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Brussels, 4.10.2007

COM(2007) 567 final

2007/0204 (ACC)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL REGULATION

adopting autonomous and transitional measures to open Community tariff quotas for the import of sausages and certain meat products originating in Switzerland

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

The agreed minutes of 2 May 2007 between the services of the Commission and the Swiss Federal Administration foresee the consolidation of bilateral preferential trade in sausages and certain meat products within the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products [1]. This consolidation will replace the concessions granted by Switzerland to some Member States only, by virtue of old agreements. At the same time, additional quantities are foreseen for both Parties to take account of increased bilateral trade interests for these products, but on an asymmetrical base, with consideration to the higher trade and concessional values of the import quotas into Switzerland.

The bilateral trade concessions laid down in Annexes 1 and 2 to that Agreement therefore need to be adapted. However, pending completion of bilateral procedures for amending the Agreement, there is the need for autonomous and transitory measures, in order to ensure that quota benefit be available as from 1 January 2008.

It is therefore proposed that the Council adopt without delay the attached autonomous and transitional measures to open new Community tariff quotas for the import of sausages and certain meat products originating in Switzerland.

Budgetary implications: since the import will take place at zero duty, it is estimated that there is no impact on revenue side.

2007/0204 (ACC)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL REGULATION

adopting autonomous and transitional measures to open Community tariff quotas for the import of sausages and certain meat products originating in Switzerland

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 133 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The Community and Switzerland agree that trade concessions in sausages and certain meat products previously granted by Switzerland to some Member States only, by virtue of old bilateral agreements between those Member States and Switzerland, should be consolidated within the framework of the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products[2] (hereinafter referred to as the "Agreement"), approved by Decision 2002/309/EC, Euratom of the Council, and of the Commission[3] and which entered into force on 1 June 2002. The consolidation of these concessions will take place together with an increase of preferences in sausages and certain meat products. This includes the opening of new Community tariff quotas for the import of different products falling under CN codes ex 0210 1950, ex 0210 1981, ex 1601 00 and ex 1602 4919, originating in Switzerland.

(2) The bilateral procedures for adapting the concessions in Annexes 1 and 2 to the Agreement will take time. In order to ensure that quota benefit is available until the entry into force of the said adaptation, it is appropriate to open those tariff quotas on an autonomous and transitional basis and to open those tariff quotas from 1 January 2008 until 31 December 2009. This will ensure ample time for finalising both bilateral procedures and subsequent implementation measures by Parties.

(3) Detailed rules for the implementation of this Regulation and, in particular, the provisions required for quota management should be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2759/75 of 29 October 1975 on the common market organisation in pigmeat[4].

(4) To be eligible for the benefit of these tariff quotas, products shall originate in Switzerland in conformity with the rules referred to in Article 4 of the Agreement,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

1. A duty-free Community tariff quota for products and volume listed in the Annex and originating in Switzerland shall be opened annually, on an autonomous and transitional basis, for the period from 1 January to 31 December, under the order number 09.4180. It shall be opened from 1 January 2008 and shall end on 31 December 2009.

2. The rules of origin applicable to the products referred to in paragraph 1 are those referred to in Article 4 of the Agreement.

Article 2

The detailed rules for the implementation of this Regulation shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2) of Regulation (EC) No 2759/75.

Article 3

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

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

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

ANNEX

CN Code | Description of goods | Duty applicable | Quantity in tonnes (net weight of product) |

ex 0210 19 50 | Ham, in brine, boneless, enclosed in a bladder or in an artificial gut | 0 | 1 900 |

ex 0210 19 81 | Piece of boneless chop, in brine and smoked |

ex 1601 00 | Sausages and similar products, of meat, meat offal or blood; food preparations based on these products: of animals of headings 0101–0104, other than wild boars |

ex 0210 19 81 ex 1602 49 19 | Pork neck, in brine and dried in air, whole, in pieces or thinly sliced |

[1] OJ L 114, 30.4.2002, p. 132.

[2] OJ L 114, 30.4.2002, p. 132. Agreement as last amended by Decision 1/2007 of the Joint Committee on Agriculture (OJ L 173, 3.7.2007, p. 31).

[3] OJ L 114, 30.4.2002, p. 1.

[4] OJ L 282, 1.11.1975, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1913/2005 (OJ L 307, 25.11.2005, p. 2).