SECTION 34

Exceptions 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 33, any Member State, after having made its intention known to the other Member States, shall be free to impose or continue to impose restrictions or prohibitions affecting: a) the application of security laws and regulations; b) the control of arms, ammunition and other war equipment and military items; c) the protection of human, animal or plant health or life or the protection of public morality; d) the transfer of gold, silver, platinum and precious stones; e) the protection of national treasures of artistic or archaeological value or the protection of industrial and commercial property; f) the control of nuclear materials, radio-active products or any other equipment used in the development or exploitation of nuclear energy; g) the control of strategic products. 2. However, such prohibitions or restrictions shall in no case be a means of arbitrary discrimination nor a disguised restriction on trade between Member States. 3. If a Member State encounters balance-of-payments difficulties arising from the application of the provisions of this Chapter, that Member State may, provided that it has taken all reasonable steps to overcome the difficulties, impose for the purpose only of overcoming such difficulties, quantitative or similar restrictions or prohibitions on goods originating in the other Member States. 4. For the purpose of protecting an infant or strategic industry, a Member State may, provided that it has taken all reasonable and necessary steps to protect such industry, impose for the purpose only of protecting such industry for a specified period to be determined by the Council, quantitative or similar restrictions or prohibitions, on similar goods originating in the other Member States. 5. A Member State imposing quantitative or similar restrictions or prohibitions under paragraphs 1, 3, and 4 of this article shall send a report to the Secretary- General who shall refer the matter to the Council in order to determine for how long such measures shall be applied. 6. The Council shall keep under review the operation of any quantitative or similar restrictions or prohibitions imposed under paragraphs 1, 3 and 4 of this article and take appropriate action.