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)(1), and in particular Article 144(1) in conjunction with Article 4 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 2092/2004 of 8 December 2004 laying down detailed rules of application for an import tariff quota of dried boneless beef originating in Switzerland(2) has been substantially amended several times(3). In the interests of clarity and rationality the said Regulation should be codified.
(2) The Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products(4) (‘the Agreement’), which was approved on behalf of the Community by Decision 2002/309/EC, Euratom of the Council and of the Commission(5), provides for duty-free imports of a quantity of 1 200 tonnes per annum for meat of bovine animals, boneless, dried, falling under CN code ex 0210 20 90.
(3) Detailed rules should therefore be laid down on an annual basis for the relevant duty-free import tariff quota.
(4) To be eligible for the benefit of that tariff quota, the products concerned should originate in Switzerland in conformity with the rules referred to in Article 4 of the Agreement. A precise definition of the eligible products should be provided. For reasons of control, imports under that quota should be subject to the presentation of a certificate of authenticity certifying that the meat corresponds exactly to the eligible definition. It is necessary to establish a model for those certificates and lay down detailed rules for their use.
(5) The arrangements should be managed using import licences. To this end, rules should be laid down on the submission of applications and the information to be given on applications and licences, where necessary by derogation from Commission Regulation (EC) No 376/2008 of 23 April 2008 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences and advance fixing certificates for agricultural products(6) and from Commission Regulation (EC) No 382/2008 of 21 April 2008 on rules of application for import and export licences in the beef and veal sector(7).
(6) In order to ensure the proper management of the imports of the products concerned, provision should be made for import licences to be issued subject to verification, in particular of entries on certificates of authenticity.
(7) 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:
See Annex IV.