1997R2603 — EN — 27.07.1998 — 001.001 — 1
This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents
►B COMMISSIONREGULATION(EC)No2603/97
of16December 1997
layingdownthedetailed implementing rules forimportsofrice originating intheACPcountries
ortheoverseascountriesandterritories (OCT)
(OJ L 351, 23.12.1997, p. 22)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1CommissionRegulation(EC) No 1595/98 of 23 July 1998 L 208 21 24.7.1998
NB: This consolidated version contains references to the European unit of account and/or the ecu, which from 1 January 1999
should be understood as references to the euro — Council Regulation (EEC) No 3308/80 (OJ L 345, 20.12.1980, p. 1) andCouncil Regulation (EC) No 1103/97 (OJ L 162, 19.6.1997, p. 1).
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COMMISSIONREGULATION(EC)No2603/97
of16December 1997
laying down the detailed implementing rules for imports of rice
originating in the ACP countries or the overseas countries and
territories (OCT)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Decision 91/482/EEC of 25 July 1991 on the
association of the overseas countries and territories with the European
Economic Community(1), as last amended by Decision 97/803/EC(2),
and in particular Article 108a (5) thereof,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 715/90 of 5 March
1990 on the arrangements applicable to agricultural products andcertain goods resulting from the processing of agricultural productsoriginating in the ACP States or in the overseas countries and terri-tories (OCT)(
3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 619/96(4),
and in particular Article 13 (1) and (3) thereof,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 3290/94 of 22 December
1994 on the adjustments and transitional arrangements required in theagricultural sector in order to implement the agreements concluded
during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations(
5), as last
amended by Regulation (EC) No 1161/97(6), and in particular Article 3
(1) thereof,
Whereas, by Decision97/803/EC, the Coun cil adapted the import
arrangements for rice originating in the overseas countries and terri-tories (OCTs); whereas the new Article 108a states that thecumulation of ACP/OCT origin referred to in Article 6 of Annex II toDecision91/482/EEC is permitted up to anoverall limit of 160000tonnes of husked rice equivalent, including the tariff quota for rice
originating in the ACP States under the Fourth Lomé Convention;
whereas imports from the OCTs canreach the above level if the ACPStates do not make effective use of their direct export options under theabove tariff quota; whereas import licences for 35 000 tonnes in huskedrice equivalent is initially issued to the OCTs in January each year;
Whereas to ensure balanced management of the Community market in
rice, import licences are issued in respect of several periods over thecourse of a year;
Whereas, to manage the cumulative system, the detailed rules for the
import of rice from the ACP States and OCT need to be adopted in asingle text; whereas Commission Regulation (EEC) No 999/90 of 20April 1990 laying down detailed implementing rules for imports of
rice originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP)
and the overseas countries and territories (OCT)(
7), as last amended
by Regulation(EC) No 1407/97(8), should therefore be repealed and
its appropriate provisions included herein; whereas the provisionsgoverning the reductions in the customs duties applying to imports
and the collection of an export charge by the exporting country should
be included in particular;
Whereas this Regulationshould apply from 1 Jan uary 1998; whereas
CommissionRegulation(EC) No 2352/97 of 27 November 1997 in tro-1997R2603 — EN — 27.07.1998 — 001.001 — 2
(1) OJ L 263, 19. 9. 1991, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 329, 29. 11. 1997, p. 50.
(3) OJ L 84, 30. 3. 1990, p. 85.
(4) OJ L 89, 10. 4. 1996, p. 1.
(5) OJ L 349, 31. 12. 1994, p. 105.
(6) OJ L 169, 27. 6. 1997, p. 1.
(7) OJ L 101, 21. 4. 1990, p. 20.
(8) OJ L 194, 23. 7. 1997, p. 13.
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ducing specific measures in respect of imports of rice originating in the
overseas countries and territories(1) should therefore be repealed;
Whereas the Management Committee for Cereals has not delivered an
opinion within the time limit set by its chariman,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
This Regulation lays down the detailed implementing rules for imports
of rice originating in the ACP States or in the overseas countries andterritories (OCT) pursuant to Article 108a of Decision 91/482/EEC.
