Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1964/2005 provides that each year from 1 January, an autonomous tariff quota of 775 000 tonnes net weight subject to a zero-duty rate is to be opened for imports of bananas under CN code 0803 00 19 originating in ACP countries.

The tariff quota provided for by Regulation (EC) No 1964/2005 for 2007 should therefore be opened and the provisions for its administration laid down for the period until 31 December 2007.

As is the case for non preferential imports, a method of administering the tariff quota should be adopted so as to favour international trade and smoother trade flows. The most appropriate method for this purpose would be that using the quota by chronological order of acceptance of the declarations of release for free circulation (the ‘first come, first served’ method). Nevertheless, in order to ensure continuity of trade with ACP countries and, therefore, satisfactory supplies for the Community market while avoiding disturbances in trade flows, Commission Regulation (EC) No 219/20062 reserved, on a transitional basis, part of the tariff quota for operators who supplied the Community with ACP bananas in the framework of the import regime previously in force. Taking into account the transitional nature of that provision, it appears appropriate to progressively eliminate it and hence ensuring for 2007 a substantial increase in the part of the tariff quota managed by the first come, first served method, by increasing the proportion of imports carried out under that system from 60 % to 81 %.

Provision should therefore be made for a total quantity of 146 848 tonnes of the tariff quota to be reserved for the operators who actually imported bananas originating in ACP countries into the Community during 2006 That proportion of the tariff quota should be administered by means of import licences issued to each operator in proportion to the quantities imported on the basis of licences received by these operators under Chapter II of Regulation (EC) No 219/2006.

In view of the quantities available, a ceiling should be set for the licence application which each operator may lodge for the period until 31 December 2007.

Access to the rest of the tariff quota should be open to all operators established in the Community on a ‘first come, first served’ basis in accordance with Articles 308a, 308b and 308c of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code3.

This Regulation should enter into force immediately in order to enable licence applications to be lodged in time.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Bananas,