31980D1343

COMMISSION DECISION of 22 December 1980 establishing that the apparatus described as "VEGA - peptide synthesizer, model 96" may be imported free of Common Customs Tariff duties (80/1343/EEC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1798/75 of 10 July 1975 on the importation free of Common Customs Tariff duties of educational, scientific and cultural materials (1), as amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1027/79 (2).

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2784/79 of 12 December 1979 laying down provisions for the implementation of Regulation (EEC) No 1798/75 (3), and in particular Article 7 thereof,

Whereas, by letter dated 16 June 1980, the United Kingdom Government has requested the Commission to invoke the procedure provided for in Article 7 of Regulation (EEC) No 2784/79 in order to determine whether or not the apparatus described as "VEGA - peptide synthesizer, model 96", to be used in medical research and in particular in the synthesis of biologically-active peptides and their analogues, should be considered to be a scientific apparatus and, where the reply is in the affirmative, whether apparatus of equivalent scientific value is currently being manufactured in the Community;

Whereas, in accordance with the provisions of Article 7 (5) of Regulation (EEC) No 2784/79, a group of experts composed of representatives of all the Member States met on 4 November 1980, within the framework of the Committee on Duty-Free Arrangements, to examine the matter;

Whereas this examination showed that the apparatus in question is a synthesizer ; whereas its objective technical characteristics, such as the rapidity and the precision of the peptides synthesis, and the use to which it is put make it specially suited to scientific research ; whereas, moreover, apparatus of the same kind are principally used for scientific activities ; whereas it must therefore be considered to be a scientific apparatus;

Whereas, on the basis of information received from Member States, apparatus of equivalent scientific value capable of use for the same purpose is not currently manufactured in the Community ; whereas, therefore, duty-free admission of this apparatus is justified,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The apparatus described as "VEGA - peptide synthesizer, model 96", which is the subject of an application by the United Kingdom Government of 16 June 1980, may be imported free of Common Customs Tariff duties.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 22 December 1980.

For the Commission

Étienne DAVIGNON

Member of the Commission (1) OJ No L 184, 15.7.1975, p. 1. (2) OJ No L 134, 31.5.1979, p. 1. (3) OJ No L 318, 13.12.1979, p. 32.