TITLE I
Importsofrice originatingintheACPStates
Article 2
1. As regards the quantity of 125000 tonnes of rice, in husked rice
equivalent, falling within CN codes 1006 1021 to 100610 98, 1006 20
and 1006 30 laid down in Article 14(1) of the Council Regulation of 20July 1998, licences for imports at a reduced rate of customs duty shallbe issued each year under the following tranches:
— January: 41668 tonnes,
— May: 41666 tonnes,
— September: 41 666 tonnes.
2. Without prejudice to Article 7, quantities not covered by import
licences issued for the first or second tranche shall be carried over to
the following tranche.
For quantities not covered to import licences issued under the
September tranche, import licence applications may be submitted under
an additional tranche in October, in accordance with Article 8 (1).
Article 3
1. As regards the quantity of 20 000 tonnes of broken rice falling
withinCN code 1006 4000 laid downinArticle 14(1) of the Coun cil
Regulationof 20 July 1998, licen ces for imports at a reduced rate ofcustoms duty shall be issued each year under the following tranches:
— January: 10000 tonnes,
— May: 10000 tonnes,
— September: —.
2. Quantities not covered by import licences issued for the first or
second tranches shall be carried over to the following tranche.
For quantities not covered by import licences issued under the
September tranche, import licence applications may be submitted underan additional tranche in October, in accordance with Article 8 (1).
Article 4
For the purposes of applying Article 13(1) of the Council Regulation of
20 July 1998, the amounts of the customs duties shall be calculatedeach week but fixed every two weeks by the Commission.1997R2603 — EN — 27.07.1998 — 001.001 — 3
(1) OJ L 326, 28. 11. 1997, p. 21.▼M1
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Article 5
1. Article 4 shall apply only to imports of rice for which an export
charge corresponding to the difference between the applicable customsduties on import of the rice from third countries and the amountsreferred to in Article 4 has been collected by the exporting country.
2. Proof that the charge has beencollected is provided where the
customs authorities of the exporting country enter one of the following
inthe box marked ‘Remarks’ of the EUR.1 movemen t certificate:
Amount in national currency:
— Tasa especial percibida a la exportaciondel arroz
— Særafgift, der opkræves ved eksport af ris
— Bei der Ausfuhr von Reis erhobene Sonderabgabe
—Ειδικός φόρος που εισπράττεται κατά την εξαγωγή του ρυζιού
— Special charge collected onexport of rice— Taxe spéciale perçue à l'exportationdu riz
— Tassa speciale riscossa all'esportazione del riso
— Bij uitvoer van de rijst opgelegde bijzondere heffing
— Direito especial cobrado na exportação do arroz
— Riisin viennin yhteydessä perittävä erityismaksu
— Särskild avgift för risexport
(Signature and official stamp)3. Where the charge collected by the exporting country is less than
the reductionresultin g from the applicationof Article 4, the reductionshall be limited to the amount collected.
4. If the export charge collected is ina curren cy other thanthat of
the importing Member State, the exchange rate to be used to caclulatethe amount of charge actually collected shall be the rate registered on
the most representative currency exchange or exchanges in that
Member State onthe date the customs duty was fixed inadvan ce.
5. The customs duty shall be that applying on the day the licence
applicationis lodged.
TITLE II
Importsofrice originatingintheOCT
Article 6
1. As regards the quantity of 35000 tonnes of rice, in husked-rice
equivalent, falling within CN code 1006 pursuant to Article 108a ofDecision91/482/EEC, licen ces for imports exempt from customs dutyshall be issued each year under the following tranches:
January: 35 000 tonnes
May: —
September: —
2. Quantities not covered by import licences issued for the first or
second tranches shall be carried over to the following tranche.
For quantities not covered by import licences issued under the
September tranche, import licence applications may be submitted underan additional tranche in October, in accordance with Article 8 (1).1997R2603 — EN — 27.07.1998 — 001.001 — 4
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TITLE III
DetailedrulescommontoTitlesIandII
Article 7
1. Quantities carried over referred to in Article 2(2) may be the
subject of licence applications for the import of rice originating in theACP States falling within CN codes 1006 10 21 to 1006 10 98, 1006 20and 1006 30 and rice originating in the OCTs falling within CN code1006.
2. Quantities as referred to in paragraph 1 that are not covered by
import licences issued under a tranche shall be carried over to the
following tranche.
