Commission Regulation (EC) No 536/2007
of 15 May 2007
opening and providing for the administration of a tariff quota for poultrymeat allocated to the United States of America
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2777/75 of 29 October 1975 on the common organisation of the market in poultrymeat1, and in particular Article 6(1) thereof,
Whereas:
The agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the European Community and the United States of America pursuant to Article XXIV:6 and Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 relating to the modification of concessions in the schedules of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic, in the course of their accession to the European Union2, approved by Council Decision 2006/333/EC3, provides for the integration of a specific tariff quota allocated to the United States for imports of 16 665 tonnes of poultry.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 of 9 June 2000 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences and advance fixing certificates for agricultural products4 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 of 31 August 2006 laying down common rules for the administration of import tariff quotas for agricultural products managed by a system of import licences5 should apply, save as otherwise provided for in this Regulation.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1232/2006 of 16 August 2006 opening and providing for the administration of an import tariff quota of poultrymeat allocated to the United States of America6 has to be amended substantially. Regulation (EC) No 1232/2006 should therefore be repealed and replaced by a new regulation.
In order to maintain a regular flow of imports, the quota period from 1 July to 30 June of the following year should be subdivided into a number of sub-periods. In any event, under Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 licences are valid only up to and including the last day of the tariff quota period.
The tariff quota should be administered on the basis of import licences. To that end, detailed rules for the submission of applications and the information which must appear in applications and licences should be laid down.
In the light of the risk of speculation that is inherent in the system in question in the poultrymeat sector, precise conditions should be laid down as regards operators' access to the tariff quota arrangements.
For appropriate administration of the tariff quotas, the security linked to the import licences should be set at EUR 20 per 100 kilograms.
In the interest of the operators, the Commission should establish the quantities that have not been applied for, which are to be carried over to the following sub-period in accordance with Article 7(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006.
Access to the tariff quota should be subject to the presentation of a certificate of origin issued by the authorities of the United States in accordance with Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code7.
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Poultrymeat and Eggs,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: