THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation)(1),
Having regard to 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 licences(2), and in particular Article 7(2) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Article 3(1) and (2) of Protocol No 1(3) to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part(4), opens a tariff quota at a zero rate of duty for imports of untreated olive oil falling within CN codes 1509 10 10 and 1509 10 90, wholly obtained in Tunisia and transported direct from that country to the Community, up to the limit laid down for each year.
(2) Article 2(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1918/2006 of 20 December 2006 opening and providing for the administration of tariff quota for olive oil originating in Tunisia(5) lays down monthly quantitative limits for the issue of import licences.
(3) Import licence applications have been submitted to the competent authorities under Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1918/2006 in respect of a total quantity exceeding the limit laid down for the month of January in Article 2(2) of that Regulation.
(4) In these circumstances, the Commission must set an allocation coefficient allowing import licences to be issued in proportion to the quantity available.
(5) Since the limit for the month of January has been reached, no more import licences can be issued for that month,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
The quantities for which import licence applications were lodged from 12 to 13 January 2009 under Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1918/2006 shall be multiplied by an allocation coefficient of 99,276933 %.
The issue of import licences in respect of amounts applied for as from 19 January 2009 shall be suspended for January 2009.
This Regulation shall enter into force on 17 January 2009.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 16 January 2009.
For the Commission
Jean-Luc Demarty
Director-General for Agriculture and Rural Development