Article 8
1. Licence applications shall be lodged with the competent authority
in the Member State concerned during the first five working days inthe month corresponding to each tranche.
2. The country of origin shall be entered in Section 8 of licence
applications and of the import licences and the word ‘yes’ shall be
marked with a cross.
3. In Section 20 of the import licence application the applicant shall
indicate the tranche for which he is submitting the application. One ofthe following entries shall be made:
— OCT (Article 6 of Regulation(EC) No 2603/97)
— ACP (Article 2 (1) of Regulation(EC) No 2603/97)
— ACP brokenrice (Article 3 of Regulation(EC) No 2603/97)
— ACP + OCT (Article 7 of Regulation(EC) No 2603/97)
4. Section 24 of the licences shall bear one of the following entries:
(a) for the OCTs:
— Exención del derecho de aduana hasta la cantidad indicada en
las casillas 17 y 18 del presente certificado [Reglamento (CE)n
o2603/97]
— Toldfri op til den mængde, der er angivet i rubrik 17 og 18 i
denne licens (Forordning (EF) nr. 2603/97)
— Zollfrei bis zu der in den Feldern 17 und 18 dieser Lizenz ange-
gebenen Menge (Verordnung (EG) Nr. 2603/97)
—Ατελώς µέχρι την ποσότητα που ορίζεται στα τετρα-
γωνίδια 17 και 18 του παρόντος πιστοποιητικού[Κανονισµός (ΕΚ) αριθ. 2603/97]
— Exemption from customs duty up to the quantity indicated in
Sections 17 and 18 of this licence (Regulation (EC) No 2603/97)
— Exemption du droit de douane jusqu'à la quantité indiquée dans
les cases 17 et 18 du présent certificat [Règlement (CE) n
o2603/
97]
— Esenzione del dazio doganale limitatamente alla quantità indi-
cata nelle caselle 17 e 18 del presente titolo [Regolamento(CE) n. 2603/97]
— Vrijgesteld vandouan erecht voor tenhoogste de inde vakken
17 en 18 van dit certificaat vermelde hoeveelheid (Verordening(EG) nr. 2603/97)
— Isenção de direito aduaneiro até à quantidade indicada nas casas
17 e 18 do presente certificado [Regulamento (CE) n
o2603/97]
— Tullivapaa tämäntodistuksenkohdissa 17 ja 18 esitettyyn
määräänasti (asetus (EY) N:o 2603/97)
— Tullfri upp till den mängd som anges i fält 17 och 18 i denna
licens (Förordning (EG) nr 2603/97)1997R2603 — EN — 27.07.1998 — 001.001 — 5
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(b) for the ACP States:
— Derecho de aduana reducido hasta la cantidad indicada en las
casillas 17 y 18 del presente certificado [Reglamento (CE)n
o2603/97]
— Nedsat told op til den mængde, der er angivet i rubrik 17 og 18
i denne licens (Forordning (EF) nr. 2603/97)
— Ermäßigter Zollsatz bis zu der indenFeldern17 un d 18 dieser
Lizenz angegebenen Menge (Verordnung (EG) Nr. 2603/97)
—Μειωµένος δασµός µέχρι την ποσότητα που ορίζεται στα
τετραγωνίδια 17 και 18 του παρόντος πιστοποιητικού
[Κανονισµός (ΕΚ) αριθ. 2603/97]
— Reduced duty up to the quantity indicated in Sections 17 and 18
of this licence (Regulation (EC) No 2603/97)
— Droit réduit jusqu'à la quantité indiquée dans les cases 17 et 18
du présent certificat [Règlement (CE) no2603/97]
— Dazio ridotto limitatamente alla quantità indicata nelle caselle
17 e 18 del presente titolo [Regolamento (CE) n. 2603/97]
— Verminderd douanerecht voor ten hoogste de in de vakken 17
en 18 van dit certificaat vermelde hoeveelheid (Verordening(EG) nr. 2603/97)
— Direito reduzido até à quantidade indicada nas casas 17 e 18 do
presente certificado [Regulamento (CE) n
o2603/97]
— Tulli, joka on alennettu tämän todistuksen kohdissa 17 ja 18
esitettyynmääräänasti (asetus (EY) N:o 2603/97)
— Tullsatsen nedsatt upp till den mängd som anges i fält 17 och
18 i denna licens (Förordning (EG) nr 2603/97).
