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( 1 ) OJ NO L 121 , 3 . 6 . 1971 , P . 26 .

COMMISSION DECISION

OF 7 JUNE 1979

AUTHORIZING THE FRENCH REPUBLIC NOT TO APPLY COMMUNITY TREATMENT TO NATURAL HONEY , FALLING WITHIN HEADING NO 04.06 OF THE COMMON CUSTOMS TARIFF , ORIGINATING IN MEXICO , ARGENTINA AND GUATEMALA AND IN FREE CIRCULATION IN THE OTHER MEMBER STATES

( ONLY THE FRENCH TEXT IS AUTHENTIC )

( 79/625/EEC )

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN

COMMUNITIES ,

HAVING REGARD TO THE TREATY ESTABLISHING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY , AND IN PARTICULAR THE FIRST PARAGRAPH OF ARTICLE 115 THEREOF ,

HAVING REGARD TO THE APPLICATION UNDER THE FIRST PARAGRAPH OF ARTICLE 115 OF THE TREATY , MADE ON 1 JUNE 1979 BY THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT TO THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES , FOR AUTHORIZATION NOT TO APPLY COMMUNITY TREATMENT TO NATURAL HONEY , FALLING WITHIN HEADING NO 04.06 OF THE COMMON CUSTOMS TARIFF , ORIGINATING IN MEXICO , ARGENTINA AND GUATEMALA AND IN FREE CIRCULATION IN THE OTHER MEMBER STATES ,

WHEREAS IN FRANCE THE IMPORT OF THE PRODUCTS IN QUESTION ORIGINATING IN MEXICO , ARGENTINA AND GUATEMALA IS SUBJECT TO AN ANNUAL QUOTA WHICH IS CURRENTLY BEING DISTRIBUTED ;

WHEREAS THE DISPARITIES WHICH EXIST IN THE COMMERCIAL POLICY MEASURES APPLIED IN CONNECTION WITH THESE PRODUCTS BY THE MEMBER STATES ARE CAUSING DEFLECTION OF TRADE , THEREBY PREVENTING THE EXECUTION OF THOSE COMMERCIAL POLICY MEASURES WHICH ARE IN FORCE BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULT ECONOMIC SITUATION IN THE SECTOR CONCERNED ;

WHEREAS , ACCORDING TO INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT , THE HONEY PRODUCTION SECTOR , WHICH IS CHARACTERISTIC OF CERTAIN ECONOMICALLY LESS-FAVOURED MOUNTAIN REGIONS , IS FACED WITH A SERIOUS ECONOMIC CRISIS ;

WHEREAS FURTHER INDIRECT IMPORTS , IN ADDITION TO THOSE ALREADY MADE OR PROPOSED , WOULD BE LIKELY TO AGGRAVATE THESE DIFFICULTIES ;

WHEREAS IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SET IN MOTION RAPIDLY THE MACHINERY FOR BRINGING ABOUT THE NECESSARY COOPERATION FROM THE OTHER MEMBER STATES ;

WHEREAS AUTHORIZATION SHOULD ACCORDINGLY BE GIVEN FOR THE APPLICATION OF PROTECTIVE MEASURES UNDER THE FIRST PARAGRAPH OF ARTICLE 115 , SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS LAID DOWN IN COMMISSION DECISION 71/202/EEC OF 12 MAY 1971 ( 1 ), AND IN PARTICULAR ARTICLE 1 THEREOF ;

WHEREAS , HOWEVER , THE APPLICATION FOR A LICENCE WHICH GAVE RISE TO THE APPLICATION IN QUESTION DOES NOT NEED TO BE COVERED BY SUCH AN AUTHORIZATION IN VIEW OF THE SMALL AMOUNT INVOLVED ,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION :

ARTICLE 1

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC IS AUTHORIZED NOT TO APPLY COMMUNITY TREATMENT TO THE PRODUCTS INDICATED BELOW , WHERE THEY ORIGINATE IN MEXICO , ARGENTINA AND GUATEMALA AND ARE IN FREE CIRCULATION IN THE OTHER MEMBER STATES , AND IN RESPECT OF WHICH APPLICATIONS FOR IMPORT LICENCES WERE LODGED AFTER 22 MAY 1979 :

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CCT HEADING NO // DESCRIPTION //

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04.06 // NATURAL HONEY //

ARTICLE 2

THIS DECISION SHALL APPLY UNTIL NEW OPPORTUNITIES ARISE IN FRANCE FOR THE IMPORTATION OF THESE PRODUCTS FROM MEXICO , ARGENTINA AND GUATEMALA OR UNTIL 30 SEPTEMBER 1979 , WHICHEVER IS THE EARLIER .

ARTICLE 3

THIS DECISION IS ADDRESSED TO THE FRENCH REPUBLIC .

DONE AT BRUSSELS , 7 JUNE 1979 .

FOR THE COMMISSION

WILHELM HAFERKAMP

VICE-PRESIDENT