Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the European Community and the Kingdom of Norway concerning additional trade preferences in agricultural products undertaken on the basis of Article 19 of the Agreement on the European Economic Area
Date: 2003-06-20
Institutions: European Community, Norway
Subjects: European Economic Area, Norway, agricultural product, agricultural trade, originating product, tariff exemption, tariff quota, trade agreement (EU)

25.6.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 156/49

AGREEMENT IN THE FORM OF AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS

between the European Community and the Kingdom of Norway concerning additional trade
preferences in agricultural products undertaken on the basis of Article 19 of the Agreement on the
European Economic Area

A. Letter from the Community

Brussels, 20 June 2003

Sir,

I have the honour to refer to the trade negotiations between the European Community and the Kingdom
of Norway on agricultural products, held from 4 March 2002 to 18 December 2002, undertaken on the
basis of Article 19 of the Agreement on the European Economic Area.

With the aim of fostering a harmonious development of trade between Parties, the Kingdom of Norway
and the European Community have agreed to additional bilateral trade preferences concerning agricultural
products. This arrangement comprises a consolidated arrangement for reciprocal trade in cheese and
mutual concessions for a variety of agricultural products, including additional tariff quotas to existing
preferences.

I hereby confirm that the results of the negotiations were as follows:

1. From 1 July 2003, Norway and the Community will increase their reciprocal trade in cheese. The text

and the consolidated annual tariff quotas are set out in Annex I hereto.

2. From 1 July 2003, Norway will open for the Community the annual tariff quotas, for products origi-
nating in the Community, set out in Annex II hereto. These bilateral concessions are additional to the
ones already in place (1).

3. From 1 July 2003, Norway will reduce or eliminate import duties on products originating in the
Community set out in Annex III hereto. These bilateral concessions are additional to the ones already
in place (1).

4. From 1 July 2003, the Community will eliminate import duties on products originating in Norway set

out in Annex IV hereto. These bilateral concessions are additional to the ones already in place (1).

5. From 1 July 2003, the Community will open for Norway the annual tariff quotas for products origi-
nating in Norway set out in Annex V hereto. These bilateral concessions are additional to the ones
already in place (1).

6. The Parties will take steps to ensure that the benefits which they grant each other will not be jeopar-

dised by other import measures.

7. The Parties agree to take the necessary steps in order to ensure that tariff quotas will be managed in
such a way that imports may take place regularly and that the quantities agreed for import can effec-
tively be imported. Where necessary, tariff quotas will be opened in 2003 on a pro-rata basis.

8. The Parties agree to exchange at regular intervals information on tariff quota management, price
quotations and any useful information concerning the respective domestic markets and the implemen-
tation of this Agreement.

9. Consultations will be held at the request of either Party on any question relating to the operation of
this Agreement. In case of difficulties, these consultations will be held as promptly as possible, with a
view to the adoption of appropriate corrective measures.

10. The rules of origin for the purpose of implementing the concessions referred to in Annexes I to V to
this Agreement are set out in Annex IV to the Exchange of Letters of 2 May 1992. However, para-
graph 2 to Annex IV shall refer to the list in Annex II to Protocol 4 to the Agreement on the European
Economic Area, to be applied according to Annex I to the same Protocol, instead of the list in the
Appendix referred to in paragraph 2 of Annex IV to the Exchange of Letters of 2 May 1992.

(1) Exchange of Letters of 2 May 1992, Council Decision 93/239/EC (OJ L 109, 1.5.1993, p. 1) and Exchange of Letters

of 20 December 1995, Council Decision 95/582/EC (OJ L 327, 30.12.1995, p. 17).

L 156/50

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Official Journal of the European Union

25.6.2003

11. Norway and the European Community agree to resume bilateral negotiations in the framework of

Article 19 of the Agreement on the European Economic Area in two years time.

This Exchange of Letters shall be approved by the Contracting Parties in accordance with their own proce-
dures.

I have the honour to confirm that the European Community is in agreement with the contents of this
letter.

I should be obliged if you would confirm that the Government of the Kingdom of Norway is in agreement
with the above.

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration,

On behalf of the Council of the European Union

25.6.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 156/51

ANNEX I

Trade in cheese

1. The European Community shall abolish import duties on the existing cheese quota and shall increase these quotas.

The consolidated annual tariff quotas are as follows:

CN Code

Description of products (1)

Annual quantity
(in tonnes)

Rate of duty

ex 0406 90 23

Norwegian Edam

0406 90 39

Jarlsberg

ex 0406 90 78

Norwegian Gouda

0406 90 86

Other cheeses

0406 90 87

0406 90 88

3 467

free

0406 10

Fresh cheeses

533

free

(1) Notwithstanding the rules for the interpretation of the combined nomenclature, the wording for the description of the products is
to be considered as having no more than an indicative value, the applicability of the preferential scheme determined, for the
purpose of this Annex, by the coverage of the CN codes.

