1.A safeguard measure shall remain in force only for such period of time as may be necessary to prevent or remedy the serious injury to Union industry and to facilitate adjustment. That period shall not exceed two years, unless it is extended under paragraph 3.
2.A safeguard measure shall remain in force, pending the outcome of the review under paragraph 3, during any extension period.
3.The initial period of duration of a safeguard measure may exceptionally be extended by up to two years provided that the safeguard measure continues to be necessary to prevent or remedy serious injury to Union industry and that there is evidence that the Union industry is adjusting.
4.Any extension pursuant to paragraph 3 of this Article shall be preceded by an investigation upon a request by a Member State, by any legal person or any association not having legal personality acting on behalf of the Union industry, or on the Commission's own initiative if there is sufficient prima facie evidence that the conditions laid down in paragraph 3 of this Article are met, on the basis of factors referred to in Article 5(5).
5.The initiation of an investigation shall be published in accordance with Article 4(6) and (7). The investigation and any decision regarding an extension pursuant to paragraph 3 of this Article shall be made in accordance with Articles 5, 8 and 9.
6.The total duration of a safeguard measure shall not exceed four years, including any provisional safeguard measure.
7.A safeguard measure shall not be applied beyond the expiry of the transitional period, except with the consent of the Central American country concerned.
8.No safeguard measure shall be applied to the import of a product that has previously been subject to such a measure, unless a period of time equal to half of that during which the safeguard measure was applied for the immediately preceding period has elapsed.