EN Official Journal of the European Union L 279/17

COUNCIL DECISION

of 11 August 2004

on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and India pursuant to Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 relating to the modification of concessions with respect to rice provided for in EC Schedule CXL annexed to the GATT 1994

(2004/617/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 133 in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1) On 26 June 2003, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations under Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 with a view to modify certain concessions for rice. Accordingly, the Community notified the WTO on 2 July 2003 of its intention to modify certain concessions in EC Schedule CXL.

(2) Negotiations have been conducted by the Commission in consultation with the Committee established by Article 133 of the Treaty and within the framework of the negotiating directives issued by the Council.

(3) The Commission has negotiated with the United States of America, having a principal supplying interest in products of HS code 1006 20 (husked rice) and substantial supplier interest in products of HS code 1006 30 (milled rice), Thailand, having a principal supplying interest in products of HS code 1006 30 (milled rice) and substantial supplier interest in products of HS code 1006 20 (husked rice) and India and Pakistan, each having a substantial supplier interest in products of HS code 1006 20 (husked rice).

(4) In order to ensure that the Agreement may be fully applied by 1 September 2004 and pending the amendment of Council Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003 of 29 September 2003 on the common organisation of the market in rice (1), the Commission should be authorised to adopt temporary derogations from that Regulation.

(5) The measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission (2).

(6) The Commission has successfully negotiated an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and India. The Agreement should therefore be approved,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and India pursuant to Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 relating to the modification of concessions with respect to rice provided for in EC Schedule CXL annexed to the GATT 1994 is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.

The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

To the extent necessary to permit the full application of this Agreement by 1 September 2004, the Commission may derogate from Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 3(2) of this Decision, until that Regulation is amended but at the latest until 30 June 2005.

Article 3

1. The Commission shall be assisted by the Management Committee for Cereals instituted by Article 25 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 of 29 September 2003 on the common organisation of the market in cereals (3).

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply.

The period provided for in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at one month.

3. The Committee shall adopt its Rules of Procedure.

Article 4

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Agreement in order to bind the Community (4).

Done at Brussels, 11 August 2004. For the Council The President B. BOT

(1) OJ L 270, 21.10.2003, p. 96.

(2) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.

(3) OJ L 270, 21.10.2003, p. 78.

(4) The date of entry into force of the Agreement will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

AGREEMENT IN THE FORM OF AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS

between the European Community and India pursuant to Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 relating to the modification of concessions with respect to rice provided for in EC Schedule CXL annexed to the GATT 1994

Sir,

Following negotiations between the European Community (EC) and India under Article XXVIII of GATT 1994 for the modification of concessions with respect to rice provided for in EC Schedule CXL annexed to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT 1994), the EC agrees to the conclusions as outlined below.

Final import regime

The tariff rate for husked rice (CN code 1006 20) shall be EUR 65/tonne.

With respect to the import regime of husked rice (CN codes 1006 20 17 and NC 1006 20 98) of the varieties Basmati 370, Basmati 386, Type-3 (Dehradun), Taraori Basmati (HBC-19), Basmati 217, Ranbir Basmati, Pusa Basmati and Super Basmati, the EC's specific bound rate of duty shall be zero. To that purpose:

— a Community control system based on DNA analysis at the border shall be created; India shall actively cooperate with the EC to set up such a control system and the EC shall provide the appropriate technical assistance in this matter,

— it is understood that Basmati rice of the varieties described above is produced in certain geographical areas and that India will protect Basmati rice as a geographical indication. The EC would welcome an application for protection as a geographical indication of Basmati rice under Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 of 14 July 1992 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs (1). The EC shall process any such application as expeditiously as possible. The EC shall provide any necessary technical assistance in this matter.

Transitional arrangement

As from 1 September 2004 and until the date of entry into force of the abovementioned Community control system, the EC shall put in place a transitional regime with regard to husked rice (CN codes 1006 20 17 and 1006 20 98) of the varieties described above based on the following elements.

The EC's autonomous applied rate of duty shall be zero. However, if market disturbance occurs, the EC will consult with India's competent authorities to agree an appropriate solution. If no agreement is reached, the EC reserves the right to revert to the bound rate of duty of EUR 65/tonne for husked rice (CN code 1006 20).

General

For the purposes of this Agreement:

— the EC shall establish separate tariff lines for Basmati rice of the varieties indicated in the agreements with India and Pakistan,

— the competent Indian authorities shall continue to issue the authenticity certificates prior to the issuance of import licences, meaning that the current system of administration of the certificates of authenticity shall be maintained.

The EC recognises that India has initial negotiating rights with respect to the concessions specified in the present letter.

This Agreement shall be approved by the Parties in accordance with their own procedures.

The provisions of this Agreement shall be applicable from 1 September 2004.

