(1)

By Council Regulation (EC) No 980/2005 of 27 June 2005 applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences (3), the Community granted generalised tariff preferences to Laos.

(2)

Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 establishes the definition of the concept of originating products to be used for the purposes of the scheme of generalised tariff preferences. Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 also provides for derogations from that definition in favour of least developed beneficiary countries benefiting from the generalised system of preferences (GSP) which submit an appropriate request to that effect to the Community.

(3)

Laos has benefited from such derogation for certain textiles since 1997, in the last instance by virtue of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1613/2000 (4). The validity of Regulation (EC) No 1613/2000 has been extended until 31 December 2006.

(4)

By letter dated 22 June 2006 Laos submitted a request for prolongation of the derogation in accordance with Article 76 of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93.

(5)

When the validity of Regulation (EC) No 1613/2000 was extended until 31 December 2006, it was expected that new, simpler and more development-friendly GSP rules of origin would be in force before expiry of the derogation. However the new GSP rules of origin are not expected to be adopted before 31 December 2006.

(6)

Application of the GSP rules of origin currently in force would have an adverse effect on investment, and employment in Laos as well as on ability of existing industry in Laos to continue its exports to the Community.

(7)

The prolongation period should take account of the time necessary to adopt and implement new GSP rules of origin. In addition, the interests of traders concluding contracts both in Laos and in the Community, as well as the stability of Laos industry, require that the derogation should be prolonged for a period sufficient to permit the continuation or conclusion of longer term contracts.

(8)

The derogation should therefore be prolonged until 31 December 2008. However, in order to ensure fair treatment for Laos and for other least developed countries, the continuing need for the derogation should be reviewed once new GSP rules of origin are adopted.

(9)

Regulation (EC) No 1613/2000 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(10)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Customs Code Committee,

1.

In the first paragraph the date ‘31 December 2006’ is replaced by ‘31 December 2008’;

2.

The second paragraph is replaced by the following:

‘The continuing need for the derogation shall however be reviewed once the new rules of origin of the generalised system of preferences are adopted.’