Brussels, 20/01/2004 (Agence Europe) -The European Commission has published a Notice to Importers in the EU's Official Journal (No. C 14 20 January 2004) advising Community operators to take all necessary precautions to verify the origin of goods imported under the preferential trade arrangements granted to Serbia and Montenegro. This has become necessary because of indications that the administrative and legal systems currently in place in Serbia and Montenegro do not guarantee that the origin of products exported to the EU is adequately verified. The Notice alerts economic operators and Member States to the possibility that the full rate of tariffs on goods imported from Serbia and Montenegro will be payable if the origin of the goods cannot be substantiated. "The EU has granted Serbia and Montenegro very liberal trade concessions to help this country's economic recovery. Therefore, we must make sure that these preferential arrangements do favour local production and are not subject to abuse. This precautionary measure is intended to allow EU operators to take the necessary steps to protect their business interests", commented the Commissioner responsible for the Customs Union, Frits Bolkestein, on Tuesday. "The Commission also has an obligation to safeguard the Community's financial interests", the Commissioner added, by ensuring that the EU Budget is not unlawfully deprived of revenue from customs duties. The Commission is acting in accordance with its legal obligations to protect the financial interests of the EU Budget. 75% of tariff revenue from goods imported into the EU goes to the EU Budget, and if the appropriate rate of tariff is not levied, the EU's Budget is deprived of revenue. The Notice does not constitute a trade ban, merely indicates that economic operators should double-check the products they import from Serbia and Montenegro and that customs authorities should examine these goods closely. The Commission recognised that Serbia and Montenegro is already making efforts to remedy the shortcomings that have been identified. And stated that it is evaluating progress, and once the necessary criteria are fulfilled, the measure announced on Tuesday can be ended.