I would be grateful if you could confirm the agreement of your Government to the above.

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

Hecho en Bruselas, el V Bruselu dne Udfærdiget i Bruxelles, den Geschehen zu Brüssel am Brüssel, Έγινε στις Βρυξέλλες, στις Done at Brussels, Fait à Bruxelles, le Fatto a Bruxelles, addì Briselÿ, Priimta Briuselyje, Kelt Brüsszelben, Magÿmula fi Brussel, Gedaan te Brussel, Sporzÿdzono w Brukseli, dnia Feito em Bruxelas, V Bruseli V Bruslju, Tehty Brysselissä Utfärdat i Bryssel den

Por la Comunidad Europea Za Evropské společenstvί For Det Europæiske Fællesskab Für die Europäische Gemeinschaft Euroopa Ühenduse nimel Για την Ευρωπαϊκή Κοινότητα For the European Community Pour la Communauté européenne Per la Comunità europea Eiropas Kopienas vārdā Europos bendrijos vardu az Európai Közösség részéről Għall-Komunità Ewropea Voor de Europese Gemeenschap W imieniu Wspólnoty Europejskiej Pela Comunidade Europeia Za Európske spoločenstvo za Evropsko skupnost Euroopan yhteisön puolesta På Europeiska gemenskapens vägnar

Sir,

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

‘Following negotiations between the European Community (EC) and India under Article XXVIII of GATT 1994 for the modification of concessions with respect to rice provided for in EC Schedule CXL annexed to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT 1994), the EC agrees to the conclusions as outlined below.

Final import regime

The tariff rate for husked rice (CN code 1006 20) shall be EUR 65/tonne.

With respect to the import regime of husked rice (CN codes 1006 20 17 and NC 1006 20 98) of the varieties Basmati 370, Basmati 386, Type-3 (Dehradun), Taraori Basmati (HBC-19), Basmati 217, Ranbir Basmati, Pusa Basmati and Super Basmati, the EC's specific bound rate of duty shall be zero. To that purpose:

— a Community control system based on DNA analysis at the border shall be created; India shall actively cooperate with the EC to set up such a control system and the EC shall provide the appropriate technical assistance in this matter,

— it is understood that Basmati rice of the varieties described above is produced in certain geographical areas and that India will protect Basmati rice as a geographical indication. The EC would welcome an application for protection as a geographical indication of Basmati rice under Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 of 14 July 1992 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs (2). The EC shall process any such application as expeditiously as possible. The EC shall provide any necessary technical assistance in this matter.

Transitional arrangement

As from 1 September 2004 and until the date of entry into force of the abovementioned Community control system, the EC shall put in place a transitional regime with regard to husked rice (CN codes 1006 20 17 and 1006 20 98) of the varieties described above based on the following elements.

The EC's autonomous applied rate of duty shall be zero. However, if market disturbance occurs, the EC will consult with India's competent authorities to agree an appropriate solution. If no agreement is reached, the EC reserves the right to revert to the bound rate of duty of EUR 65/tonne for husked rice (CN code 1006 20).

General

For the purposes of this Agreement:

— the EC shall establish separate tariff lines for Basmati rice of the varieties indicated in the agreements with India and Pakistan,

— the competent Indian authorities shall continue to issue the authenticity certificates prior to the issuance of import licences, meaning that the current system of administration of the certificates of authenticity shall be maintained.

The EC recognises that India has initial negotiating rights with respect to the concessions specified in the present letter.

This Agreement shall be approved by the Parties in accordance with their own procedures.

The provisions of this Agreement shall be applicable from 1 September 2004.

I would be grateful if you could confirm the agreement of your Government to the above.’

India has the honour of confirming its agreement with the contents of this letter.

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

Done at Brussels, Hecho en Bruselas, el V Bruselu dne Udfærdiget i Bruxelles, den Geschehen zu Brüssel am Brüssel, Έγινε στις Βρυξέλλες, στις Fait à Bruxelles, le Fatto a Bruxelles, addì Briselÿ, Priimta Briuselyje, Kelt Brüsszelben, Magÿmula fi Brussel, Gedaan te Brussel, Sporzÿdzono w Brukseli, dnia Feito em Bruxelas, V Bruseli V Bruslju, Tehty Brysselissä Utfärdat i Bryssel den

On behalf of India En nombre de la India Za Indii På Indiens vegne Im Namen Indiens India nimel Εξ ονόματος της Ινδίας Au nom de l'Inde Per l'India Indijas vārdā Indijos vardu India nevében Għan-nom ta’ l-Indja Namens India W imieniu Indii Em nome da Índia V mene Indie V imenu Indije Intian puolesta På Indiens vägnar

(1) OJ L 208, 24.7.1992, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003 (OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 1).

(2) OJ L 208, 24.7.1992, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003 (OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 1).