•Ix -h 
•a A COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 05.07.1996 
COM(96) 324 final 
96/0171 (ACC) 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) 
providing for the reduction of the tariff rate applicable to 
imports under the WTO tariff quota for certain live bovine 
animals 
(presented by the Commission) 

Explanatory Memorandum 
In the Uruguay Round the Communities undertook to open an annual 
tariff quota for 169 000 head of live bovine animals at an in-
quo ta rate of 16 % + 582 ECU/t. In general, imports under this 
quota are made from CEEC countries and in the framework of the 
transitional measures adopted by the Council for preferential 
imports in the framework of the Europe Agreements (Regulation 
(EC) No 3066/95) , it is provided that the Commission may reduce 
the specific amount of the in-quota rate to 399 ECU/t. 
It would be inconsistent with the Community's MFN obligations 
under the WTO, if the reduced rate were to be applied only to 
live animals from the CEEC countries. The aim of this proposal 
is, therefore, to apply the reduced rate to all imports, 
irrespective of the origin of the live animals. 
The proposal will have no financial effect. 
I 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) 
providing for the reduction of the tariff rate applicable to 
imports under the WTO tariff quota for certain live bovine 
animals 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, 
and in particular Article 113 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Whereas the Community has undertaken in the framework of the 
World Trade Organisation (WTO), to open an annual tariff quota 
of 169.000 head of certain live bovine animals; whereas the 
tariff rate that is applicable for imports under this quota is 
composed of a 16% ad valorem duty and of a specific amount of 582 
ECU/tonne; 
Whereas Council Regulation (EC) N* 2179/95 of 8 August 1995, 
providing for the adjustment, as an autonomous and transitional 
measure, of certain agricultural concessions provided for in the 
Europe Agreements and amending Regulation (EC) N° 33 79/94 opening 
and administering certain Community tariff quotas in 1995 for 
certain agricultural products and for beer, to take account of 
the Agreement concluded during the Uruguay Round Multilateral 
Trade Negotiations (1) , as well as Council Regulation (EC) N° 
3066/95 of 22 December 1995, establishing certain concessions in 
the form of Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural 
products and providing for the adjustment, as an autonomous and 
transitional measure, of certain agricultural concessions 
provided in the Europe Agreements to take account of the 
Agreement on Agriculture concluded during the Uruguay Round of 
Multilateral Trade Négociations (2), as last modified by 
Regulation (EC) N° ..../96 (3), provide for the possibility to 
reduce the specific amount that is payable upon import within the 
tariff quota for 169.000 head of certain live bovine animals, to 
3 99 ECU/tonne in respect of animals originating in the associated 
countries of Central Europe; whereas the reduction has been 
implemented as regards these countries as from 1 July 1995; 
whereas a similar treatment is granted to imports originating 
from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania [as from 1 July 1996] by 
virtue of Council Regulation (EC) N° (4); 
Whereas it is necessary, in view of the international obligations 
of the Community under the WTO, to ensure that imports from all 
countries benefit from the reduced in-quota tariff rate whenever 
a reduction has been or will be implemented as regards imports 
from the associated countries in Central Europe and the Baltic 
States; whereas therefore provision should be made for the 
extension of such reduction to imports of live bovine animals 
from all countries, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Article 1 
Any reduction of the import duty which is payable under the 
Community tariff quota for 169.000 head of certain live bovine 
animals for animals originating in Poland, Hungary, the Czech 
Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria and in Estonia, Latvia 
and Lithuania shall be extended to all imports under that tariff 
quota, irrespective of the origin of the animals. 
Article 2 
Detailed rules for the application of this Regulation shall be 
adopted by the Commission in accordance with the procedure 
provided for in Article 27 of Council Regulation (EEC) N° 805/68 
on the common market organization of the market in beef and veal 
(5) . 
Article 3 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following 
its publication in the Official Journal of the European 
Communities. It shall apply with effect from 1 July 1995. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly 
applicable in all Member States. 
Done at Brussels, 
For the Council 
the President 
(1) OJ N" L 223 of 20.09.1995, p. 29 
(2) OJ N° L 328 of 30.12.1995, p. 31 
(3) OJ N* L 
(4) OJ N* L 
(5) OJ N" L 148 of 28.6.1968, p. 24 (as last modified by 
regulation (EC) N' /96, OJ N* L ... of ....) 
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324 final 
02 11 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-96-329-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-05996-X 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
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