COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
•a 
COMOO) 28 final 
Brussels,26 January 1990 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
suspending the import levy on goatmeat and sheepueat 
(presented by the Commission) 

1. In accordance with the directives adopted by the Council, negotiations 
were initiated with the countries which are the main suppliers of 
sheepneat and goatmeat to the Ooranunity, with a view to adjusting the 
relevant voluntary restraint agreements concluded with those countries. 
2. As a result of the negotiations, agreements were concluded with some of 
the countries concerned, namely New Zealand, Argentina and Australia. 
It is laid down in these agreements that the Community will make a 
counter concession by completely suspending the import levy on sheepmeat 
and goatmeat. 
For New Zealand, the first oountry with which the adjustment agreement 
was signed, the tariff suspension was applied by Commission 
Regulation (EEC) No 3652/89 of 6 December 1989, with retroactive effect 
from 1 January 1989. 
3. In view of the Community's international obligations, and more 
especially Article 1 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 
(GATT), this tariff suspension must be applied unilaterally to all the 
other countries, on the same basis as for New Zealand, without awaiting 
the conclusion of the negotiations in progress with the other countries 
which supply the Community. 
4. It is therefore proposed that the Council should adopt the attached 
draft regulation. 
Proposal 
for a 
mihK:ii. RrtjnATTnw fgyarn ^n /AQ 
of ... 
suspending the import levy on goatmeat and sheepmeat 
THE OODNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN OOMMONITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Ctammunity, 
and in particular Article 113 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Whereas, in the context of the recent adjustments to the common 
organization of the market in sheepmeat and goatmeat, it was considered 
necessary to adjust the relevant voluntary restraint agreements with 
certain non-Community countries in order to stabilize imports and improve 
import prices; 
Whereas negotiations were conducted to that effect with the countries 
concerned and an agreement was concluded with New Zealand;1 whereas that 
agreement provides for the complete suspension of the import levy on 
sheepmeat and goatmeat until 31 December 1992 as a counter concession by 
the Community; 
Whereas the Community has voluntary restraint agreements with its main 
suppliers, or, failing that, equivalent unilateral arangements; whereas 
negotiations are still being held on those agreements or arrangements, and 
in particular on the quantities to be laid down, 
Whereas, in accordance with the Community's international obligations, the 
suspension should be extended to all supplier countries, subject to certain 
quantitative limits; 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
10JL 318, 31.10.1989, p. 13. 
3 
- 2 -
Article 1 
By way of derogation from the voluntary restraint agreements concluded with 
Austria, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Iceland, Poland, Romania, and 
Yugoslavia, and by way of derogation from Council 
Regulation (EEC) No 3643/85, the oolleotion of the levy on imports of 
sheepmeat and goatmeat falling within CN code 0204 shall be suspended until 
31 December 1992, within the quantitative limits laid down in the 
abovementioned agreements and in Council Regulation (EBC) No 3643/85 
respectively. 
Article 2 
Detailed rules for implementing this Regulation shall be adopted in 
accordance with the procedure provided for in Article 30 of 
Regulation (ESC) No 3013/89.* 
Article 3 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the 
Official Journal of the European Communities. 
It shall apply from 1 January 1989. 
This Regulation shall be binning in its entirety and directly applicable in 
all Member States. 
Done at .... 
For the Council 
The President 
1 QJL 289, 7.10.1989, p. 1. 
FINANCIAL ST&EBfENT 
(POKM/90/FF002) 
EflTE: 11.1.1980 
1. BUDGET HEADING: 100 APPROPRIATIONS: BCU 1 152.8 million 
draft 1990 budget 
2. TITLE: 
Proposal for a Council Regulation suspending the import levy on sheepmeat 
and goatmeat 
3. LEGAL BASIS: Article 113 of the Treaty 
4. AIMS: Extension to all sheepmeat and goatmeat supplier countries of the 
5. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: 
5.0. EXPENDITURE 
- CHARGED TO THE EC 
HTlDGKr 
(IMTERVHjriCNS) 
5.1. REVENUE 
- EC CWN RESOURCES 
(LEVIES) 
- NATIONAL PERIOD 
OF 12 
MONIES 
token 
entry^-
- ECU 1. 
mllHem entry* 
.7 CUKKfcWT 
FINANCIAL 
YEAR 
(1990) 
token 
entry 
- BCU 3.4 
mi 1H an FOLLOWING 
FINANCIAL 
YEAR 
(1991) 
token 
- ECU 1.7 
million 
1992 
5.0.1. ESTIMATED EXPQdETDRE token entry 
5.1.1. ESTIMATED REVENDE - BCD 1.7 million 
5.2. METHOD OF CALCULATION: 
The average levy on sheepmeat imports is ECU 1.750/t. For imports from 
these nce-Camraunity countries the levy is, however, limited to the 10% 
autonomous duty arising from the binding under GKn, i.e. about ECU 150/t. 
If this duty were suspended, the loss of revenue for 12 months would be: 
10 365 t x ECU 150/t xl.ll (double rate) - - BCO 1.7 million. 
Since the measure Is retroactive from 1 January 1989, the levies collected 
on meat imports in 1989 will have to be reimbursed in 1990. It is 
estimated that the cost of this reimbursement under the 1990 budget will be 
ECU 1.7 million. 
6.0. CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED FROM APPROPRIATIONS HWERHD IN THE 
RELEVANT CHAPTER OF OSE CURRENT BUDGET? NO 
6.1. CAN THE PROJECT BY FINANCED EY TRANSFHl BETWEEN CHAPTERS OF THE 
CURRBtT BUDGET? NO 
6.2. WILL A SUPPLEMBJTAKY BUDGET BE NBCESSAK?? NO 
6.3. WILL FUTURE BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS BE NECESSARY? YES 
COMMENTS: (1) 
Since there is no precise undertaking concerning the import price in the 
agreement, the zero import levy on this type of meat may depress prices on 
the Community market, and cause a corresponding rise in the premiums 
granted and so increase Community budget expenditure. It is difficult to 
estimate the extent of this phenomenon. 
c 
FICHE D'IMPACT SUR LA COMPETITIVITE ET L'EMPLOI 
Proposition de règlement du Conseil relatif à la suspension 
du prélèvement applicable à l'Importation de viande ovine et caprine 
Ce projet de règlement vise à étendre, en faveur de l'ensemble des pays 
fournisseurs de viande ovine et caprine de la Communauté, une concession déjà 
accordée à certains pays, notamment la Nouvelle-Zélande, l'Argentine, 
l'Australie et l'Uruguay, (suspension totale du prélèvement applicable à 
I'importât ion). 
La mesure proposée s'avère nécessaire, compte tenu des obligations 
internationales de la Communauté et plus particulièrement des dispositions de 
l'article premier de l'Accord Général sur les tarifs Douaniers et le Commerce 
(GATT) 
Dans la mesure où il ne modifie pas les quantités traditionnelles réellement 
importées et compte tenu de l'Importance des quantités fournies 
traditionnellement par les quatre pays indiqués ci-dessus, ce projet n'a 
pratiquement pas d'impact sur les entreprises. On peut également considérer 
que la mesure proposée ne leur imposera pas des coûts supplémentaires. 
;1 

ISSN 0254-147:. 
COM(90) 28 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 11 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-90-026-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-56882-8 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
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S