Commission Regulation (EC) No 596/2004 of 30 March 2004 laying down detailed rules for implementing the system of export licences in the egg sector
Date: 2004-03-30
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: egg, export licence, export refund

31.3.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

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COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 596/2004

of 30 March 2004

laying down detailed rules for implementing the system of export licences in the egg sector

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(4)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2771/75 of 29
October 1975 on the common organisation of the market in
eggs (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003 (2),
and in particular Articles 3(2), 8(12) and 15 thereof,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 3290/94 of 22
December 1994 on the adjustments and transitional arrange-
ments required in the agricultural sector in order to implement
the agreements concluded during the Uruguay Round of multi-
lateral trade negotiations (3), as last amended by Regulation (EC)
No 1340/98 (4), and in particular Article 3(1) thereof,

Whereas

(1)

(2)

(3)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1371/95 of 16 June of
1995 laying down detailed rules for implementing the
system of export licences in the egg sector (5) has been
substantially amended several times (6). In the interest of
clarity and rationality the said Regulation should be
codified.

Regulation (EEC) No 2771/75 provides that all exports
for which export refunds are requested, with the excep-
tion of exports of hatching eggs, shall be subject to the
presentation of an export licence with advance fixing of
the refund. Therefore specific implementing rules should
be laid down for the egg sector which should, in particu-
lar, include provisions for the submission of the applica-
tions and the information which must appear on the
applications and licences, in addition to those contained
in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 of 9
June 2000 laying down common detailed rules for the
application of the system of import and export licences
and
agricultural
products (7), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 322/
2004 (8).

certificates

advance

fixing

for

In order to assure proper administration of the system,
the rate of the security for export licences under the said
system should be fixed. In view of the risk of speculation
inherent in the system in the egg sector, export licences
conditions
should not be
governing access by traders to the said system should be
laid down.

transferable and precise

(1) OJ L 282, 1.11.1975, p. 49.
(2) OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 349, 31.12.1994, p. 105.
(4) OJ L 184, 27.6.1998, p. 1.
(5) OJ L 133, 17.6.1995, p. 16.
(6) See Annex IV.
(7) OJ L 152, 24.6.2000, p. 1.
(8) OJ L 58, 26.2.2004, p. 3.

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

Article 8(12) of Regulation (EEC) No 2771/75 provides
that compliance with the obligations arising from agree-
ments concluded during the Uruguay Round of multilat-
eral trade negotiations regarding the export volume shall
be ensured on the basis of the export licences. Therefore
a detailed schedule for the lodging of applications and
for the issuing of licences should be laid down.

the decision regarding applications

In addition,
for
export licences should be communicated only after a
period of consideration. This period would allow the
Commission to appreciate the quantities applied for as
well as the expenditure involved and, if appropriate, to
take specific measures applicable in particular to the
applications which are pending. It is in the interest of
traders to allow the licence application to be withdrawn
after the acceptance coefficient has been fixed.

In the case of applications concerning quantities equal to
or less than 25 tonnes, the export licence should be
issued immediately if the trader requests it. However,
such licences should be restricted to short-term commer-
cial
the mechanism
provided for in this Regulation from being circum-
vented.

transactions in order to prevent

In order to ensure an exact follow up of the quantities
to be exported, a derogation from the rules regarding
the tolerances laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1291/
2000 should be laid down.

The Commission should dispose of precise information
concerning applications for licences and of the use of
licences issued,
in order to be able to manage this
system. In the interest of efficient administration, the
notifications from Member States to the Commission
should be made according to a uniform model.

Article 8(6) of Regulation (EEC) No 2771/75 provides
that for hatching eggs export refunds may be granted on
the basis of an ex post export licence. Therefore imple-
menting rules for such a system should be laid down
with the aim of ensuring efficient verification with the
obligations arising from the agreements concluded in the
framework of
the Uruguay Round negotiations are
complied with. However, it would appear unnecessary to
require the lodging of a security in the case of licences
applied for after exportation.

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(10)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in
accordance with the opinion of
the Management
Committee for Poultrymeat and Eggs,

Member States that they have been engaged in trade in the egg
sector for at least 12 months. However, retail establishments or
restaurants selling their products to end consumers may not
lodge applications.

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

All exports of products in the egg sector for which an export
refund is requested, with the exception of hatching eggs falling
within CN codes 0407 00 11 and 0407 00 19, shall be subject
to the presentation of an export licence with advance fixing of
the refund, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 2 to
8.

