COMMISSION DECISION of 8 October 1981 establishing that the apparatus described as "AMTI biomechanics platform, model OR 6-3, with accessories" may not be imported free of Common Customs Tariff duties (81/840/EEC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1798/75 of 10 July 1975 on the importation free of Common Customs Tariff duties of educational, scientific and cultural materials (1), as amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1027/79 (2),

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2784/79 of 12 December 1979 laying down provisions for the implementation of Regulation (EEC) No 1798/75 (3), and in particular Article 7 thereof,

Whereas, by letter dated 13 April 1981, the United Kingdom has requested the Commission to invoke the procedure provided for in Article 7 of Regulation (EEC) No 2784/79 in order to determine whether or not the apparatus described as "AMTI biomechanics platform, model OR 6-3, with accessories", to be used for the study into postural sway behaviour and its control in man, gait and cardiovascular dynamics, should be considered as a scientific apparatus and, where the reply is in the affirmative, whether apparatus of equivalent scientific value is currently being manufactured in the Community;

Whereas, in accordance with the provisions of Article 7 (5) of Regulation (EEC) No 2784/79, a group of experts composed of representatives of all the Member States met on 9 July 1981 within the framework of the Committee on Duty-Free Arrangements to examine the matter;

Whereas this examination showed that the apparatus in question is a measurement platform;

Whereas it does not have the requisite objective characteristics making it specifically suited to scientific research ; whereas, moreover, apparatus of the same kind are principally used for non-scientific activities ; whereas its use in the case in question could not alone confer upon it the character of a scientific apparatus ; whereas it therefore cannot be regarded as a scientific apparatus ; whereas the duty-free admission of the apparatus in question is therefore not justified,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The apparatus described as "AMTI biomechanics platform, model OR 6-3, with accessories", which is the subject of an application by the United Kingdom of 13 April 1981, may not be imported free of Common Customs Tariff duties.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 8 October 1981.

For the Commission

Karl-Heinz NARJES

Member of the Commission (1) OJ No L 184, 15.7.1975, p. 1. (2) OJ No L 134, 31.5.1979, p. 1. (3) OJ No L 318, 13.12.1979, p. 32.