Goods shall be considered to be returned in the state in which they were exported where, after having been exported from the customs territory of the Union, they have not received a treatment or handling other than that altering their appearance or necessary to repair them, restore them to good condition or maintain them in good condition.

Goods shall be considered to be returned in the state in which they were exported where, after having been exported from the customs territory of the Union, they have received a treatment or handling other than that altering their appearance or necessary to repair them, restore them to good condition or maintain them in good condition but it became apparent after such treatment or handling had commenced that that treatment or handling is unsuitable for the intended use of the goods.

Where the goods referred to in paragraph 1 or 2 have undergone treatment or handling that would have rendered them liable to import duty if they had been placed under the outward processing procedure, those goods shall be considered to be returned in the state in which they were exported only on the condition that that treatment or handling, including the incorporation of spare parts, does not exceed what is strictly necessary to enable the goods to be used in the same way as at the time of export from the customs territory of the Union.