Article 2

1.
Export licences shall be valid for 90 days from their
actual day of issue within the meaning of Article 23(2) of Regu-
lation (EC) No 1291/2000.

for

Applications

licences and licences

2.
in
section 15, the description of the product and, in section 16,
the 12-digit product code of the agricultural product nomen-
clature for export refunds.

shall bear,

3.
The categories of products referred to in the second para-
graph of Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000, as well
as the rate of the security for export licences are given in
Annex I.

3.
Export licences are issued on the Wednesday following
the period referred to in paragraph 1, provided that none of
the particular measures referred to in paragraph 4 have since
been taken by the Commission.

4. Where applications for export licences concern quantities
and/or expenditure which exceed the normal trade patterns, or
where there is a risk that they will be exceeded, taking account
of the limits referred to in Article 8(12) of Regulation (EEC) No
2771/75 and/or the corresponding expenditure during the
period in question, the Commission may:

(a) set a single percentage by which the quantities applied for

are accepted;

(b) refuse the applications for which export licences have not

yet been awarded;

(c) suspend the lodging of applications for export licences for
a maximum of
five working days. A suspension for a
longer period may be decided in accordance with the
procedure provided for in Article 17 of Regulation (EEC)
No 2771/75. In these cases, applications for export licences
lodged during the suspension period shall be inadmissible.

These measures may be adjusted according to the category of
product and to destination.

Applications

4.
section 20, at least one of the following:

licences and licences

for

— Reglamento (CE) no 596/2004

— Forordning (EF) nr. 596/2004

— Verordnung (EG) Nr. 596/2004

— Κανονισµός (ΕΚ) αριθ. 596/2004

— Regulation (EC) No 596/2004

— Règlement (CE) no 596/2004

— Regolamento (CE) n. 596/2004

— Verordening (EG) nr. 596/2004

— Regulamento (CE) n.o 596/2004

— Asetus (EY) N:o 596/2004

— Förordning (EG) nr 596/2004.

Article 3

shall bear,

in

5. Where quantities applied for are rejected or reduced, the
security shall be released immediately for all quantities for
which an application was not satisfied.

6.
Notwithstanding paragraph 3, where a single percentage
of acceptance less than 80 % is set, the licence shall be issued
at the latest by the 11th working day following publication of
that percentage in the Official Journal of the European Union.
During the 10 working days following its publication,
the
operator may:

— either withdraw his application, in which case the security

is released immediately,

— or request immediate issuing of the licence, in which case
the competent authority shall issue it without delay but no
sooner than the normal issue date for the relevant week.

7.
By way of derogation from paragraph 3, the Commission
can set a day other than Wednesday for the issuing of export
licences when it is not possible to respect this day.

Applications for export licences may be lodged with the

1.
competent authorities from Monday to Friday of each week.

2.
Applicants for export licences shall be natural or legal
persons who, at the time applications are submitted, are able to
prove to the satisfaction of the competent authorities in the

Article 4

1.
On application by the operator, licence applications for
up to 25 tonnes of products shall not be subject to any special
measures as referred to in Article 3(4) and the licences applied
for shall be issued immediately.

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In such cases, notwithstanding Article 2(1), the term of validity
of the licences shall be limited to five working days from their
actual day of issue within the meaning of Article 23 (2) of
Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 and section 20 of licence appli-
cations and of licences shall show at least one of the following:

— Erstattung gültig für […] Tonnen (Menge, für welche die

Lizenz ausgestellt wurde)

— Επιστροφή ισχύουσα για […] τόνους (ποσότητα για την οποία

έχει εκδοθεί το πιστοποιητικό)

— Certificado válido durante cinco días hábiles y no utilizable
para la aplicación del artículo 5 del Reglamento (CEE) no
565/80

— Licens, der er gyldig i fem arbejdsdage, og som ikke kan
benyttes til at anvende artikel 5 i forordning (EØF) nr. 565/
80

— Fünf Werktage gültige und für die Anwendung von Artikel
5 der Verordnung (EWG) Nr. 565/80 nicht verwendbare
Lizenz

— Πιστοποιητικό που ισχύει για πέντε εργάσιµες ηµέρες και δεν
χρησιµοποιείται για την εφαρµογή του άρθρου 5 του κανο-
νισµού (ΕΟΚ) αριθ. 565/80

— Licence valid for five working days and not useable for
application of Article 5 of Regulation (EEC) No 565/80

— Certificat valable 5 jours ouvrables et non utilisable pour
l'application de l'article 5 du règlement (CEE) no 565/80

