
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 2 -
6.  Additionally ,  where assembly is accompanied by manufacture of certain
    photocopy parts ( harness , drum , rollers , side-plates , roller-bearings ,
   screws and nuts ), it is necessary to determine if the assembly and
   such manufacture would qualify as the last substantial operation .
7. However , when the technical sophistication of these parts is compared with
   manufacture of other more complicated and vital parts , it becomes evident
   that assembly , even when accompanied by manufacture of certain parts , as
   listed in paragraph 6 above , cannot be considered to be the last
   substantial process or operation under Article 5 of Regulation ( EEC ) No .
   802 /68 . In the light of the manufacture of hi-tech printed circuit boards ,
   the sophisticated and delicate manufacture of the lenses , motors ,
   transformers and high-voltage generators , the assembly accompanied by
   manufacture of the harness , drum , rollers , side-plates , roller-bearings ,
   screws snd nuts remains of such minor significance in comparison with the
   above-mentioned high-tech parts manufacture , that such assembly and
   manufacture cannot be considered as the last substantial operation .
8. To clarify this situation , and to ensure the common interpretation of
   Community legislation in this matter , the Commission services prepared a
   draft Commission Regulation , which was submitted to the Committee on Origin
   at its 179th meeting of 28.11.88 - 01.12.88 .      All Member States save one
   agreed with the origin rule interpretation proposed in this draft
   Regulation , but some would have preferred the adoption of an informal
   Committee position rather than a Commission Regulation . This would have ,
   however , required unanimity among the Member States .          Nevertheless a
   majority of Member States voted in favour of the draft Commission
   Regulation .    Under Article 14 of Regulation ( EEC ) No . 802/68 , end in the
   absence of favourable opinion by         qualified majority on the draft
   Commission Regulation , it is now necessary to propose these provisions
   governing origin of photocopying apparatus in the form of the attached
   draft Council Regulation .
                                                                                   3
 ---pagebreak---                                      Proposai far a
                                 COUivCIL REGULATION ( EEC )
                      on the origin of photocopying apparatus
              incorporating an optical system car of the aontact type
 THE COUNCTL OF THE EUROPEEN OOEMLMTIES,
 Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Conmumty,
 Having regard to Council Regulation ( EEC ) No . 802/68 of 27 June 1968 on the
 ccrrmon definition of the concept of origin of goods ( 1 ) , as last amended by
 Carnussion Regulation ( EEC ) No . 3860/87     ( 2 ), ana in particular Article 14
thereof .
Having regard to the proposal from the Gorrmission ,
Whereas Article 5 of Regulation ( EEC ) No . 802 /68 provides that a product m
the production of which two or more countries were concerned shall be
regarded as originating in the country in which the last substantial process
or operation that is economically justified was performed , having been
carried out in an undertaking equipped for the purpose and resulting in the
manufacture of a new product or representing an important stage of
nanufacture ;
Whereas in the production of a photocopying apparatus incorporating an
optical system or of the contact type the assembly operations accompanied by
the manufacture of the harness , drum, rollers , side-plates , roller-bearings ,
screws and nuts do not constitute a process or operation within the meaning of
Article 5 of Regulation ( EEC ) No . 802/63 ;
Whereas the assembly operations in question accompanied by the manufacrture
of tlie above-mentioned components are , with regard to the totality of the
operations necressary for the production of the photcxxpying machines concerned
so significantly less important than the other operations (manufacture of
complicated or technically sophisticated components such as the various
printed circuit boards , lenses , various motors and high-voltage generators )
that they cannot be considered as constituting, whether individually or
collectively, the last substantial operation in terms of Article 5 of
Regulation ( EEC ) No . 802/68 ; whereas , consecjuently, they snoulo net confer the
origin of the country in which they have been carried out;
( 1 ) O.J. L 148 of 28.06.1968 , p. 1 .
( 2 ) O.J. L 363 of 23.12.1987 , p. 30 .
 ---pagebreak---                                        - 2 -
 Whereas , in the absence of a concurring Opinion of the Committee on Origin ,
 the Commission was not able to adopt the provisions which it had envisaged in
  this connection in accordance with the procedure provided for in Article 14
  ( 3)(a ) of Regulation ( EEC ) No . 802 /68 ;    whereas , in pursuance of
 paragraph 3(b ) of that Article , the Commission has submitted           to
 the Council a proposal relating to the measures to be taken ,
 HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION :
                                     Article 1
 The manufacture of photocopying apparatus , incorporating an optical system or
  of the contact type ,     of    CN   Code     ex 90.09 shall not
 confer on the said apparatus the origin of the country where it was carried
 out when only the operations listed in column 3 of the Annex are
effected .
                                     Artide 2
 This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following 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
                                                                                r
 ---pagebreak---                                     ANNEX
  C. N.     Description of product         Process or operation    carried
  Codes                                    out on non-originating materials
                                           that does not confer the status
                                           of originating products
    (1 )             (2 )                                 (3 )
ex 90 . 09 Photocopying apparatus ,     - Assembly of photocopying apparatus
           incorporating an optical       accompanied by the manufacture of
           system or of the contact       the harness , drum, rollers , side
           type                           plates , roller bearings , screws
                                          and nuts .