2. Norway shall abolish import duties on the existing cheese quota and shall increase these quotas. The consolidated

annual tariff quota is as follows:

CN Code

Description of products

Annual quantity
(in tonnes)

Rate of duty

0406

Cheese and curd

4 000

free

3. Norway will improve its current import management system based on import licences attributed on the basis of
historical rights, in particular by improving the access to licences to newcomers. Norway will continue to administer
a quantity of 2 360 tonnes of cheeses of the consolidated annual cheese tariff quota on the basis of a cheese list,
according to the Exchange of Letters of 11 April 1983. Additional quantities within the consolidated cheese tariff
quotas will not be subject to this cheese list and will be imported with no condition relating to the type of cheese.
However, imports of cheese for processing should be minimised, with the exception of cheeses used in the prepara-
tion of ready-made food (e.g. pizzas or cheese snacks).

4. The Community will manage the annual cheese tariff quota under the general licensing system applied in the dairy

sector. The IMA1 certificate system will be abandoned.

5. These provisions shall replace previous arrangements between the European Community and the Kingdom of Norway

concerning reciprocal trade in cheese.

L 156/52

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Official Journal of the European Union

25.6.2003

ANNEX II

Additional tariff quotas granted by Norway

1. Norway will open the following annual tariff quotas for the following products originating in the Community (*):

Annual quan-
tity
(in tonnes)

250

200

600

Norwegian customs
tariff heading

Description of products

0206 41 00

Livers of swine, frozen

0210 11 00

Hams, shoulders and cuts thereof, with bone in, of swine

Iceberg lettuce

0705 11 11
0705 11 21

0712 90 11

Potatoes, whether or not cut or sliced, but not
prepared

further

300

ex 0808 10 11

Apples from 1 May to 1 August

0810 10 23
0810 10 24

0811 10 01

Strawberries, fresh, from 9 June to 9 September

Strawberries, frozen, containing added sugar or sweetening
matter

0811 10 09

Other strawberries

2 000

300

500

Rate of duty

5 NOK/kg

free

free

free

free

free

free

0812 10 00

Cherries, provisionally preserved

100

4,3 NOK/kg

ex 1209 23 00

Fescue seed, for lawn

ex 1209 24 00

Kentucky blue grass (Poa pratensis L.) seed, for lawn

55 (1)

100 (1)

1209 25 00

Rye grass (Lolium multiflorum Lam., Lolium perenne L.) seed

600

1214 90 91

Hay

10 000 (1)

1601 00 00

Sausages and similar products, of meat, meat offal or blood;
food preparations based on these products

200

1602 49 10

‘Bacon crisp’

ex 1602 50 00

Meatballs

2009 71 00

Apple juice of a Brix value not exceeding 20

2009 79 00

Other apple juice

Increase of existing quota.

(1)
(2) The existing in-quota tariff shall be eliminated.

200 (1) (2)

150

1 000

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

2. Norway will open the following annual zero-duty tariff quotas for the following products originating in the Commu-

nity (*):

Norwegian customs
tariff heading

0602 90 61

Description of products

Annual value
(in million NOK)

(Condiaeum, Croton, Dieffenbacchia, Epipremnum, Scindapsus
aureum, Hedera, Nephrolepis, Peperomia obtusifolia, Peperomia
rotundifolia, Schefflera, Soleirolia and Helxine, also when
imported as part of mixed groups of plants) from 1 May to
14 December

4

4

0602 90 71

Grass in rolls or plates (lawn)

(*) The quotas shall apply annually unless otherwise specified.

25.6.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

L 156/53

ANNEX III

Additional tariff concessions granted by Norway

Norway will reduce or eliminate import duties on the following products originating in the Community (*):

Norwegian customs
tariff heading

Description of products

Rate of duty

0602

Other live plants (including their roots), cuttings and slips; mushroom
spawn

– – Cuttings, unrootened or in vitro, for horticultural purposes:

– – – Other:

0602 10 21

– – – – Begonia, all sorts, Campanula isophylla, Euphorbia pulcherrima, Poinsettia

25%

pulcherrima, Fuchsia, Hibiscus, Kalanchoe and Petunia-hanging

0602 10 22

– – – – Saintpaulia, Scaevola and Streptocarpus

0602 10 23

– – – – Dendranthema x grandiflora and Chrysanthemum x moraflorium, from 1

April to 15 October

0602 10 24

– – – – Pelargonium

0602 10 29

– – – – Other (1)

