Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) opening a Community tariff quota for the import of boneless dried meat of bovine animals
Date: 1999-07-26
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Switzerland, beef, boned meat, tariff quota, trade agreement (EU)

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 26.07.1999
COM(1999) 387 final

99/0155 (ACC)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC)

opening a Community tariff quota for the import
of boneless dried meat of bovine animals

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

In 1972, the Community had granted to Switzerland a preference consisting in the
exemption from the variable levies of imports of bovine dried meat of bovine animals
(“viande des Grisons”) originating in Switzerland as a counterpart to agricultural
preferences granted by Switzerland to the EC.

As a result of the implementation of the Uruguay Round, and pending the conclusion
of a new agreement with Switzerland, the existing preference to Switzerland has been
maintained through a transitional measure providing for the exemption from the
specific amounts of the customs duties fixed in the Common Customs Tariff.

The negotiations for a new Agreement on Trade in Agricultural Products between the
European Community and the Swiss Confederation were concluded in December
1998 and the agreement signed on 21 June 1999. In the context of these negotiations,
the Community has undertaken to open as from 1 July 1999 an autonomous tariff
quota of a net volume of 700 tons per year for boneless dried meat of bovine animals.
This quota should be opened on a pluriannual basis for a transitional period ending
one year after the entry into force of the above agreement. With this undertaking, the
existing regime will be abolished.

At the end of the transitional period ending one year after the entry into force of the
above agreement, the conditions for preferential imports from Switzerland of boneless
dried meat of bovine animals will be covered by the provisions of the said agreement.

The Commission recommends that
regulation.

the Council adopt

the attached proposal for

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Proposal for a

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC)

opening a Community tariff quota for the import
of boneless dried meat of bovine animals

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,

(1) Whereas in the context of the negotiations on an Agreement on Trade in
Agricultural Products between the European Community and the Swiss
Confederation, the Community has undertaken to open as from 1 July 1999 an
autonomous tariff quota for boneless dried meat of bovine animals; whereas
the Agreement has been signed on 21 June 1999;

(2) Whereas to comply with the terms of the Community’s undertaking provision
should be made for such preferential treatment to expire twelve months after
the entry into force of the above agreement;

(3) Whereas for reasons of simplification this quota should be opened on a
pluriannual basis for periods of twelve months each. Whereas, however, the
last quota period might be shorter than twelve months according to the actual
date of entry into force of the agreement; whereas in that event
is
appropriate to authorise the Commission to adjust the available quantity under
the tariff quota accordingly;

it

(4) Whereas at the end of the transitional period ending one year after the entry
into force of the above agreement, the conditions for preferential imports from
Switzerland of boneless dried meat of bovine animals will be covered by the
provisions of that agreement;

(5) Whereas detailed rules for the application of this Regulation and, in particular,
the provisions required for quota management
should be adopted in
accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 27 of Council Regulation
(EEC) N° 805/68 of 27 June 1968 on the common organisation of the market
in beef and veal1,

1

OJ No L 148, 28.6.1968, p. 24. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1633/98
(OJ No L 210, 28.7.1998, p. 17).

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HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

1.

2.

A Community tariff quota is hereby opened on a pluriannual basis for the
period from 1 July one year to 30 June the year after for the import of a net
volume of 700 tons per any such period of boneless dried meat of bovine
animals, falling within CN Code ex 0210 20 90.

Under the quota referred to in paragraph 1 the specific amounts of the
customs duties fixed in the Common Customs Tariff shall not apply.

Article 2

The detailed rules for this Regulation and, where appropriate, the proportionate
reduction of the annual quantity in the case of a final tariff quota period of less than
twelve months shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in
Article 27 of Regulation (EEC) No 805/68.

Article 3

This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following the day of its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

It shall apply from 1 July 1999 until the last day of the twelfth month following the
month of entry into force of the Agreement on Trade in Agricultural Products
between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation.

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

Done at Brussels,

For the Council
The President

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1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

5.0

5.1

6.0

6.1

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

BUDGET HEADING:
Chapter 10 – Agricultural duties

TITLE:

APPROPRIATIONS:
EUR 1 054.5 million

Council Regulation opening a Community tariff quota for the import of boneless dried meat of bovine
animals.

LEGAL BASIS: Article 133 of the Treaty

AIMS:

To open an autonomous tariff quota of 700 tons per year for boneless dried meat of bovine animals.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

12 MONTH
PERIOD

(EUR million)

CURRENT
FINANCIAL
YEAR [1999]
(EUR million)

FOLLOWING
FINANCIAL
YEAR [2000]
(EUR million)

CHARGED TO THE EC BUDGET

EXPENDITURE
-
(REFUNDS/INTERVENTION)
-
-

NATIONAL AUTHORITIES
OTHER

REVENUE
-
(LEVIES/CUSTOMS DUTIES)
NATIONAL
-

OWN RESOURCES OF THE EC

5.0.1 ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE
5.1.1 ESTIMATED REVENUE

5.2 METHOD OF CALCULATION:

-

-
-

-

-

-

-
-

-

-

-

-
-

-

-

2001

2002

2003

2004

-
-

-
-

-
-

-
-

CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED FROM APPROPRIATIONS ENTERED IN THE
RELEVANT CHAPTER OF THE CURRENT BUDGET?

YES / NO

CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED BY TRANSFER BETWEEN CHAPTERS OF
THE CURRENT BUDGET?

6.2 WILL A SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET BE NECESSARY?

6.3 WILL APPROPRIATIONS NEED TO BE ENTERED IN FUTURE BUDGETS?

OBSERVATIONS:

YES / NO

YES / NO

YES / NO

The tariff quota to be opened with this Regulation corresponds to the quantities traditionally imported from
Switzerland under the already existing preference. There are no further financial implications on the EC Budget.

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