30. 4. 93. Official Journal of the European Communities No L 105/37 COMMISSION! COMMISSION DECISION of 29 April 1993 authorizing the French Republic to apply safeguard measures to the importation of bananas originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States (Only the French text is authentic) (93/236/EEC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to the fourth ACP-EEC Convention signed in Lomé on 15 September 1989, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Convention’, and in particular Articles 177 and 178 (3) thereof (), Whereas Protocol 4 of the Convention on the implemen- tation of Article 178 and Council Regulation (EEC) No 3705/90 (3 explain how .the safeguard measures should be applied ; Whereas on 23 April 1993 the French Government applied to the Commission under Article 178 (3) of the Convention for an authorization to limit its imports of bananas originating in ACP States ; Whereas the French authorities pointed to the existence in recent weeks of an imbalance on the French market due to banana imports from the ACP States in excess of what the market can absorb and of traditional supplies ; Whereas the additional information requested by the Commission confirms that banana prices have indeed fallen sharply in recent week not only on the consumer market but also and above all in the areas of production ; whereas this has given rise to exceptional difficulties in marketing bananas from Guadeloupe and Martinique which are liable to harm that sector of the economy in those regions ; () OJ No L 229, 17. 8. 1991, p. 1. () OJ No L 358, 21. 12. 1990, p. 4. Whereas the dire financial situation arising for producers in those regions warrants the authorization of emergency measures ; Whereas, in the light of the above, the French Republic should be authorized to take measures to correct the imbalance on the market; Whereas these measures should be confined to those which cause minimum disruption to trade between the Community and the ACP States ; whereas they should not go beyond what is strictly necessary to remedy the diffi- culties which have arisen ; whereas traditional trade flows - between France and the ACP States should be main- tained, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION : Article 1 The French Republic shall be authorized to limit on its territory, during the months of May and June 1993, imports of fresh bananas falling within CN code ex 0803 00 10 originating in the ACP States to the quan- tities imported from each of those countries during the same months over the last three years. Article 2 The French Republic shall notify the Commission of the measures taken to apply this Decision. Article 3 This Decision shall apply until 30 June 1993.