0602 30 13

– Rhododendrons and azaleas, grafted or not:

– – Azalea indica (Indoor azalea):

– – – Other (other than in flower):

– – – – from 24 December to 14 November

– Roses, grafted or not:

0602 40 02

– – Stock

0602 40 03

– – Rooted cuttings, not wrapped for retail sale

0602 40 04

– – Bare-root roses, without any kind of media, not wrapped for retail sale

– – – – – – Green pot plants from 1 May to 14 December:

0602 90 62

– – – – – – – Asplenium, Begonia x rex-cultorum, Chlorophytum, Euonymus japa-
nicus, Fatsia japonica, Aralia sieboldii, Ficus elastica, Monstera,
Philodendron scandens, Radermachera, Stereospermum, Syngonium
and x-Fatshedera, also when imported as part of mixed groups
of plants

0602 90 63

– – – – – – – Other, also when imported as part of mixed groups of plants
(other than Condiaeum, Croton, Dieffenbacchia, Epipremnum,
Scindapsus aureum, Hedera, Nephrolepis, Peperomia obtusifolia,
Peperomia rotundifolia, Schefflera, Soleirolia and Helxine)

– – – – – – Pot plants in flower:

(*) The concessions shall apply annually unless otherwise specified.

15%

15%

35%

free

free

free

free

free

25%

free

L 156/54

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Official Journal of the European Union

25.6.2003

Norwegian customs
tariff heading

0602 90 65

0602 90 66

Description of products

– – – – – – – Achimenes, Aster novi-belgii, Calceolaria herbeohybrida, Capsicum
annum, Catharanthus roseus, Vinca rosea, Dipladenia, Nematanthus,
Hypocyrta, Osteospermum, Schlumbergera, Senecio x hybridus, Ciner-
aria, Sinningia speciosa, Gloxinia, Solanum and Streptocarpus, also
when imported as part of mixed groups of plants

– – – – – – – Other, also when imported as part of mixed groups of plants
(other than Achimenes, Aster novi-belgii, Calceolaria herbeohybrida,
Capsicum annum, Catharanthus roseus, Vinca rosea, Dipladenia,
Nematanthus, Hypocyrta, Osteospermum, Schlumbergera, Senecio x
hybridus, Cineraria, Sinningia speciosa, Gloxinia, Solanum and
Streptocarpus)

– – – – – – Rooted cuttings and young plants:

0602 90 67

– – – – – – – Begonia (all sorts), Campanula isophylla, Dendranthema x grandi-
flora, Chrysanthemum x morifolium, Cyclamen, Euphorbia pulcher-
rima, Fuchsia, Hibiscus, Kalanchoe, Pelargonium, Petunia-heng,
Saintpaulia, Scaevola, and Sinningia syn. Gloxinia

0602 90 68

– – – – – – – Other

0602 90 69

– – – – – – Other

0602 90 79

– – – – – Other (other than grass in rolls or plates (lawn))

ex 0603

Cut flowers and flower buds of a kind suitable for bouquets or for orna-
mental purposes, fresh, dried, dyed, bleached,
impregnated or otherwise
prepared

– Fresh:

0603 10 12

– – – Argyranthemum frutescens and Chrysanthemum frutescens 1 November to
30 April, Dendranthema x grandiflora and Chrysanthemum x morifolium15
December to 15 March, Dianthus caryophyllus 1 November to 15 May,
Freesia1 December to 31 March, Rosa 1 November to 31 March and
Tulipa 1 May to 31 May, also when imported as parts of mixed
bouquets and similar

0603 10 98

– – – – Freesia from 1 April

Iris, Limonium, Statice,
to 30 November,
Matthiola, and Narcissus, also when imported as parts of mixed
bouquets and similar

Rate of duty

30%

free

38%

free

free

free

free

free

0603 10 99

– – – – Other, also when imported as parts of mixed bouquets and similar

free

(other than covered by specific code numbers)

0603 90 00

– Other

free

ex 0604

Foliage, branches and other parts of plants, without flowers or flower buds,
and grasses, mosses and lichens, being goods of a kind suitable for bouquets
or for ornamental purposes, fresh, dried, dyed, bleached, impregnated or
otherwise prepared

– – Fresh:

