Commission Regulation (EC) No 298/2003

of 17 February 2003

on import licences in respect of beef and veal products originating in Botswana, Kenya, Madagascar, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Namibia

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2286/2002 of 10 December 2002 on the arrangements applicable to agricultural products and goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP States) and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 1706/98(1), and in particular Article 5 thereof,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1918/98 of 9 September 1998 laying down detailed rules for the application in the beef and veal sector of Council Regulation (EC) No 1706/98 on the arrangements applicable to agricultural products and certain goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and repealing Regulation (EC) No 589/96(2), and in particular Article 4 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 1918/98 provides for the possibility of issuing import licences for beef and veal products. However, imports must take place within the limits of the quantities specified for each of these exporting non-member countries.

(2) The applications for import licences submitted between 1 and 10 February 2003, expressed in terms of boned meat, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1918/98, do not exceed, in respect of products originating from Botswana, Kenya, Madagascar, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Namibia, the quantities available from those States. It is therefore possible to issue import licences in respect of the quantities applied for.

(3) The quantities in respect of which licences may be applied for from 1 March 2003 should be fixed within the scope of the total quantity of 52100 tonnes.

(4) This Regulation is without prejudice to Council Directive 72/462/EEC of 12 December 1972 on health and veterinary inspection problems upon importation of bovine, ovine and caprine animals and swine, fresh meat or meat products from third countries(3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1452/2001(4),

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The following Member States shall issue on 21 February 2003 import licences for beef and veal products, expressed as boned meat, originating in certain African, Caribbean and Pacific States, in respect of the following quantities and countries of origin:

Germany:

- 100 tonnes originating in Botswana,

- 50 tonnes originating in Namibia.

United Kingdom:

- 300 tonnes originating in Botswana,

- 60 tonnes originating in Namibia,

- 60 tonnes originating in Swaziland.

Article 2

Licence applications may be submitted, pursuant to Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1918/98, during the first 10 days of March 2003 for the following quantities of boned beef and veal:

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Article 3

This Regulation shall enter into force on 21 February 2003.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 17 February 2003.

For the Commission

J. M. Silva Rodríguez

Agriculture Director-General

(1) OJ L 348, 21.12.2002, p. 5.

(2) OJ L 250, 10.9.1998, p. 16.

(3) OJ L 302, 31.12.1972, p. 28.

(4) OJ L 198, 21.7.2001, p. 11.