EN Official Journal of the European Union L 190/3

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 680/2008

of 17 July 2008

fixing the export refunds on beef and veal

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

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 (1), and in particular Article 164(2), final subparagraph, and Article 170 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Article 162(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 provides that the difference between prices on the world market for the products listed in Part XV of Annex I to that Regulation and prices for those products on the Community market may be covered by an export refund.

(2) Given the present situation on the market in beef and veal, export refunds should therefore be set in accordance with the rules and criteria provided for in Articles 162 to 164 and 167 to 170 of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007.

(3) Article 164(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 provides that the refund may vary according to destination, especially where the world market situation, the specific requirements of certain markets, or obligations resulting from agreements concluded in accordance with Article 300 of the Treaty make this necessary.

(4) Refunds should be granted only on products that are allowed to move freely in the Community and that bear the health mark as provided for in Article 5(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin (2). Those products must also satisfy the requirements laid down in Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs (3) and Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific rules for the organisation of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption (4).

(5) The conditions laid down in the third subparagraph of Article 7(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1359/2007 of 21 November 2007 laying down the conditions for granting special export refunds on certain cuts of boned meat of bovine animals (5) provide for a reduction of the special refund if the quantity of cuts of boned meat to be exported amounts to less than 95 %, but not less than 85 %, of the total weight of cuts produced by boning.

(6) Commission Regulation (EC) No 343/2008 (6) should therefore be repealed and replaced by a new regulation.

(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:

Article 1

1. Export refunds as provided for in Article 164 of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 shall be granted on the products and for the amounts set out in the Annex to this Regulation subject to the conditions provided for in paragraph 2 of this Article.

2. The products eligible for a refund under paragraph 1 must meet the relevant requirements of Regulations (EC) Nos 852/2004 and 853/2004, notably preparation in an approved establishment and compliance with the health marking requirements laid down in Annex I, Section I, Chapter III to Regulation (EC) No 854/2004.

Article 2

In the case referred to in the third subparagraph of Article 7(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1359/2007, the rate of the refund on products falling within product code 0201 30 00 9100 shall be reduced by EUR 7/100 kg.

Article 3

Regulation (EC) No 343/2008 is hereby repealed.

Article 4

This Regulation shall enter into force on 18 July 2008.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 17 July 2008. For the Commission Jean-Luc DEMARTY Director-General for Agriculture and Rural Development

(1) OJ L 299, 16.11.2007, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 510/2008 (OJ L 149, 7.6.2008, p. 61).

(2) OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 55, as corrected by OJ L 226, 25.6.2004, p. 22. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1243/2007 (OJ L 281, 25.10.2007, p. 8).

(3) OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 1, as corrected by OJ L 226, 25.6.2004, p. 3.

(4) OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 206, as corrected by OJ L 226, 25.6.2004, p. 83. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1791/2006 (OJ L 363, 20.12.2006, p. 1).

(5) OJ L 304, 22.11.2007, p. 21.

(6) OJ L 108, 18.4.2008, p. 3.