0604 91 10

– – – Maidenhair fern (Adianthum) and Asparagus from 1 June to 31 October

free

0702 00 22

Tomatoes, fresh or chilled, from 10 to 31 May

0702 00 23

Tomatoes, fresh or chilled, from 1 June to 10 July

10,21 NOK/kg

10,21 NOK/kg

0702 00 30

Tomatoes, fresh or chilled, from 11 July to 14 October

6,86 NOK/kg

25.6.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

L 156/55

Norwegian customs
tariff heading

Description of products

Rate of duty

0702 00 40

Tomatoes, fresh or chilled, from 15 to 31 October

ex 0704 90 91

Savoy cabbage, fresh or chilled, from 1 December to 30 June

ex 0704 90 92

Curly kale, fresh or chilled, from 1 December to 31 July

0706 10 30

Turnips

0707 00 20

Snake cucumbers, fresh or chilled, from 1 to 30 November

0709 10 10

Artichokes, fresh or chilled, from 1 June to 30 November

0709 52 00

Truffles, fresh or chilled

0709 90 10

Olives, fresh or chilled

0709 90 20

Capers, fresh or chilled

0709 90 99

Other vegetables, than covered by specific code numbers

0711 20 10

Olives for uses other than production of oil

0711 20 90

Olives others

0711 30 10

Capers in brine

0711 30 90

Capers other

0712 90 91

Tomatoes, dried

0804 40 00

Avocados, fresh or dried

0806 10 19

Grapes not for human consumption, from 1 August to end February

0806 10 99

Grapes not for human consumption, from 1 March to 31 July

0808 10 22

Apples, fresh, from 1 December to 30 April

0808 20 12

Pears, fresh, from 1 December to 10 August

0813 30 00

Apples, dried

0813 40 01

Bilberries, dried

0813 40 02

Others, dried (other than apricots and prunes)

0813 50 99

Other mixtures, dried (other than specified)

1507 10 90

Soya-bean oil, crude whether or not degummed, not for feed purpose

1514 11 90

Low erucic acid rape or colza oil and its fractions, crude, not for feed
purpose

1514 91 90

Other rape or colza oil, not for feed purpose, or mustard oil, not for feed
purpose

2001 90 20

Olives, prepared or preserved by vinegar or acetic acid

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

L 156/56

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Norwegian customs
tariff heading

Description of products

Rate of duty

2001 90 61

Sweet peppers, prepared or preserved by vinegar or acetic acid

2001 90 10

Capers, prepared or preserved by vinegar or acetic acid

2002 10 01

Tomatoes, whole or in pieces, in airtight containers, prepared or preserved

2002 10 09

Other tomatoes, whole or in pieces, prepared or preserved

2003 10 08

2005 51 00

2005 59 09

Mushrooms of
preserved otherwise than by vinegar or acetic acid

the genus Agaricus, other than cultivated, prepared or

Beans, shelled (Vigna spp., Phaseoulus spp.), prepared or preserved otherwise
than by vinegar or acetic acid

Beans, prepared, other (except runner beans, string beans, wax beans and
French beans)

2005 90 03

Sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum var. annuum), prepared or preserved

2008 30 99

Citrus fruit, other than mandarins, not
preserved

for feed purpose, prepared or

2008 40 00

Pears, otherwise prepared or preserved

2008 92 01

Mixtures, entirely containing fruits of headings Nos 0803 to 0810, other-
wise prepared or preserved

2009 50 00

Tomato juice

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

2009 90 00

Mixtures of fruit or vegetable juices

26,86 NOK/kg

(1) 0602 10 29: green plants from 1 May to 14 December, other plants all year.

25.6.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

L 156/57

ANNEX IV

Additional tariff concessions granted by the Community

The Community will eliminate import duties on the following products originating in Norway:

CN Code

Description of products

Rate of duty

0602 10 90

Other unrooted cuttings and slips

0602 20 90

Other trees, shrubs and bushes, grafted or not, of kinds which bear edible
fruit or nuts

ex 0602 30 00

Rhododendrons

0602 90 30

Vegetables and strawberry plants

0602 90 45

Outdoor plants, rooted cuttings and young plants, other than forest trees

0602 90 49

Outdoor plants, other

ex 0604 91 90

Holly

free

free

free

free

free

free

free

L 156/58

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Official Journal of the European Union

25.6.2003

ANNEX V

Additional tariff quotas granted by the Community

1. The Community will open the following annual tariff quota for the following products originating in Norway (*):

CN Code

Description of products

0204

0210

Meat of sheep or goats, fresh, chilled or frozen

Meat and edible meat offal, salted, in brine, dried or smoked;
edible flours and meals of meat or meat offal

0705 11 00

Cabbage lettuce

0705 19 00

Other lettuce

ex 0809 20

Cherries, fresh from 16 July to 31 August

0810 10 00

Strawberries, fresh, from 9 June to 9 September

1601

Sausages and similar products, of meat, meat offal or blood;
food preparations based on these products

Annual quan-
tity
(in tonnes)

Rate of duty (3)

300

200

300

300

300 (1)

300 (1)

300

free

free

free

free

free (2)

free

free

Increase of existing quota.

