COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 149/98 of 22 January 1998 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/97 laying down certain rules for the application of the special arrangements for imports of olive oil originating in Lebanon

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/97 of 9 October 1997 laying down certain rules for the application of the special arrangements for imports of olive oil originating in Lebanon (1), and in particular Article 3 thereof,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 3290/94 of 22 December 1994 on the adjustments and transitional arrangements required in the agricultural sector in order to implement the agreements concluded during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations (2), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1161/97 (3), and in particular Article 3 thereof,

Whereas the reduction in the rate of customs duty provided for in Article 2(2) of Regulation (EC) No 2007/97 applies to all imports of olive oil in respect of which the importer provides proof on import that the special export charge is reflected in the import price; whereas, for the purposes of applying the abovementioned arrangements, provision should be made for the importer to provide proof that the charge in question has been reimbursed to the exporter;

Whereas Commission Regulation (EC) No 2146/95 (4), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1163/97 (5), relating, inter alia, to the transitional adjustment of the special arrangements for imports of olive oil originating in Lebanon lays down provisions applying to those arrangements; whereas those provisions should be repealed in view of the detailed implementing rules laid down herein;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the Management Committee for Oils and Fats,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

1. The arrangements provided for in Article 2(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 2007/97 shall apply to all imports in respect of which the importer provides proof, on acceptance of the declaration of release for free circulation, that the special export charge is reflected in the import price and that he has reimbursed that charge to the exporter up to the amount deductible on import into the Community as provided for in Article 2(2) of that Regulation.

2. Proof for the purposes of paragraph 1 may consist in any administrative, commercial or bank document acceptable to the customs authorities.

3. For the purposes of this Regulation, 'exporter` means the person shown in the EUR.1 certificate for Lebanon.

Article 2

Regulation (EC) No 2146/95 is hereby repealed.

Article 3

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

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

Done at Brussels, 22 January 1998.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 284, 16. 10. 1997, p. 15.

(2) OJ L 349, 31. 12. 1994, p. 105.

(3) OJ L 169, 27. 6. 1997, p. 1.

(4) OJ L 215, 9. 9. 1995, p. 1.

(5) OJ L 169, 27. 6. 1997, p. 4.