Imports of textile products: proof of origin and common rules

PURPOSE: the repeal of Council Regulation (EC) No 1541/98.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EU) No 955/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1541/98 on proof of origin for certain textile products falling within Section XI of the Combined Nomenclature and released for free circulation in the Community and on the conditions for the acceptance of such proof, and amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 3030/93 on common rules for imports of certain textile products from third countries.

CONTENT: Council Regulation (EC) No 1541/98 lays down the rules on proof of origin for certain textile products originating in third countries with which the Union concluded bilateral textile agreements, protocols or other arrangements, and for textile products in respect of which the Union has established a system of surveillance in order to monitor the trends of imports of products or to which it applies special safeguard measures.

Since Regulation (EC) No 1541/98 was adopted a number of major developments have taken place. The import measures applied by the Union to textile products falling within Section XI of the Combined Nomenclature have gradually decreased in number and impact and are now of a residual nature, in terms of both Combined Nomenclature headings covered and countries concerned.

The obligation to provide additional proof of origin on a systematic basis for the textile products referred to in recital 1 has become disproportionate in relation to its aim, which is to supplement certain import measures which have themselves practically fallen into disuse. Thus this obligation places an unnecessary burden on economic operators.

As a consequence, Regulation (EC) No 1541 is repealed.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 05/10/2011.