Commission Directive 98/68/ECShow full title

Article 1 U.K.

1. The document referred to in Article 9(1) of Directive 95/53/EC must be drawn up in accordance with the model laid down in Annex A. The document must take up a single sheet only.

2. For the compilation of the document based on the model laid down in Annex A the rules laid down in Annex B are applicable.

3. The document based on the model laid down in Annex A must be made out in one of the languages of the Community which is acceptable to the competent authority of the Member State where the products coming from third countries are introduced into the customs territory of the Community.

If necessary, the competent authority of the Member State of destination may require from the person concerned referred to in Article 2(1) a translation of the document based on the model laid down in Annex A completed according to Annex B into one of the official languages of that Member State. The translation shall replace the corresponding particulars in the document in question.

4. Any alteration or erasure on the document based on the model laid down in Annex A by an unauthorised person makes it invalid.

Article 2 U.K.

1. A document based on the model laid down in Annex A shall be delivered by the competent authority of the entry point to the person concerned in the cases referred to in Article 9(1) of Directive 95/53/EC and precisely:

(a) when the products are coming directly from a third country and are intended for the release for free circulation in a Member State other than that which carried out the checks referred to in Article 5 and, where appropriate, in Article 7 of Directive 95/53/EC;

(b) when non-Community products are leaving a free zone, a free warehouse or a customs warehouse and are intended for the release for free circulation in a Member State other than that where the free zone, the free warehouse or the customs warehouse are located.

2. If the batch is split in different parts, a document based on the model laid down in Annex A must be delivered for each part of it.

3. The document based on the model laid down in Annex A completed according to Annex B must accompany the batch to which it referes up to the moment of its release for free circulation in the Community and must be presented to the competent authority of the Member State where the products are released for free circulation together with a copy of the results of the laboratory analyses, where available.

4. The Member States shall ensure that the customs authorities do not authorise the release of the products for free circulation into the customs territory of the Community unless information has been supplied that, both on the basis of the document based on the model laid down in Annex A completed according to Annex B and of possible further controls carried out by the competent authorities, the checks on the products in question have been carried out in accordance with Article 5 and 7 of Directive 95/53/EC to the satisfaction of the competent authority of the Member State where the products are released for free circulation.

5. The competent authority of the Member State where the products are released for free circulation into the customs territory of the Community shall keep the document based on the model laid down in Annex A as well as a copy of the results of the laboratory analysis, where available, for at least 18 months.

Article 3 U.K.

1. Member States shall adopt and publish no later than 31 March 1999, immediately informing the Commission thereof, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions needed to comply with this Directive.

They shall apply these provisions from 1 April 1999.

The provisions shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on official publication. Details of the reference shall be set by the Member State.

2. Member States shall send the Commission the text of primary provisions of national law adopted on the matters regulated by this Directive.

Article 4 U.K.

This Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Article 5 U.K.

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 10 September 1998.

For the Commission

Franz Fischler

Member of the Commission