COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 903/97 of 21 May 1997 adopting a protective measure applying to imports of garlic originating in China

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2200/96 of 28 October 1996 on the common organization of the market in fruit and vegetables (1), and in particular Article 37 (2) thereof,

Whereas, pursuant to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1859/93 of 12 July 1993 on the application of the system of import licences for garlic imported from third countries (2), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1662/94 (3), the release for free circulation in the Community of garlic imported from third countries is subject to the presentation of import licences;

Whereas on 8 April 1997 the Kingdom of Spain requested the Commission to take protective measures against imports of garlic;

Whereas, as from 1993, the Commission recorded a very sharp rise in imports of garlic originating in China as compared with preceding years; whereas, given their price, further imports could have brought about such serious disturbance of the Community market as to jeopardize the objectives of Article 39 of the EC Treaty and in particular to damage Community producers; whereas the Commission accordingly adopted a protective measure by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1213/94 (4), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2815/94 (5), to limit the quantity covered by import licences issued for garlic originating in China for the 1994/95 marketing year to a given quantity per month; whereas that measure was renewed by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1153/95 (6), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2944/95 (7), for the period 1 June 1995 to 31 May 1996, and, for the period 1 June 1996 to 31 May 1997, by Commission Regulation (EC) No 885/96 (8);

Whereas each month import licence applications in respect of garlic originating in China have covered quantities far exceeding the monthly quantity fixed by Regulation (EC) No 885/96; whereas, moreover, the number of applications submitted on the first day of each monthly period has resulted throughout the whole marketing year concerned to import licences being issued for quantities equal to less than 1 % of the quantities applied for and to the rejection of applications submitted thereafter; whereas this systematic overrun shows that there is continuing pressure on the market for this product and that, unless protective measures are adopted, the Community market in garlic could be seriously disturbed by huge quantities imported from China; whereas it is therefore vital for the protective measure applying to garlic originating in China to be renewed;

Whereas import licences should be issued solely for a given quantity by period from 1 June 1997 to 31 May 1998 and the issuing thereof should be suspended once that quantity has been attained,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

1. For the period 1 June 1997 to 31 May 1998, import licences for garlic (CN code 0703 20 00) originating in China shall be issued for up to 12 000 tonnes only, subject to a maximum quantity for each period as set out in the Annex.

2. The maximum quantity for each period as referred to in paragraph 1 shall be equal to the sum of:

(a) the quantity set out in the Annex,

(b) quantities not applied for from the preceding period,

and

(c) unused quantities from licences issued previously of which the Commission has been informed.

3. Where the Commission establishes, on the basis of information forwarded to it by the Member States pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation (EEC) No 1859/93, that there is a risk that the maximum quantity for any period may be exceeded, it shall lay down the conditions under which licences may be issued.

4. Operators may submit not more than two licence applications per period, separated by a minimum of five days, in respect of the product referred to in paragraph 1. Each application may cover not more than 50 % of the quantity available for that period as set out in the Annex.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 June 1997.

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

Done at Brussels, 21 May 1997.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ No L 297, 21. 11. 1996, p. 1.

(2) OJ No L 170, 13. 7. 1993, p. 10.

(3) OJ No L 176, 9. 7. 1994, p. 1.

(4) OJ No L 133, 28. 5. 1994, p. 36.

(5) OJ No L 298, 19. 11. 1994, p. 26.

(6) OJ No L 116, 23. 5. 1995, p. 23.

(7) OJ No L 308, 21. 12. 1995, p. 17.

(8) OJ No L 119, 16. 5. 1996, p. 12.

ANNEX

>TABLE>