THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
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), and in particular Article 61, first paragraph, point (d), in conjunction with Article 4 thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
According to Article 61, first paragraph, point (d) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, the sugar or isoglucose produced in excess of the quota referred to in Article 56 of that Regulation may be exported only within the quantitative limit to be fixed.
(2)
Detailed implementing rules for out-of-quota exports, in particular concerning the issue of export licences are laid down by Commission Regulation (EC) No 951/2006. However, the quantitative limit should be fixed per marketing year in view of the possible opportunities on the export markets.
(3)
For certain Union producers of sugar and isoglucose, exports from the Union represent an important part of their economic activities and they have established traditional markets outside the Union. Exports of sugar and isoglucose to those markets could be economically viable also without granting export refunds. To that end it is necessary to fix a quantitative limit for out-of-quota sugar and isoglucose exports so that the EU producers concerned may continue to supply their traditional markets.
(4)
For the 2011/2012 marketing year it is estimated that fixing the quantitative limit initially at 650 000 tonnes, in white sugar equivalent, for out-of-quota sugar exports and 50 000 tonnes, in dry matter, for out-of-quota isoglucose would correspond to the market demand.
(5)
World market prices for sugar have been at a constant high level since October 2010 and forecasts of world market prices based on the London and New York sugar futures exchange markets indicate that world market price will remain high throughout 2011 and beyond. Therefore it is difficult to have robust estimates of the quantities that would be eventually imported into the Union. The experience gained in marketing year 2010/2011 shows that certain quantities of out-of-quota sugar had to be released on the internal market in order to ensure the appropriate supply of the Union market. Consequently, it is appropriate that out-of-quota exports are made possible as from 1 January 2012 by when more clear information would be available on the actual Union supply situation.
(6)
Exports of sugar from the Union to certain close destinations and to third countries granting Union products a preferential import treatment are currently in a particular favourable competitive position. In view of the absence of appropriate instruments of mutual assistance to fight against irregularities and in order to minimise the risk of fraud and to prevent any abuse associated with the re-import or reintroduction into the Union of out-of-quota sugar certain close destinations should be excluded from the eligible destinations.
(7)
In view of the estimated lower risks for eventual frauds regarding isoglucose due to the nature of the product it is not necessary to restrict the eligible destinations for the export of out-of-quota isoglucose.
(8)
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: