Amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 3330/91 on the statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States, with specific reference to the nomenclature of products (Intrastat)
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES Brussels, 27. 04. 1998 COM(1998) 269 final 97/0162 (COD) Amended proposal for a EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 3330/91 on the statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States, with specific reference to the nomenclature of products (INTRASTAT) (presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 a (2) of the EC-Treaty) EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 1 The Commission has studied the report of the European Parliament1 and the adopted amendments2. 2. The Commission approves the amendments of the European Parliament. 3. The Commission thus accepts the position that the simplification benefits of a specific INTRÀSTAT nomenclature including a substantial reduced number of subheadings could in tho present collection system be counterbalanced by additional costs for maintaining two nomenclature versions for intra and extra-Community trade. This position has also been emphasized by representatives of European federations at several occasions. 4. The amendments proposed by the European Parliament emphasizes the idea of a single nomenclature - the Combined Nomenclature (CN) - for intra and extra- Community trade statistics, and refers to the second phase of the SLIM initiative in which the CN is subject of simplification. The Commission supports this approach. 5. The Commission shares the point of view of the European Parliament that the simplifications should be designed in particular for the SMEs by introducing thresholds or other measures, e. g. tools facilitating ths classification of the products, to simplify the declaration of the product code. The Commission finds that such measures will reinforce the simplification impact of the revised proposal, and will respond to the complaints of the providers in terms of the difficulties to determine the correct product code. 6. The Commission finds it important to achieve concrete legislative results, and emphasizes the strong political support which has been expressed in respect of the SLIM project of which INTRASTAT is part. • A4-0102/98 of 19 March, 1998 2 PE 268. 231 of 1 April, 1998 J Amended proposa! for a European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) amending Council Regulation (EEC) Nc 3330/91 on the statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States, with specific reference to the nomenclature of products (INTRASTAT) Text proposed by the Commission^) Amendments proposed (Amendment 1) Recital 4 Whereas the simplification of the product nomenclature to be used for Intrastat purposes is one such proposal, since information providers generally regard the classification of products as difficult; for simplified use of Whereas the the Intrastat Combined Nomenclature purposes, together with the availability to information providers of tools facilitating the classification of goods, is one such information providers proposal, generally the classification of products in the Combined Nomenclature as difficult; since regard (Amendment 2) Recital 4a (new) simplification the the Whereas Combined Nomenclature been proposed as a pilot project as part of the second phase of the SLIM initiative(-); has of iLl (SEC( 97)0951) (Amendment 3) Recital 5 Whereas, therefore, there is a need to simplify the use of this nomenclature while preserving a single nomenclature for the trading of goods within the single market and with non-member countries which is compatible with other statistical classifications; its this Whereas, therefore, there is a need to nomenclature while simplify maintaining the nomenclature used for the trading of goods with non-member countries and its compatibility with statistical classifications; other with link (2)OJC 245, 12. 8. 1997, p. 12. (Amendment 4) Recital 6 Whereas the Commission considers it desirable to establish a partnership with the national authorities and the European representatives of the providers and users of statistical information in order to draw the up proposals nomenclature applicable Intrastat purposes; simplifying for for Whereas it is desirable to establish a partnership with the national authorities and the European representatives of the providers statistical users information in order to draw up proposals Combined for Nomenclature; simplifying and the of (Amendment 5) Recital 6a (new) Whereas this partnership must still make it possible to preserve a sufficiently detailed level of information to meet the specific needs of some sectors. (Amendment 6) ARTICLE 1 Article 21(1) to (5) (Regulation (EEC) 3330/91) shall be 1. On the statistical medium to be transmitted to the competent authorities, the goods subheadings of the current version of the nomenclature applicable to the trading of goods between Member States (Intrastat Nomenclature). identified by 1. On the statistical medium to be transmitted to the competent authorities. the goods subheadings of the current version of the Combined Nomenclature. shall be identified by 2. The Intrastat Nomenclature shall be a goods code nomenclature based on the Harmonized System in force. In order to take account of specific needs, it may contain a strictly limited number of subdivisions below Harmonized System subheading level. Any such subdivisions below Harmonized System subheading level shall be identified by subheadings of the current version of the Combined Nomenclature. 2. However, in accordance with the detailed procedures set out in paragraph 3. providers of statistical information maw in the interests of reducing their statistical the burden, limit themselves to using to nomenclature Harmonized System. identify certain goods. 4 3. This nomenclature shall be adopted by the Commission in accordance with Article 30, account being token of the results of the work of a group composed of representatives of the providers and users of statistical information on the trading of goods. 4. The operational procedures of this group the Commission in accordance with Article 30. adopted shall by be intended facilitate for 3- The arrangements for the application of paragraph 2, and any other technical measures the to classification of goods statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States, shall be adopted by the Commission in accordance with Article 30, account being taken of the results of the work of a group composed of representatives of the providers and users of statistical information on the trading of goods. 4. The operational procedures of this group shall be adopted by the Commission in accordance with Article 30. To take account of their internal ii statistical organization, providers of information may use the Combined Nomenclature to identify goods on the statistical data medium. Deleted S~ ISSN 0254-1475 COM(98) 269 final DOCUMENTS EN 17 06 02 10 Catalogue number : CB-CO-98-283-EN-C ISBN 92-78-35462-7 Office for Official Publications of the European Communities L-2985 Luxembourg £