Commission Regulation (EC) No 322/2004

of 23 February 2004

amending Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences and advance-fixing certificates for agricultural products

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 of 30 June 1992 on the common organisation of the market in cereals1, and in particular Articles 9(2), 12(4) and 13(11) thereof, and the corresponding articles of the other regulations on the common organisation of markets in agricultural products,

Whereas:

(1)
Article 1 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1291/20002 establishes its scope by listing the regulations providing for certificates or licences to which it will apply. Council Regulation (EC) No 670/2003 of 8 April 2003 laying down specific measures concerning the market in ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin3 provides for import and export licences for ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin. It should therefore be clarified that Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 also applies to the licences introduced by Regulation (EC) No 670/2003.
(2)

The current version of Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 contains references to regulations repealed and replaced by other ones. For the sake of clarity, Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 should therefore be updated.

(3)

The de minimis amounts laid down in Article 15(3) and the fourth subparagraph of Article 35(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 for lodging and confiscating the licence security have been set at EUR 60. In view of the administrative costs involved in lodging or confiscating a security, these amounts should be increased.

(4)

Article 45 of Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 stipulates that where the re-importation of products under the returned-goods system is followed by the export of equivalent products falling within the same subheading of the combined nomenclature, the security on the licence or certificate used to export the products is released at the request of the parties concerned if certain conditions are met. One of these conditions is the requirement of the operator to export the equivalent products from a customs office in the Member State of re-importation and designated by that Member State. That creates additional costs for operators where the equivalent products to be exported are in a Member State other than the Member State of re-importation. This requirement should therefore be abolished.

(5)

Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000, which fixes the maximum quantities of agricultural products for which no import or export licence or advance-fixing certificate need be submitted pursuant to the fourth indent of Article 5(1) of that Regulation, should be updated.

(6)
Commission Regulation (EC) No 2336/2003 of 30 December 2003 introducing certain detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 670/2003 laying down specific measures concerning the market in ethyl alcohol4 of agricultural origin requires an import licence to be presented from 27 January 2004 for the import of ethyl alcohol products of agricultural origin. Provision must therefore be made to fix from that date the maximum quantities of the products concerned for which no licence is required in accordance with the fourth indent of Article 5(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000.
(7)

Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 should be amended accordingly.

(8)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinions of all Management Committees concerned,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 is hereby amended as follows:

  1. 1.

    Article 1 is replaced by the following:

    ‘Article 1

    Subject to certain exceptions laid down in Community rules specific to certain products, this Regulation lays down common rules for implementing the system of import and export licences and advance-fixing certificates (hereinafter referred to as “licences” and “certificates”) established by or provided for in:

    • Article 2 of Council Regulation No 136/66/EEC5 (oils and fats),
    • Article 8 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 234/686 (live plants and cut flowers),
    • Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2358/717 (seeds),
    • Article 8 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2759/758 (pigmeat),
    • Article 3 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2771/759 (eggs),
    • Article 3 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2777/7510 (poultrymeat),
    • Article 2 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2783/7511 (ovalbumin and lactalbumin),

    • Article 9 of Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 (cereals),

    • Article 17 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 404/9312 (bananas),
    • Article 9 of Council Regulation (EC) No 3072/9513 (rice),
    • Article 31 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/9614 (fruit and vegetables),
    • Article 11 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2201/9615 (processed fruit and vegetable products),
    • Article 29 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1254/199916 (beef and veal),
    • Article 26 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/199917 (milk and milk products),
    • Article 59 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/199918 (wine),
    • Article 6 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1520/200019 (agricultural products exported in the form of goods not covered by Annex I to the Treaty),
    • Article 22 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/200120 (sugar, isoglucose and inulin syrup),
    • Article 13 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2529/200121 (sheepmeat and goatmeat),
    • Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 670/200322 (alcohol),’
  2. 2.

    In Article 15(3), ‘EUR 60’ is replaced by ‘EUR 100’.

  3. 3.

    In Article 35(2), second subparagraph, the term ‘EUR 60’ is replaced by ‘EUR 100’.

  4. 4.

    The second indent in Article 45(2)(a) is deleted.

  5. 5.

