EN Official Journal of the European Union L 108/3

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 343/2008

of 17 April 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 1254/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in beef and veal (1), and in particular the third subparagraph of Article 33(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Article 33(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999 provides that the difference between prices on the world market for the products listed in Article 1(1) of that Regulation and prices for those products within the Community may be covered by an export refund.

(2) Given the present situation on the market in beef and veal, export refunds should therefore be fixed in accordance with the rules and criteria provided for in Article 33 of Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999.

(3) The second subparagraph of Article 33(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999 provides that the world market situation or the specific requirements of certain markets may make it necessary to vary the refund according to destination.

(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 should also comply with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs (3), and of 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) Pursuant to the third subparagraph of Article 6(2) of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1964/82 of 20 July 1982 laying down the conditions for granting special export refunds on certain cuts of boned meat of bovine animals (5), the special refund is to be reduced if the quantity 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(6) Commission Regulation (EC) No 36/2008 (6) should therefore be repealed and replaced by a new Regulation.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 Beef and Veal,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

1. Export refunds as provided for in Article 33 of Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999 shall be granted on the products and for the amount 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) No 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 of Regulation (EC) No 854/2004.

Article 2

In the case referred to in the third subparagraph of Article 6(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 1964/82 the rate of the refund on products falling within product code 0201 30 00 9100 shall be reduced by 7 EUR/100 kg.

Article 3

Regulation (EC) No 36/2008 is repealed.

Article 4

This Regulation shall enter into force on 18 April 2008.

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

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 21. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 98/2008 (OJ L 29, 2.2.2008, p. 5). Regulation (EEC) No 1254/1999 will be replaced by Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 (OJ L 299, 16.11.2007, p. 1) as from 1 July 2008.

(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 212, 21.7.1982, p. 48. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1713/2006 (OJ L 321, 21.11.2006, p. 11).

(6) OJ L 15, 18.1.2008, p. 16.