AGREEMENT

in the form of exchanges of letters between the European Community and the Kingdom of Norway concerning certain agricultural products

EXCHANGE OF LETTERS No 1

Brussels, ...

Sir,

I have the honour to refer to the Agreements in the form of exchanges of letters of 16 April 1973, 14 July 1986 and 2 May 1992 between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Norway concerning certain agricultural products and to the negotiations which have taken place between the two parties with a view to adapting the said exchanges of letters and establishing trade arrangements for certain agricultural products, in the spirit of Article 15 of the EEC-Norway Free Trade Agreement, consequent on the accession of the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden to the European Union.

I hereby confirm that the results of the negotiations were as follows:

1. Norway and the Community agree that, from 1 January 1995, the mutual concessions under the abovementioned exchanges of letters shall be extended to the enlarged Community.

2. Norway and the Community agree to conclude a new arrangement on their reciprocal trade in cheese. The text of that arrangement is set out in Annex I hereto.

3. From 1 January 1995 the Community will open for Norway the annual tariff quotas set out in Annex II hereto.

4. From 1 January 1995 Norway will open for the Community the annual tariff quotas set out in Annex III hereto.

5. As regards imports of hay falling within heading ex 1214.90, Norway undertakes to apply its import arrangements on the basis of the principle ‘first come first served’.

6. The rules of origin for the application of the quotas referred to in points 2, 3 and 4 above are set out in Annex IV hereto.

This exchange of letters shall be approved by the Contracting Parties in accordance with their normal procedures.

I should be obliged if you would confirm your agreement with the contents of this letter.

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.

For the Government of the Kingdom of Norway

Brussels, ...

Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of today's date which reads as follows:

‘I have the honour to refer to the Agreements in the form of exchanges of letters of 16 April 1973, 14 July 1986 and 2 May 1992 between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Norway concerning certain agricultural products and to the negotiations which have taken place between the two parties with a view to adapting the said exchanges of letters and establishing trade arrangements for certain agricultural products, in the spirit of Article 15 of the EEC-Norway Free Trade Agreement, consequent on the accession of the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden to the European Union.

I hereby confirm that the results of the negotiations were as follows:

1. Norway and the Community agree that, from 1 January 1995, the mutual concessions under the abovementioned exchanges of letters shall be extended to the enlarged Community.

2. Norway and the Community agree to conclude a new arrangement on their reciprocal trade in cheese. The text of that arrangement is set out in Annex I hereto.

3. From 1 January 1995 the Community will open for Norway the annual tariff quotas set out in Annex II hereto.

4. From 1 January 1995 Norway will open for the Community the annual tariff quotas set out in Annex III hereto.

5. As regard imports of hay falling within heading ex 1214.90, Norway undertakes to apply its import arrangements on the basis of the principle “first come first served”.

6. The rules of origin for the application of the quotas referred to in points 2, 3 and 4 above are set out in Annex IV hereto.

This exchange of letters shall be approved by the Contracting Parties in accordance with their normal procedures.

I should be obliged if you would confirm your agreement with the contents of this letter.’

I have the honour to confirm that the Community is in agreement with the contents of your letter.

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.

On behalf of the Council of the European Union

ANNEX I ARRANGEMENT between the European Community and the Kingdom of Norway concerning reciprocal trade in cheese With the aim of fostering the harmonious development of trade in agricultural products and taking into account the discussions which have taken place with a view to adapting their bilateral agricultural concessions following the accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden to the European Union, the European Community and the Kingdom of Norway have agreed to conclude a new arrangement with effect from 1 January 1995 concerning their reciprocal trade in cheese (1). In view of the common interest of the Community and Norway in offering consumers, in addition to home-produced cheese, types of imported cheese, the provisions of this arrangement read as follows: 1. The import duties on the annual quantities of cheese set out below may not exceed the following levels: (a) On import into the Community (excluding Spain and Portugal): Cheese covered by CN code 0406, originating in Norway and accompanied by an approved certificate (2): Annual quantity (tonnes) Import duty (ECU/100 kg) — Jarlsberg, of a minimum fat content of 45 % by weight in the dry matter and of a dry matter content by weight of not less than 56 %, matured for at least 3 months: — whole cheeses with rind (3 5) weighing from 8 kg to 12 kg — rectangular blocks of a net weight not exceeding 7 kg (4) — pieces packed in vacuum or in inert gas, of a net weight of not less than 150 g but not exceeding 1 kg (4) — Ridder, of a minimum fat content of 60%, by weight, in the dry matter and matured for at least four weeks: — whole cheeses with rind (3 5) weighing from 1 kg to 2 kg — pieces packed in vacuum or in inert gas, with rind on at least one side (3 5), of a net weight of not less than 150 g (4) 2 263 66,41 — Whey cheese 357 7,50 (b) on import into Norway: Annual quantity (tonnes) Import duty (Nkr/kg) — Cheese of all types and varieties, originating in the Community 2 560 1,20 2. Norway will take the necessary steps in order to: — limit the issue of the certificates referred to in (1) (a) to the quantities agreed in this arrangement; — ensure that the autonomous system of import licence allocation will be managed taking into account market requirements and in such a way that imports may take place regularly and that the quantities agreed for import into Norway from the Community can effectively be imported. 3. The Community and Norway will take steps to ensure that the benefits which they grant each other will not be jeopardized by other import measures. 4. The Community and Norway undertake, each on its own behalf, to ensure that the prices charged by their exporters are not such as to create difficulties on the importing country's market. They agree, in this connection, to exchange at regular intervals information on price quotations and any other useful information concerning the market in domestic and imported cheeses. If difficulties arise concerning the prices charged, consultations will be held at the request of either party, as promptly as possible, with a view to the adoption of appropriate corrective measures. 5. Consultations will be held at the request of either party on any question relating to the operation of this arrangement. The two parties may, by common accord, alter it by reference in particular to the trend in market prices, production, marketing or consumption of home-produced and imported cheeses. 6. This arrangement shall apply, on the one hand, to the territories in which the Treaty establishing the European Community is applied and under the conditions laid down in that Treaty and, on the other hand, to the territory of the Kingdom of Norway. 7. This arrangement shall replace the arrangement between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Norway concerning reciprocal trade in cheese, signed on 2 May 1992.

ANNEX II Annual tariff quotas granted by the European Community to the Kingdom of Norway CN code Description Quantity (tonnes) Rate of duty 1504 10 10 Fish-liver oils and their fractions, of a vitamin A content not exceeding 2 500 IU/g 103 free 1504 20 10 Solid fractions of fats and oils of fish, other than liver oils 384 free ex 1516 10 90 Animal fats and oils and their fractions, wholly of fish or marine mammals, in bulk 5 141 free ex 2309 90 31 Fish feed 1 177 free

ANNEX III Annual tariff quotas granted by the Kingdom of Norway to the European Community Norwegian tariff position Description Quantity (tonnes) Rate of duty (Nkr/kg) 0407 00 11 0407 00 19 Birds' eggs, in shell, of the species Gallus domesticus 290 free 0511 99 11 0511 99 21 Powdered animal blood 300 free 1209 23 00 Fescue seed 75 free 1209 24 00 Kentucky blue grass seed 50 free 1602 49 10 Bacon crisp (roasted puffy bacon rind) 50 1,40