Commission Regulation (EC) No 341/20072 opens and provides for the administration of tariff quotas for garlic falling within CN code 0703 20 00 and for certain other agricultural products imported from third countries.

The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the People's Republic of China 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 Republic of Croatia in the course of its accession to the European Union, approved by Council Decision (EU) 2016/2433 provides for an increase by 2 150 tonnes of the Union tariff rate quota for garlic originating in China.

The increase in the tariff rate quota should be reflected in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 341/2007. Regulation (EC) No 341/2007 should therefore be amended accordingly.

Since the Agreement between the European Union and the People's Republic of China was approved by the Council on 18 October 20164, importers could have access to the increased quantities as from the fourth sub-period of the import tariff quota period 2016/2017. Article 10(1) of Regulation (EC) No 341/2007 provides that importers have to lodge their applications for import licences during the first seven days of January for the fourth sub-period. It is therefore appropriate that this Regulation applies as from 1 January 2017.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the Common Organisation of the Agricultural Markets,