(1)
(2) The additional specific duty is applicable.
(3)

In cases where an MFN minimum duty exists, the applicable minimum duty is equal to the MFN minimum duty multiplied by the
percentage indicated in this column.

2. The Community will open the following annual zero-duty tariff quotas for the following products originating in

Norway (*):

CN Code

Description of products

0602 90 51

Perennial plants

0602 90 70

Indoor plants, rooted cuttings and young plants, excluding
cacti

Annual value
(in million NOK)

1

4

(*) The quotas shall apply annually unless otherwise specified.

25.6.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

L 156/59

B. Letter from Norway

Brussels, 20 June 2003

Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of today's date which reads as follows:

‘I have the honour to refer to the trade negotiations between the European Community and the
Kingdom of Norway on agricultural products, held from 4 March 2002 to 18 December 2002, under-
taken on the basis of Article 19 of the Agreement on the European Economic Area.

With the aim of fostering a harmonious development of trade between Parties, the Kingdom of Norway
and the European Community have agreed to additional bilateral trade preferences concerning agricul-
tural products. This arrangement comprises a consolidated arrangement for reciprocal trade in cheese
and mutual concessions for a variety of agricultural products, including additional tariff quotas to
existing preferences.

I hereby confirm that the results of the negotiations were as follows:

1. From 1 July 2003, Norway and the Community will increase their reciprocal trade in cheese. The

text and the consolidated annual tariff quotas are set out in Annex I hereto.

2. From 1 July 2003, Norway will open for the Community the annual tariff quotas for products
originating in the Community set out in Annex II hereto. These bilateral concessions are additional
to the ones already in place (1).

3. From 1 July 2003, Norway will reduce or eliminate import duties on products originating in the
Community set out in Annex III hereto. These bilateral concessions are additional to the ones
already in place (1).

4. From 1 July 2003, the Community will eliminate import duties on products originating in Norway
set out in Annex IV hereto. These bilateral concessions are additional to the ones already in
place (1).

5. From 1 July 2003, the Community will open for Norway the annual tariff quotas for products
originating in Norway set out in Annex V hereto. These bilateral concessions are additional to the
ones already in place (1).

6. The Parties will take steps to ensure that the benefits, which they grant each other, will not be

jeopardised by other import measures.

7. The Parties agree to take the necessary steps in order to ensure that tariff quotas will be managed
in such a way that imports may take place regularly and that the quantities agreed for import can
effectively be imported. Where necessary, tariff quotas will be opened in 2003 on a pro-rata basis.

8. The Parties agree to exchange at regular intervals information on tariff quota management, price
quotations and any useful information concerning the respective domestic markets and the imple-
mentation of this Agreement.

9. Consultations will be held at the request of either Party on any question relating to the operation
of this Agreement. In case of difficulties, these consultations will be held as promptly as possible,
with a view to the adoption of appropriate corrective measures.

10. The rules of origin for the purpose of implementing the concessions referred to in Annexes I to V
to this Agreement are set out in Annex IV to the Exchange of Letters of 2 May 1992. However,
paragraph 2 of Annex IV shall refer to the list in Annex II to Protocol 4 to the Agreement on the
European Economic Area, to be applied according to Annex I to the same Protocol, instead of the
list in the Appendix referred to in paragraph 2 of Annex IV to the Exchange of Letters of 2 May
1992.

11. Norway and the European Community agree to resume bilateral negotiations in the framework of

Article 19 of the Agreement on the European Economic Area in two years time.

This Exchange of Letters shall be approved by the Contracting Parties in accordance with their own
procedures.

(1) Exchange of Letters of 2 May 1992, Council Decision 93/239/EC (OJ L 109, 1.5.1993, p. 1) and Exchange of Letters of 20 December

1995, Council Decision 95/582/EC (OJ L 327, 30.12.1995, p. 17).

L 156/60

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Official Journal of the European Union

25.6.2003

I have the honour to confirm that the European Community is in agreement with the contents of your
letter.

I should be obliged if you would confirm that the Government of the Kingdom of Norway is in agree-
ment with the above.’

I have the honour to confirm that the Government of the Kingdom of Norway is in agreement with the
contents of your letter.

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration,

For the Government of the Kingdom of Norway