    The following subparagraph is added to the second indent of Article 45(2)(b): ‘The exporter must provide to the satisfaction of the customs office of export all necessary information on the product's characteristics and destination.’

  6. 6.

    Annex III is replaced by the text in the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 1(3) shall apply to licences or certificates whose term of validity has not expired on the date of entry into force of this Regulation.

Article 1(4) and (5) shall apply to exports of equivalent products the customs formalities for which have been accepted from the date of entry into force of this Regulation.

As regards point N of Annex III (Alcohol), Article 1(6) shall apply from 27 January 2004.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 23 February 2004.

For the Commission

Franz Fischler

Member of the Commission

ANNEX

ANNEX III

Maximum quantities23 of products for which import or export licences or advance-fixing certificates need not be presented pursuant to the fourth indent of Article 5(1) (provided import or export does not take place under preferential arrangements subject to a licence24)

Product (Combined Nomenclature codes)

Net quantity

A

CEREALS AND RICE (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1342/2003)

Import licence:

0709 90 60

5 000 kg

0712 90 19

0714

With the exception of subheading 0714 20 10

1001 10 00

1001 90 91

1001 90 99

1002 00 00

1003 00

1004 00 00

1005 10 90

1005 90 00

1007 00 90

1006 10

With the exception of subheading 1006 10 10

1 000 kg

1006 20

1006 30

1006 40 00

1008

1101 00

1102

1103

1104

1106 20

1107

1108

With the exception of subheading 1108 20 00

1109 00 00

1702 30 51

1702 30 59

1702 30 91

1702 30 99

1702 40 90

1702 90 50

1702 90 75

1702 90 79

2106 90 55

2302

With the exception of subheading 2302 50

2303 10

2303 30 00

2306 70 00

2308 00 40

ex 2309

Containing starch, glucose, glucose syrup, malto-dextrine, malto-dextrine syrup falling within subheadings 1702 30 51 to 1702 30 99, 1702 40 90, 1702 90 50 and 2106 90 55 and milk products25, with the exception of preparations or foodstuffs containing not less than 50 % weight of milk products

Export licence with or without advance fixing of the refund:

0709 90 60

5 000 kg

0712 90 19

0714

With the exception of subheading 0714 20 10

1001 10

1001 90 91

1001 90 99

1002 00 00

1003 00

1004 00

1005 10 90

1005 90 00

1007 00 90

1006 10

With the exception of subheading 1006 10 10

500 kg

1006 20

1006 30

1006 40 00

1008

1101 00

1102

1103

1104

1106 20

1107

1108

With the exception of subheading 1108 20 00

1109 00 00

1702 30 51

1702 30 59

1702 30 91

1702 30 99

1702 40 90

1702 90 50

1702 90 75

1702 90 79

2106 90 55

2302

With the exception of subheading 2302 50

2303 10

2303 30 00

2306 70 00

2308 00 40

ex 2309

Containing starch, glucose, glucose syrup, malto-dextrine, malto-dextrine syrup falling within subheadings 1702 30 51 to 1702 30 99, 1702 40 90, 1702 90 50 and 2106 90 55 and milk products25, with the exception of preparations or foodstuffs containing not less than 50 % weight of milk products

B

OILS AND FATS

Import licence (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1476/95):

0709 90 39

100 kg

0711 20 90

1509

1510 00

1522 00 31

1522 00 39

2306 90 19

Export licence with or without advance fixing of the refund (Commission Regulation (EC) No 2543/95):

1509

100 kg

1510 00

C

SUGAR (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1464/95)

Import licence:

1212 91 20

2 000 kg

1212 91 80

1212 99 20

1701 11

1701 12

1701 91 00

1701 99

1702 20

1702 30 10

1702 40 10

1702 60

1702 90 30

1702 90 60

1702 90 71

1702 90 80

1702 90 99

1703 10 00

1703 90 00

2106 90 30

2106 90 59

Export licence with our without advance fixing of the refund:

1212 91 20

2 000 kg

1212 91 80

1212 99 20

1701 11

1701 12

1701 91 00

1701 99

1702 20

1702 30 10

1702 40 10

1702 60

1702 90 30

1702 90 60

1702 90 71

1702 90 80

1702 90 99

1703

2106 90 30

2106 90 59

D

MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS

Import licence (Commission Regulation (EC) No 2535/2001):

