THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009 of 16 November 2009 setting up a Community system of reliefs from customs duty, and in particular Article 76 thereof,
Having regard to the request made by the Italian Republic dated 12 September 2012 for duty-free importation of goods intended to be made available free of charge to victims of the earthquakes which occurred in Italy in May 2012,
Whereas:
(1)
Earthquakes such as those which occurred in Italy in May 2012 constitute a disaster within the meaning of Chapter XVII, Section C, of Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009; there is, therefore, reason to authorise duty-free importation of goods which satisfy the requirements of Articles 74 to 80 of the abovementioned Regulation.
(2)
The Italian Republic should inform the Commission of the nature and quantities of the various goods admitted duty-free for the benefit of the victims of the earthquakes which occurred in Italy in May 2012, of the organisations it has approved for the distribution or making available of those goods and of the measures taken to prevent the goods from being used otherwise than for disaster relief to those victims.
(3)
Relief of customs duty should be granted in respect of importations from the date of the first earthquake occurrence.
(4)
Other Member States have been consulted as laid down in Article 76 of Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: