{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-1998-602/introduction",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-1998-602/introduction.json",
  "legislation": "eur/1998/602",
  "legislation_title": "Council Regulation (EC) No 602/98 of 9 March 1998 extending the coverage of Regulations (EC) No 3281/94 and No 1256/96 concerning Community schemes of generalised tariff preferences for the benefit of the least-developed countries",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-1998-602",
  "path": "introduction",
  "kind": "introduction",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Introductory text",
  "text": "Council Regulation (EC) No 602/98\nof 9 March 1998\nextending the coverage of Regulations (EC) No 3281/94 and No 1256/96 concerning Community schemes of generalised tariff preferences for the benefit of the least-developed countries\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 113 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nWhereas Article 3 of Council Regulation (EC) No 3281/94 of 19 December 1994 applying a four-year scheme of generalised tariff preferences (1995 to 1998) in respect of certain industrial products originating in developing countries provides for more favourable tariff treatment for the least-developed countries;\nWhereas Article 3 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1256/96 of 20 June 1996 applying multiannual schemes of generalised tariff preferences from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1999 in respect of certain agricultural products originating in developing countries likewise provides for more favourable tariff treatment for the least-developed countries;\nWhereas at the Singapore ministerial conference in December 1996 the World Trade Organisation (WTO) member countries pledged to carry out an action plan to improve access to their markets for products originating in the least-developed countries;\nWhereas on 2 June 1997 the Council, on the basis of a Commission communication of 16 April 1997, adopted conclusions calling for the implementation of the Singapore conclusions in particular by granting least-developed countries not party to the Fourth ACP-EC Convention preferences equivalent to those enjoyed by signatories to that Convention;\nWhereas equivalent treatment for industrial products means including the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) scheme all products currently excluded from it but exempt from customs duties under the Fourth ACP-EC Convention;\nWhereas agricultural products subject under the Fourth ACP-EC Convention to a tariff reduction but not to a tariff quota should be included in the scheme for the benefit of least-developed countries by applying one of the preferential rates of duty provided for in Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1256/96, in line with the reduction accorded by the Fourth ACP-EC Convention,\nHAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "OJ L 348, 31. 12. 1994, p. 1, Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 998/97 (OJ L 144, 4. 6. 1997, p. 13)."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f2",
      "text": "OJ L 160, 29. 6. 1996, p. 1, Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2448/96 (OJ L 333, 21. 12. 1996, p. 12)."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/1998/602/introduction",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T14:58:24.734013+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}