14. 4. 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 90/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 854/93 of 5 April 1993 on transit statistics and storage statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 100a thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), In cooperation with the European Parliament (3), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social  Committee (%), Whereas the abolition of customs formalities, controls and documentation for all movements of goods across internal frontiers is necessary for the completion of the internal market ; Whereas, in the Membér States, statistics on the trading of goods between Member States resulting from transit movements and movements into and out of warehouses may nevertheless still be needed; Whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 3330/91 of 7 November 1991 on the statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States () prohibits the Member States from introducing or maintaining compulsory formalities for the purpose of keeping statistics on transit and storage ; whereas it is necessary for that purpose to provide a Community legal base ; Whereas the framework in which the Member States are authorized to organize their statistical surveys on these movements must be determined in order to prevent the burden on those responsible for providing information varying excessively from one Member State to another ; Whereas, within that framework, it is necessary to deter- mine the purpose of transit and storage statistics and the consequences for, the collection of information, to ensure () OJ No C 107, 28. 4. 1992, p. 16. : (3) OJ No C 337, 21. 12. 1992, p. 210; and O] No C 72, 15. 3. 1993. () OJ No C 223, 31. 8. 1992, p. 6. () OJ No L 316, 16. 11. 1991, p. L. that responsibility for collecting that information is directed towards existing administrative sources and to make use of the competent services of the latter to fill any gaps, without increasing the burden on those responsible for providing information ; ‘ Whereas that burden must not exceed certain limits, as regards classification, data to be declared or data media ; Whereas it is important that the burden of transit and storage statistics be alleviated, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises; whereas this should be effected by means of statistical thresholds; Whereas the Commission must not only adopt provisions implementing this Regulation but must also ensure that other implementing provisions adopted by the Member States do not compromise the alleviation of the burden on those responsible for providing information ; whereas the Commission -should be assisted in this task by the Committee on Statistics relating to the Trading of Goods between Member States, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION : Article 1 | 1. With a view to compiling transit statistics and storage statistics, Member States may collect data on the trading of goods between Member States, acting in conformity with the rules laid down in this Regulation. 2. Member States which -exercise this option shall accordingly inform the Commission. Article 2 1. For the purposes of this Regulation, the definitions given in Article 2 (a), (b), {c), (d), (e) and (f) of Regulation (EEC) No 3330/91 shall apply.