5. Import licence applications shall be admissible only where the
following conditions are fulfilled:
— applications must be submitted by natural or legal persons who, in a
least one of the three years preceding the date of submission of the
application, have been engaged in trade in rice and were entered ina public register of a Member State,
— applicants may submit one application only in the Member State
where they are entered in a public register. Where several applica-tions are submitted by the same person in one or more MemberStates, none of those applications shall be admissible,
— applications may be submitted for no more than the maximum
quantity laid down for each tranche or origin. However, the quan-
tity applied for under each tranche and origin shall not exceed5 000 tonnes in husked-rice equivalent.
6. Notwithstanding Article 10 of Commission Regulation (EC)
No 1162/95(
1), the security for import licences shall be ECU 28 per
tonne.
Article 9
1. Within two working days of the closing date for the submission
of licence applications, the Member States shall notify the Commis-sion, by telex or fax and in accordance with the Annex to thisRegulation, of the quantities covered by import licence applications,broken down by eight-digit CN code per tranche and country of origin,the number of the licence applied for and the name and address of the
applicant.
Such notification shall also be made where no application has been
submitted ina Member State.
The above information must be notified separately from that relating to
other import licence applications covering rice and in accordance withthe same procedure.1997R2603 — EN — 27.07.1998 — 001.001 — 6
(1) OJ L 117, 24. 5. 1995, p. 2.
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2. Within 10 days of the final date for notification by Member
States, the Commissionshall:
— decide to what extent applications may be accepted. Where the
quantities applied for exceed those available in respect of thetranche and origin in question, it shall set a percentage reductionto be applied to each application,
— fix the quantities available under the following tranche and, where
appropriate, the additional tranche for October.
3. Where the percentage reduction referred to in paragraph 2 is
applied, applications for licences may be withdrawn no later than twoworking days after the date of publication of the Regulation fixing thepercentage. The security shall be released immediately.
Article 10
1. Withinthree workin g days of publicationof the Commission
decision, import licences shall be issued for the quantities resultingfrom the applicationof Article 9 (2).
Where the quantities covered by import licences issued are lower than
those applied for, the security fixed inArticle 10 of Regulation(EC)No 1162/95 shall be reduced proportionately.
2. Notwithstanding Article 9 of Commission Regulation (EEC)
No 3719/88(
1), rights accruing under import licences shall not be trans-
ferable.
Article 11
1. The fourth indent of Article 5 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 3719/
88 shall not apply.
2. The reduction in customs duties for rice originating in the ACP
countries and the exemption from duties for rice originating in theOCT provided for respectively inArticles 4 an d 6 of this Regulationshall not apply to quantities imported within the tolerance referred toinArticle 8 (4) of Regulation(EEC) No 3719/88.
3. Article 33 (5) of Regulation(EEC) No 3719/88 shall apply.4. Notwithstanding Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1162/95, import
licences for husked, wholly-milled, semi-milled and broken rice shallbe valid from the actual day of issue until the end of the third monthfollowing, pursuant to Article 21 (2) of Regulation (EEC) No 3719/88.
However, they shall not be valid beyond 31 December of the year of
issue.
Article 12
The Member States shall notify the Commission by telex or fax in the
form set out in Annex I:
— within two working days of their issue, of the quantities, broken
down by eight-digit CN code and country of origin, covered bythe import licences issued, the date of issue, the number of thelicence and the name and address of the holder,
— not later than two months after expiry of the validity of each
licence, of the quantities, broken down by eight-digit CN code andcountry of origin, actually released for free circulation, the date ofrelease, the number of the licence and the name and address of theholder.
Such notifications must also be made where no licence has been issued
and no imports have taken place.1997R2603 — EN — 27.07.1998 — 001.001 — 7
(1) OJ L 331, 2. 12. 1988, p. 1.▼M1
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Article 13
Regulation(EEC) No 999/90 is repealed.
Article 14
Regulation(EC) No 2352/97 is repealed.
Article 15
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in
theOfficial Journal of the European Communities .
It shall apply from 1 January 1998.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable
inall Member States.1997R2603 — EN — 27.07.1998 — 001.001 — 8
ANNEX
RICE-REGULATION(EC)No2603/97
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