Commission Regulation (EC) No 1055/2009
of 5 November 2009
amending Regulation (EC) No 951/2006 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 318/2006 as regards trade with third countries in the sugar sector
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Whereas:
To ensure that Community operators can supply their export markets with out-of-quota sugar or isoglucose throughout the marketing year, it is necessary to clarify that sugar or isoglucose produced under quota may temporarily be sold, when market conditions so require, as out-of-quota production. This mechanism of equivalence should also apply when producers of quota and out-of-quota sugar or isoglucose are located in different Member States.
To ensure legal certainty and equal treatment of operators in each Member State it is appropriate to clarify that the out-of-quota sugar or isoglucose exported within the quantitative limit fixed for a given marketing year does not necessarily have to be produced during the same marketing year.
Article 7b(4) of Regulation (EC) No 951/2006 provides that applicants may submit one application for export licence per week. The quantities applied for in respect of each license may not exceed 20 000 tonnes for sugar and 5 000 tonnes for isoglucose. Experience shows that the weekly maximum limit fixed for sugar is not sufficient and it is therefore appropriate to increase this quantity.
According to Article 8a of Regulation (EC) No 951/2006, export licences issued for out-of-quota sugar or isoglucose are valid from the actual day of issue until 30 September of the marketing year in respect of which they were issued. Producers who apply for licences at the end of the marketing year should be given sufficient time to export their production. For this reason, the period of validity of export licences should be modified and established in the end of the fifth month following the date of their issue. Taking into account that these new provisions are published after the start of the 2009/2010 marketing year it is necessary to lay down specific rules in respect of the export licences issued during this marketing year.
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: