Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 170/2013 lays down transitional measures in the sugar sector by reason of the accession of Croatia to the Union. Section 2 of Chapter II of that Regulation deals with the determination and elimination of surplus quantities of sugar present in Croatia at the date of its accession. In particular it sets deadlines for the determination of the surplus sugar quantities, for their elimination and for the proofs of elimination to be provided by identified operators in Croatia. It also fixes reference periods to be used in the calculation of charges for Croatia if surplus sugar quantities are not eliminated.

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1345/2014 determined the surplus quantities of sugar in Croatia stockpiled prior to its accession and which have to be eliminated from the Union market at the expense of Croatia in accordance with the deadlines set out in Implementing Regulation (EU) No 170/2013, as amended by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1407.

By its letter of 26 January 2016, Croatia has informed the Commission that, while it does not question the obligation to ensure the elimination of the surplus sugar quantities, as determined by the Commission, the unforeseen procedural difficulties in the implementation of the obligation to compel the operators concerned to eliminate those surplus quantities that led to the extension of the deadlines for elimination could not be fully solved and that some short additional time is needed. It is therefore appropriate to extend the deadlines provided for by Implementing Regulation (EU) No 170/2013 by 4 months.

Implementing Regulation (EU) No 170/2013 should therefore be amended accordingly.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets,