Subject to Articles 58, 62 and 63, every producer shall offer to the Agency the ores,  source materials or special fissile materials which he produces within the territories  of Member States before they are used, transferred or stored.

Article 58

Where a producer carries out several stages of production from extraction of the ore  up to and including production of the metal, he may offer the product to the Agency at  whichever stage of production he chooses.

The same shall apply to two or more connected undertakings, where the connection  has been duly communicated to the Commission and discussed with it in accordance  with the procedures laid down in Articles 43 and 44.

Article 59

If the Agency does not exercise it's right of option on the whole or any part of the  output of a producer, the latter:

a. may, either by using his own resources or under contract, process or cause to be  processed the ores, source materials or special fissile materials, provided that  he offers to the Agency the product of such processing;  
b. shall be authorized by a decision of the Commission to dispose of his available  production outside the Community, provided that the terms he offers are not  more favourable than those previously offered to the Agency.However, special  fissile materials may be exported only through the Agency and in accordance  with the provisions of Article 62.

The Commission may not grant such authorization if the recipients of the supplies fail  to satisfy it that the general interests of the Community will be safeguarded or if the  terms and conditions of such contracts are contrary to the objectives of this Treaty.

Article 60

Potential users shall periodically inform the Agency of the supplies they require,  specifying the quantities, the physical and chemical nature, the place of origin, the  intended use, delivery dates and price terms, which are to form the terms and  conditions of the supply contract which they wish to conclude.

Similarly, producers shall inform the Agency of offers which they are able to make,  stating all the specifications, and in particular the duration of contracts, required to  enable their production programmes to be drawn up. Such contracts shall be of not  more than 10 years duration save with the agreement of the Commission.

The Agency shall inform all potential users of the offers and of the volume of  applications which it has received and shall call upon them to place their orders by a  specified time limit.

When the Agency has received all such orders, it shall make known the terms on

<23>