2.2.1999 Official Journal of the European Communities L27/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 241/1999 of 25 January 1999 amending Regulation (EC) No 3295/94 laying down measures to prohibit the release for free circulation, export, re-export or entry for a suspensive procedure of counterfeit and pirated goods THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 113 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parlia- ment (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), (1)  Whereas, pursuant to Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 3295/94 (*), conclusions should be drawn from the experience gained during the early years of its implementation with a view to improving the operation of the system it set up; (2)  Whereas the marketing of goods infringing patents or supplementary protection certificates for medi- cinal products as provided for in Council Regula- tion (EEC) No 1768/92 of 18 June 1992 concerning the creation of a supplementary protec- tion certificate for medicinal products (°) or supple- mentary protection certificates for plant protection products, as provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1610/96 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 1996 concerning the creation of a supplementary protection certificate for plant protection products (°) causes serious injury to their holders and constitutes an unfair and unlawful business activity; whereas such goods should as far as possible be prevented from being placed on the () OJ C 108, 7. 4. 1998, p. 63. () OJ C 210, 6. 7. 1998, p. 125. (%) OJ C 284, 14. 9. 1998, p. 3. () OJ L 341, 30. 12. 1994, p. 8. () OJ L 182, 2. 7. 1992, p. 1. Regulation as amended by the 1994 Act of Accession. ( © OJ L 198, 8. 8. 1996, p. 30. market and measures should be adopted to that end to deal effectively with this unlawful activity without impeding the freedom of legitimate trade; whereas this objective is also being pursued through efforts being made along the same lines at international level; (3)  Whereas, in order to guarantee the integrity of the Community’s external frontier, the customs author- ities should be permitted to take action against goods infringing certain intellectual property rights and associated goods whatever their customs status; whereas the release for free circulation in the Community, entry for a suspensive procedure, re- export or placing in a free zone or free warechouse of such goods should therefore be prohibited; whereas moreover the customs authorities should be authorised to take action as soon as the said goods are brought into the Community; (4)  Whereas, as regards suspensive procedures, free zones and free warehouses, re-export subject to notification and temporary storage, the customs authorities will act only where goods suspected to be goods infringing certain intellectual property rights are discovered during a check; (5) Whereas Council Regulation (EC) No 40/94 of 20 December 1993 on the Community trademark (") has established a system whereby right holders can, by means of a single procedure, obtain Community trade marks enjoying uniform protection and producing their effects throughout the Community; () OJ L 11, 14. 1. 1994, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regula- tion (EC) No 3288/94 (O] L 349, 31. 12. 1994, p. 83).