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COMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 3619/88

of 21 November 1988

on the issue of STM licences for certain floricultural products and amending Regulation (EEC) No 643/86

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Having regard to the Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal, and in particular Article 252 (3) thereof,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 569/86 of 25 February 1986 laying down general rules for the application of the supplementary mechanism applicable to trade (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2297/86 (2),

Whereas Commission Regulation (EEC) No 643/86 (3), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3925/87 (4), lays down detailed rules for the application of the supplementary trade mechanism to certain live plants and floricultural products imported into Portugal and in particular the Annex thereto fixes the target ceiling, as provided for in Article 251 (1) of the Act of Accession, applicable to imports of ornamental plants into Portugal from the other Member States of the Community for the year 1988;

Whereas the abovementioned target ceiling has been reached; whereas the continuation of imports at the rate observed would be likely to bring about a serious disturbance of the Portuguese market at the very time that domestic produce is placed on the market; whereas the quantities imported have to a large extent not yet been marketed but stocks thereof are already depressing the market and compete directly with local production; whereas, by Regulation (EEC) No 3250/88 (5), the Commission suspended the interim protective measures, the issue of STM licences until 12 November 1988;

Whereas, with prospects for a better situation on the market at the end of the year, an increase in the target ceiling may however be contemplated for the current year and imports of given quantities may be permitted in the month of December when demand traditionally rises; whereas the issues of STM licences should be monitored specially in order to assess to risk of the new target ceiling being exceeded;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Live Plants,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

In the Annex to Regulation (EEC) No 643/86, under the target ceiling for ornamental plants falling within CN codes 0602 99 91 and 0602 99 91, '482 tonnes' is hereby replaced by '515,7 tonnes'.

Article 2

1. For the period from 29 November to 31 December 1988 STM licences for ornamental plants as referred to in Article 1 shall be issued up to a maximum of: 33,7 tonnes.

2. Applications for STM licences shall be lodged from 21 to 23 November 1988.

The Member States shall notify the Commission by 24 November 1988 at the latest of the quantities in licence applications.

If the quantities in STM licence applications exceed the quantities set out in paragraph 1, the Commission shall fix a single percentage reduction in quantities applied for.

3. STM licences, applications for which have been notified to the Commission, shall be issued on the fifth working day following the deadline laid down for lodging applications.

Article 3

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of 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, 21 November 1988.

For the Commission

Frans ANDRIESSEN

Vice-President

(1) OJ No L 55, 1. 3. 1986, p. 106.

(2) OJ No L 201, 24. 7. 1986, p. 3.

(3) OJ No L 60, 1. 3. 1986, p. 39.

(4) OJ No L 369, 29. 12. 1987, p. 26.

(5) OJ No L 289, 22. 10. 1988, p. 34.