Suspension of CCT duties for products intended to free zones of the Azores and Madeira (amend. Regul. 1657/93/EEC)

This proposal for a regulation amended Regulation No 1657/93/EEC temporarily suspending the autonomous Common Customs Tariff (CCT) duties for certain industrial products intended to equip the free zones of the Azores and Madeira, applicable until 31 December 2000. On 7 February 1994, the Portuguese authorities called on the Commission to suspend the CCT duties for a range of capital goods other than those covered by Regulation No 1657/93/EEC imported into Madeira. The products in question were intended to equip companies established in the free zone of the island. The request was in response to the increase in economic activities in the free zone in Madeira. However, the Commission proposed that this measure also be adopted for the free zone of the Azores in order to maintain the same rules with regard to Community tariff measures for regions with similar socio-economic situations. The annex to the proposal listed the industrial products that were exempt from duties. �