THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 113 thereof,

Whereas the Protocols and Annexes1 on the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation for the application of preferential tariff arrangements granted by the Community in respect of imports from third countries, exlude certain mineral products and certain products of the chemical or allied industries from their scope, in particular as regards the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’;

Whereas, for all such products imported within the framework of the preferential tariff arrangements, the Member States of the Community define the concept of ‘originating products’ in accordance with their own national rules;

Whereas the internal market will comprise an area without internal frontiers in which, inter alia, the free movement of goods is assured; whereas it is therefore necessary to ensure uniform implementation of the provisions concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ applicable to certain mineral products and to certain products of the chemical or allied industries within the framework of preferential tariff arrangements granted by the Community to third countries;

Whereas for the abovementioned products the conditions should be defined whereby they acquire originating status for the purposes of the tariff preference arrangements referred to above,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: