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1. Where the interests of the Union so require, the Commission may, acting in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 3(2), adopt appropriate measures:

(a) to prevent a critical situation from arising owing to a shortage of essential products, or to remedy such a situation;

(b) to allow international undertakings entered into by the Union or all the Member States to be fulfilled, in particular those relating to trade in primary products.

2. The measures referred to in paragraph 1 may be limited to exports to certain countries or to exports from certain regions of the Union. They shall not affect products already on their way to the Union frontier.

3. When quantitative restrictions on exports are introduced, account shall be taken in particular of:

(a) the volume of goods exported under contracts concluded on normal terms and conditions before the entry into force of a protective measure within the meaning of this Chapter and notified by the Member State concerned to the Commission in conformity with its national laws; and (b) the need to avoid jeopardising the achievement of the aim pursued in introducing quantitative restrictions.