WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1806/97 by Robert EVANS to the Commission. EU quotas on electrical goods
C 21/98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 22. 1. 98 All the specific amounts which form part of the duty applied to processed agricultural products including food preparations containing cassava falling under code 1901 90 99 of the combined nomenclature were bound in the General agreement on tariffs and trade Uruguay Round settlement. These bindings were based upon the average of the levies applied over the period 1986 to 1988. (1) OJ L 318, 20. 12. 1993. (98/C 21/201) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1806/97 by Robert Evans (PSE) to the Commission (28 May 1997) Subject: EU quotas on electrical goods Would the Commission give a detailed outlay of any restrictions on the import of electrical wiring accessories (plugs, switches, sockets), into the European Union? Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (18 July 1997) Electrical wiring accessories, like switches, plugs and sockets, are not subject to Community quotas on imports. Some restrictions are applied to such products imported from Iraq or Libya (1). No particular restriction based on technical rules and standards exists for imported electrical equipment subject to Community harmonisation. In fact, as far as conditions applicable to placing on the Community market are concerned, electrical equipment, including wiring accessories, is subject to Directive 73/23/EEC, as modified by Directive 93/68/EEC, on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (the low voltage Directive) (2). Products imported from third countries into the Community must comply with exactly the same Community rules which apply to domestically produced electrical equipment. The low voltage Directive sets the essential safety requirements applicable. A declaration of conformity by the manufacturer or his authorised representative is required and must be kept at the disposal of market surveillance authorities. No third party certification is required. For plugs and sockets for domestic use excluded from the scope of that Directive, national provisions and standards are in force. (1) The electrical apparatus for switching or protecting electrical circuits or for making connections to or in electrical circuits (switches, fuses lightning arresters, voltage limiters, surge suppresors, plugs, junction boxes and the like), for a voltage exceeding 1,000 volts, of CN heading 8535 and the same types of apparatus, for a voltage not exceeding 1,000 volts, of heading 8536 intended strictly for essential civilian needs or for medical purposes are excluded from the ban applying to products originating in Iraq, but require a preliminary import authorisation, pursuant to paragraph 23 of United Nations Security Council Resolution 687/1991, to be delivered by the committee established under Security Council Resolution 661/1990, before their import into the Community can be approved. Import into the Community of all components for use in certain types of aircraft within the two mentioned headings originating in Libya is banned, pursuant to Council Regulation (EEC) 3274/93 › OJ L 295, 30. 11. 1993. (2) OJ L 220, 30. 8. 1997. (98/C 21/202) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1807/97 by Robert Evans (PSE) to the Commission (28 May 1997) Subject: EU safety regulations and the disabled Is the Commission aware of the problems of access for the disabled sometimes created by buildings conforming to fire and other safety regulations (heavy doors and so on)?