0401

150 kg

0402

04031011 to 04031039

04039011 to 04039069

0404

0405 10

0405 20 90

0405 90

0406

1702 11 00

1702 19 00

2106 90 51

2309 10 15

Preparations of a kind used in animal feed; preparations and foodstuffs containing products to which Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/199926 is applicable, directly or pursuant to Regulation (EEC) No 2730/7527, with the exception of preparations and foodstuffs to which Regulation (EEC) No 1766/9228 applies

2309 10 19

2309 10 39

2309 10 59

2309 10 70

2309 90 35

2309 90 39

2309 90 49

2309 90 59

2309 90 70

Export licence with advance fixing of the refund (Commission Regulation (EC) No 174/1999):

0401

150 kg

0402

04031011 to 04031039

04039011 to 04039069

0404

0405 10

0405 20 90

0405 90

0406

2309 10 15

Preparations of a kind used in animal feed; preparations and foodstuffs containing products to which Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/199926 is applicable, directly or pursuant to Regulation (EEC) No 2730/7527, with the exception of preparations and foodstuffs to which Regulation (EEC) No 1766/9228 applies

2309 10 19

2309 10 70

2309 90 35

2309 90 39

2309 90 70

E

BEEF AND VEAL (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1445/95)

Import licence:

01029005 to 01029079

One animal

0201

200 kg

0202

0206 10 95

0206 29 91

0210 20

0210 99 51

0210 99 90

1602 50

1602 90 61

1602 90 69

Export licence with advance fixing of the refund:

0102 10

One animal

01029005 to 01029079

0201

200 kg

0202

0206 10 95

0206 29 91

0210 20

0210 99 51

0210 99 90

1602 50

1602 90 61

1602 90 69

Import licence without refund (Article 7 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1445/95):

0102 10

Nine animals

01029005 to 01029079

0201

2 000 kg

0202

0206 10 95

0206 29 91

0210 20

0210 99 51

0210 99 90

1602 50

1602 90 61

1602 90 69

F

SHEEPMEAT AND GOATMEAT

Import licence (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1439/95):

0204

100 kg

0210 99 21

0210 99 29

1602 90 72

1602 90 74

1602 90 76

1602 90 78

0104 10 30

Five animals

0104 10 80

0104 20 90

G

PIGMEAT

Export licence with advance fixing of the refund (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1370/95):

0203

250 kg

1601

1602

0210

150 kg

H

POULTRYMEAT

Export licence with advance fixing of the refund and ex post export licence (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1372/95):

0105 11 11 9000

4 000 chicks

0105 11 19 9000

0105 11 91 9000

0105 11 99 9000

0105 12 00 9000

2 000 chicks

0105 19 20 9000

0207

250 kg

I

EGGS

Export licence with advance fixing of the refund andex post export licence (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1371/95):

0407 00 11 9000

2 000 eggs

0407 00 19 9000

4 000 eggs

0407 00 30 9000

400 kg

0408 11 80 9100

100 kg

0408 91 80 9100

0408 19 81 9100

250 kg

0408 19 89 9100

0408 99 80 9100

J

SEEDS

Import licence (Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1119/79):

10051011 to 10051019

100 kg

1007 00 10

K

WINE (Commission Regulation (EC) No 883/2001)

Import licence:

2009 61

3 000 kg

2009 69

2204 10

30 hl

2204 21

2204 29

2204 30

Export licence with advance fixing of the refund:

2009 61

10 hl

2009 69

2204 21

10 hl

2204 29

2204 30

L

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

Export licence with advance fixing of the refund (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1961/2001):

0702 00

300 kg

0802

0805

0806 10 10

0808

0809

M

PRODUCTS PROCESSED FROM FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

Export licence with advance fixing of the refund (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1429/95):

0806 20

300 kg

0812

2002

2006 00

2008

2009

N

ALCOHOL

Import licence (Commission Regulation (EC) No 2336/2003):

2207 10 00

100 hl

2207 20 00

2208 90 91

100 hl

2208 90 99

25

For the purposes of this subheading, ‘milk products’ means products falling within headings 0401 to 0406 and subheadings 1702 10 and 2106 90 51