Commission Regulation (EC) No 1359/2007

of 21 November 2007

laying down the conditions for granting special export refunds on certain cuts of boned meat of bovine animals

(Codified version)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in beef and veal1, and in particular Article 33(12) and Article 41 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1964/82 of 20 July 1982 laying down the conditions for granting special export refunds on certain cuts of boned meat of bovine animals2 has been substantially amended several times3. In the interests of clarity and rationality the said Regulation should be codified.

(2)

Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999 lays down general rules for granting export refunds and criteria for fixing the amount thereof.

(3)

On account of the market situation, the economic situation in the beef and veal sector and the scope for selling certain products of the sector, the conditions governing the payment of special export refunds on these products should be determined. In particular, conditions should be laid down for certain cuts of meat produced by boning quarters of male cattle.

(4)

In order to ensure that those objectives are complied with, a special supervisory procedure should be introduced. The origin of the product may be authenticated by the production of a certificate in accordance with the model set out in Annex I to Commission Regulation (EC) No 433/2007 of 20 April 2007 laying down the conditions for granting special export refunds for beef and veal4.

(5)

With a view to ensuring compliance with the conditions laid down for the granting of refunds, it should be provided that the export formalities and, where appropriate, cutting and boning should only be carried out in the Member State in which the animals are slaughtered.

(6)

It should be specified that the grant of the special refund is to be conditional on all the cut meat produced by boning the quarters placed under supervision being exported. However, for hindquarters, with a view to obtaining better prices within the Community, certain exceptions to the general rule should be laid down without thereby jeopardising the goal of freeing the Community market. The circumstances in which the requirement to export all the meat obtained is not fully met without losing entitlement to the refund should be laid down. However, that possibility should be limited and made subject to restrictions to prevent misuse.

(7)

As far as time limits and proof of export are concerned, reference should be made to the provisions of Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/1999 of 15 April 1999 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of export refunds on agricultural products5.

(8)

The application of the arrangements on victualling warehouses set out in Article 40 of Regulation (EC) No 800/1999 is incompatible with the purpose of this present Regulation. There is no need therefore to make any provision for applying the arrangements indicated in the Article 40 of that Regulation to the products in question.

(9)

In view of the special nature of this refund, no substitution should be permitted and means of identification of the products in question should be provided for.

(10)

The method by which the Member States notify the Commission of the quantities of products on which special export refunds have been granted should be laid down.

(11)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Beef and Veal,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: