Considerations on COM(2019)262 - EU position in the World Customs Organization Council in relation to a WCO Article 16 Recommendation amending the Harmonised System

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dossier COM(2019)262 - EU position in the World Customs Organization Council in relation to a WCO Article 16 Recommendation amending the Harmonised ...
document COM(2019)262 EN
date June  3, 2019
 
(1) The International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (‘the Agreement’), concluded by the Union by Council Decision 87/369 61, entered into force on 1 January 1988.

(2) Pursuant to Article 7 of the Agreement, the Harmonized System Committee may prepare for the WCO Council proposals for amendment to the HS Nomenclature. Under Article 16 of the Agreement, the WCO Council may recommend this amendment to the Contracting Parties.

(3) The WCO Council is expected to decide on a Recommendation to the Contracting Parties for an amendment to the HS Nomenclature at its June sessions. Such a Recommendation will be adopted on the basis of a proposal prepared by the Harmonized System Committee and finalised during its 63rd meeting on 19-29 March 2019. It will enter into force on 1 January 2022.

(4) It is of utmost importance that the HS Nomenclature is kept up-to-date and in line with the evolution of trade patterns, the development of new technologies and reflect as closely as possible the needs of the users. The proposed Recommendation includes numerous sets of amendments that take into account the need to modernise or adapt the nomenclature to its environment.

(5) Since that Recommendation for an amendment to the HS Nomenclature is to be adopted by the WCO Council, it is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union's behalf, as, once accepted under Article 16 of the Agreement, the Recommendation will be binding on the Union and capable of decisively influencing the content of Union law, namely Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 72.

(6) A partial EU position to be taken in the WCO was established already before the 63rd meeting of the Harmonised System Committee 83.

7) It is appropriate to support the draft amendment to the HS Nomenclature, and any minor editorial changes that may be deemed necessary.