8.12.2006 Official Journal of the European Union L 34371 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1807/2006 of 7 December 2006 amending Regulation (EC) No 1614/2000 derogating from Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 in respect of the definition of the concept of originating products used for the purposes of the scheme of generalised preferences to take account of the special situation of Cambodia regarding certain exports of textiles to the Community THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of 12 October 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code (), and in particular Article 247 thereof, Having regard to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code (3, and in particular Article 76 thereof, Whereas: (1) By Council Regulation (EC) No 980/2005 of 27 June 2005 applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences (%), the Community granted generalised tariff preferences to Cambodia. (2)  Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 establishes the definition of the concept of originating products to be used for the purposes of the scheme of generalised tariff preferences. Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 also provides for dero- gations from that definition in favour of least developed Dbeneficiary countries benefiting from the generalised system of preferences (GSP) which submit an appropriate request to that effect to the Community. (3)  Cambodia has benefited from such derogation for certain textiles since 1997, in the last instance by virtue of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1614/2000 (4). The (") OJ L 302, 19.10.1992, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regu- lation (EC) No 648/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council (O] L 117, 4.5.2005, p. 13). (® OJ L 253, 11.10.1993, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regu- lation (EC) No 402/2006 (O] L 70, 9.3.2006, p. 35). () OJ L 169, 30.6.2005, p. 1. (*) OJ L 185, 25.7.2000, p. 46. Regulation as last amended by Regu- lation (EC) No 2187/2004 (O] L 373, 21.12.2004, p. 16). validity of Regulation (EC) No 1614/2000 has been extended until 31 December 2006. By letter dated 29 June 2006 Cambodia submitted a request for prolongation of the derogation in accordance with Article 76 of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93. When the validity of Regulation (EC) No 1614/2000 was extended until 31 December 2006, it was expected that new, simpler and more development-friendly GSP rules of origin would be in force before expiry of the dero- gation. However the new GSP rules of origin are not expected to be adopted before 31 December 2006. Application of the GSP rules of origin currently in force would have an adverse effect on investment, and employment in Cambodia as well as on ability of existing industry in Cambodia to continue its exports to the Community. The prolongation period should take account of the time necessary to adopt and implement new GSP rules of origin. In addition, the interests of traders concluding contracts both in Cambodia and in the Community, as well as the stability of Cambodian industry, require that the derogation should be prolonged for a period sufficient to permit the continuation or conclusion of longer term contracts. The derogation should therefore be prolonged until 31 December 2008. However, in order to ensure fair treatment for Cambodia and for other least developed countries, the continuing need for the derogation should be reviewed once new GSP rules of origin are adopted. Regulation (EC) No 1614/2000 should therefore be amended accordingly. The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Customs Code Committee,