Commission Regulation (EC) No 886/2004 of 4 March 2004 adapting certain regulations and decisions in the field of free movement of goods, competition policy, agriculture, environment and external relations by reason of the accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia

Regulations (EC) No 1474/2000, (EC) No 1477/2000, (EC) No 1520/2000, (EC) No 1488/2001, (EC) No 76/2002, (EC) No 349/2003(EC) and (EC) No 358/2003 and Decisions 2000/657/EC, 2002/602/ECSC, 1469/2002/ECSC and 2003/122/EC are amended as set out in the Annex.

Decision 2003/450/EC is repealed.

This Regulation shall enter into force subject to, and as from the date of, the entry into force of the Treaty of Accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia.

The prohibition in Article 81(1) of the Treaty shall not apply to agreements which were in existence at the date of accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia and which, by reason of accession, fall within the scope of Article 81(1) if, within six months from the date of accession, they are so amended that they comply with the conditions laid down in this Regulation.’.

As regards release for free circulation in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia as of 1 May 2004 of the steel products covered by this Commission Regulation and shipped before 1 May 2004, a surveillance document is not required provided that the goods have been shipped before 1 May 2004. The presentation of the bill of lading or another transport document deemed to be equivalent by Community authorities proving the shipment date is required.’

As regards release for free circulation in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia as of 1 May 2004 of the steel products covered by this Commission Decision, an import licence is required, even if the steel products have been shipped before that date. If the steel products are shipped to a new Member State before 1 May 2004 , the import licence is granted automatically without quantitative limitation on presentation of the bill of lading or another transport document deemed to be equivalent by the Community licensing offices proving the shipment date and after approval from the Commission’s office responsible for the management of licences (SIGL). If the steel products are shipped to a new Member State on 1 May 2004 or after that date, they are subject to the specific rules governing quantitative limits as defined in this Commission Decision.’.

As regards release for free circulation in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia as of 1 May 2004 of the steel products covered by this Commission Decision, an import licence is required, even if the steel products have been shipped before that date. If the steel products are shipped to a new Member State before 1 May 2004, the import licence is granted automatically without quantitative limitation on presentation of the bill of lading or another transport document deemed to be equivalent by the Community licensing offices proving the shipment date and after approval from the Commission’s office responsible for the management of licences (SIGL). If the steel products are shipped to a new Member State on 1 May 2004 or after that date, they are subject to the specific rules governing quantitative limits as defined in this Commission Decision.’