No L 293/58 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 10. 87 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 18 September 1987 relating to a proceeding under Article 85 of the EEC Treaty (IV/31.739 — Internationale Dentalschau) (Only the German text is authentic) (87/509/EEC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regérd to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to Council Regulation No 17 of 6 February 1962, First Regulation implementing Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty (), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal, and in particular Articles 2, 4, 6 and 8 thereof, : Having regard to the application submitted by the Verband der Deutschen Dental-Industrie eV (VDDI — " German Dental Industry Association) for negative clear- ance or for exemption under Article 85 (3) of the EEC Treaty in respect of the ‘special participation conditions’ governing participation in the Internationale Dental- schau (IDS — International Dental Exhibition), Having published a summary of the ‘special participation conditions’ (?), pursuant to Article 19 (3) of Regulation No 17, ' Having consulted the Advisory Committee on Restrictive Practices and Monopolies, Whereas : I. THE FACTS (1)  On 30 December 1985, the Verband der Deutschen Dental-Industrie (VDDI — German Dental Industry Association) notified the Commission of the ‘special participation conditions’ applicable to () OJ No 13, 21. 2. 1962, p. 204/62. () OJ No C 167, 25. 6. 1987, p. 3. @ &) ) ©) participants in the IDS and applied for negative clearance under Article 2 of Regulation No 17, or alternatively for exemption under Article 85 (3) of the EEC Treaty. The VDDI is a registered association under German law. Its purpose is to represent the interests of dental manufacturers vis-2-vis the auth- orities and the other sectors of the economy. Any natural or legal person who is established in the Federal Republic of Germany or West Berlin, and manufactures dental articles on an industrial basis there, may become a member. Every three years, the VDDI holds the Interna- tional Dental Exhibition at various locations in the Federal Republic. The IDS is held in collaboration with the local trade fair association, under the auspices of the VDDI and with the trade fair as- sociation handling the actual organization. The VDDI has laid down rules governing admission to the IDS in the form of ‘special participation condi- tions’. In accordance with the VDDI’s contract with the relevant trade fair association, the latter must incorporate the ‘special participation conditions’ into its contract with each individual exhibitor. Dental products and equipment of all kinds are displayed at the exhibition. Since 1921, when.it was first held, the VDDI’s IDS has become the largest dental exhibition in the world. In 1983, the surface area covered by the exhibition was about 15000 square metres. Roughly a third of the exhibitors are foreign manufacturers. Admission to the exhibition is decided on by a VDDI committee in consultation with the trade fair association.