Article 2

The withdrawal of one country or territory from the list of countries and territories benefiting from generalized preferences by virtue of the criteria set out in Article 1 shall not affect the possibility of using products originating in that country under the regional cumulation mechanism applicable to regional groupings referred to in Article 72 (3) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code^f1, provided that the country has been a member of the regional grouping since the multiannual system of preferences applicable to the product concerned entered into force and is not considered to be the country of origin of the final product within the meaning of Article 72a of Regulation (EC) No 2454/93.