8. 11. 97 Official Journal of the European Communities L 305/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 2216/97 of 3 November 1997 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff and autonomously suspending collection of Common Customs Tariff duties in respect of certain information technology products THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 28 and 113 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 (') established a nomenclature of goods, hereinafter referred to as the ‘combined nomenclature’; Whereas Decision 97/359/EC (3 provides for the binding and elimination by 1 January 2000 of customs duties on certain information technology products; whereas the annexes to the Singapore Ministerial Declaration of 13 December 1996 on trade in information technology products encourage parties to eliminate customs duties autonomously before the deadline; whereas it is desirable on that basis to suspend or reduce further customs duties on a number of products, including some semiconductors, covered by the said Decision; Whereas Council Decision 94/800/EC of 22 December 1994 concerning the conclusion on behalf of the Euro- pean Community, as regards matters within its com- petence, of the agreements reached in the Uruguay Round multilateral negotiations (1986-1994)(*) has resulted in exemption from customs duties for certain apparatus used in the manufacture and testing of semi- conductors; whereas certain parts intended to be incorpo- rated into such apparatus remain subject to the customs duties for the headings under which they fall; whereas the exemption does not apply to certain other apparatus, and parts thereof, for the manufacture and testing of semicon- ductors; whereas the exemption should be extended to the said apparatus and parts; () OJ L 256,7.9. 1987, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Re- gulation (EC) No 1734/96 (OJ L 238, 19. 9. 1996, p. 1). ® OJ L 155, 12. 6. 1997, p. 1. () OJ L 336, 23. 12. 1994, p. L. Whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of 12 October 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code (), and in particular Articles 21, 82, 88 and 90 thereof, and Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implemen- tation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 estab- lishing the Community Customs Code (), and in par- ticular Articles 291 et seq. thereof, lay down the condi- tions on which certain goods will be admitted with fa- vourable tariff treatment by reason of their end-use; whereas it is appropriate to use those provisions for certain apparatus; Whereas new subheadings should be inserted in the combined nomenclature for the products in question, coupled where necessary with end-use provisions; whereas the said nomenclature should be amended accordingly, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 1. Annex I, Part Two, of the combined nomenclature annexed to Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 is hereby amended in accordance with Annex I to this Regulation. 2. The changes to the subheadings of the Combined Nomenclature, laid down by this Regulation, shall apply as Taric subheadings until their insertion into the combined nomenclature in accordance with the provi- sions of Article 12 of Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87. () OJ L 302, 19. 10. 1992, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 82/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 17, 21. 1. 1997, p. 1). () OJ L 253, 11. 10. 1993, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 89/97 (O] L 17, 21. 1. 1997, p. 28).