COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 1726/93 of 29 June 1993 opening and providing for the administration of Community tariff quotas for frozen hake fillets and for processing work in respect of certain textile products under Community outward processing arrangements

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 113 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas the Community has undertaken, within the framework of its external relations, to open each year for periods of, respectively, 1 July to 31 December and 1 September to 31 August of the following year, Community tariff quotas for 5 000 tonnes at 10 % duty for frozen fillets of hake presented in the form of industrial blocks with bones ('standard') and, after various adaptations, a duty-free Community tariff quota for ECU 1 870 000 of added value for various kinds of processing work in respect of certain textile products under outward processing arrangements; whereas the tariff quotas in question should accordingly be opened for the agreed periods and in accordance with the agreed elements;

Whereas provision should be made in particular to ensure equal and continuous access for those concerned to the quotas in question and consistent application, until the quotas are exhausted, of the rate prescribed for the said quotas to all goods which are imported or re-imported into any of the Member States and which meet the prescribed conditions;

Whereas the decision for the opening, in the execution of its international obligations, of tariff quotas should be taken by the Community; whereas, to ensure the efficiency of a common administration of these quotas, there is no obstacle to authorizing the Member States to draw from the quota-volumes the necessary quantities corresponding to actual imports; whereas, however, this method of administration requires close cooperation between the Member States and the Commission and the latter must in particular be able to monitor the rate at which the quotas are used up and inform the Member States accordingly;

Whereas, since the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg are united within, and jointly represented by, the Benelux Economic Union, all transactions concerning the administration of the shares levied by that economic union may be carried out by any one of its members,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

1. From 1 July to 31 December 1993 the customs duty applicable to the import of the products listed below shall be suspended at the levels and within the limit of the Community tariff quota shown herewith:

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Member States in accordance with Article 22 of Regulation (EEC) No 3759/92 (1), is at least equal to the reference price.

3. Imports of these products shall not be charged against this tariff quota if they are already eligible for an equal or lower customs duty under other preferential tariff treatment.

Article 2

1. From 1 September 1993 to 31 August 1994 the customs duties applicable to re-imports of the following products shall be totally suspended within the limit of the Community tariff quota shown herewith:

/* Tables: see OJ */

(a) 'processing work' shall mean:

- for the purposes of paragraph 1 (a) and (c) appearing in the table: bleaching, dyeing, printing, flocking, impregnating, dressing and other work which changes the appearance or quality of the goods, without however changing their nature,

- for the purposes of paragraph 1 (b) appearing in the table: twisting or throwing, cabling and texturizing, whether or not combined with reeling, dyeing or other work which changes the appearance, quality or finish of the goods, without however changing their nature;

(b) 'value added' shall mean the difference between the value for customs purposes as defined in Community regulations on this subject at the time of re-importation and the value for customs purposes as it would be if the products were re-imported in the state in which they were exported.

3. Re-imports of products, resulting from this processing work may not be charged to the tariff quota if they are already free of customs duties under other preferential tariff arrangements.

Article 3

The tariff quota referred to in Articles 1 and 2 shall be administered by the Commission, which may take any appropriate measure with a view to ensuring the efficient administration thereof.

Article 4

If an importer presents in a Member State an entry for release for free circulation, including a request for preferential benefit for a product covered by this Regulation, and if this declaration is accepted by the customs authorities, the Member State concerned shall draw, from the tariff quota, by means of notification to the Commission, a quantity corresponding to these needs.

The request for drawing, with the indication of the date of acceptance of the said declarations, must be communicated to the Commission without delay.

The drawings are granted by the Commission on the basis of the date of acceptance of the entries for release for free circulation by the customs authorities of the Member State concerned, to the extent that the available balance so permits.

If a Member State does not use the quantities drawn, it shall return them as soon as possible to the tariff quota.

If the quantities requested are greater than the available balance of the tariff quota, allocation shall be made on a pro rata basis with respect to the requests. Member States shall be informed thereof by the Commission.

Article 5

Each Member State shall ensure that importers of the products concerned have equal and continuous access to the quotas for such times as the balance of the tariff quota so permits.

Article 6

Member States and the Commission shall cooperate closely to ensure that this Regulation is complied with.

Article 7

This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 July 1993.

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

Done at Luxembourg, 29 June 1993.

For the Council

The President

S. AUKEN

(1) OJ No L 388, 31. 12. 1992, p. 1.