— Titolo valido cinque giorni lavorativi e non utilizzabile ai
fini dell'applicazione dell'articolo 5 del regolamento (CEE)
n. 565/80

— Refund valid for […] tonnes (quantity for which the licence

is issued)

— Restitution valable pour […] tonnes (quantité pour laquelle

le certificat est délivré)

— Restituzione valida per […] t (quantitativo per il quale il

titolo è rilasciato)

— Restitutie geldig voor […] ton (hoeveelheid waarvoor het

certificaat wordt afgegeven)

— Restituição válida para […] toneladas (quantidade relativa-

mente à qual é emitido o certificado)

— Tuki on voimassa […] tonnille (määrä,

jolle todistus on

myönnetty)

— Ger rätt till exportbidrag för (…) ton (den kvantitet för

vilken licensen utfärdats).

Article 7

— Certificaat met een geldigheidsduur van vijf werkdagen en
niet te gebruiken voor de toepassing van artikel 5 van
Verordening (EEG) nr. 565/80

Each Friday from 13.00 hours, Member States shall send
the

1.
the Commission the following by fax in respect of
preceding period:

— Certificado de exportação válido durante cinco dias úteis,
não utilizável para a aplicação do artigo 5.o do Regula-
mento (CEE) n.o 565/80

(a) the applications for export licences as referred to in Article
1 lodged from Monday to Friday of the same week, stating
whether they fall within the scope of Article 4 or not;

— Todistus on voimassa viisi työpäivää eikä sitä voi käyttää

sovellettaessa asetuksen (ETY) N:o 565/80 5 artiklaa

— Licensen är giltig fem arbetsdagar men gäller inte vid
tillämpning av artikel 5 i förordning (EEG) nr 565/80.

The Commission may, where necessary, suspend the

2.
application of this Article.

(b) the quantities covered by export licences issued on the
preceding Wednesday, not including those issued immedi-
ately under Article 4;

(c) the quantities covered by export licence applications with-
drawn pursuant to Article 3(6) during the preceding week.

The notification of the applications referred to in para-

2.
graph 1(a) shall specify:

Article 5

(a) the quantity in product weight for each category referred to

in Article 2(3);

Export licences shall not be transferable.

Article 6

1.
The quantity exported within the tolerance referred to in
Article 8(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 shall not give
entitlement to payment of the refund.

In section 22 of the licence, at least one of the following

2.
shall be indicated:

— Restitución válida por […] toneladas (cantidad por la que se

expida el certificado)

— Restitutionen omfatter

[…]

t

(den mængde,

licensen

vedrører)

(b) the breakdown by destination of the quantity for each cate-
gory in the case where the rate of refund varies according
to the destination;

(c) the rate of refund applicable;

(d) the total amount of refund prefixed in euro per product

category.

3. Member States shall communicate to the Commission on
a monthly basis following the expiry of validity of export
licences the quantity of unused export licences.

4.
All notifications referred to in paragraphs 1 and 3,
including ‘nil’ notifications, shall be made in accordance with
the model set out in Annex II.

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Article 8

For hatching eggs falling within CN codes 0407 00 11
1.
and 0407 00 19, operators shall declare at
the time when
customs formalities for exports are fulfilled, that they intend to
claim an export refund.

2.
Not later than two working days after exporting, opera-
tors shall lodge with the competent authority the application
for an ex post export licence for the hatching eggs exported. In
section 20 of the licence application and of the licence, shall be
indicated the term ex post together with the customs office
where customs formalities have been fulfilled as well as the
date of export within the meaning of Article 5(1) of Commis-
sion Regulation (EC) No 800/1999 (1).

By derogation from Article 15(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1291/
2000 no security shall be required.

3. Member States shall communicate to the Commission,
each Friday from 13.00 hours, by fax, the number of ex post
export licences applied for or the absence of such applications,
during the current week. The notifications shall be made in
accordance with the model set out
in Annex II and shall
specify, where applicable, the details referred to in Article 7(2).

Ex post export licences shall be issued each following
4.
Wednesday, provided that none of
the particular measures
referred to in Article 3(4) are taken by the Commission after
the export concerned. Where such measures are taken they
shall apply to the exports already carried out.

the refund
This licence accords entitlement
applicable on the day of export within the meaning of Article
5(1) of Regulation (EC) No 800/1999.

to payment of

Article 24 of Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 shall not

5.
apply to the ex post licences referred to in paragraphs 1 to 4.

The licences shall be presented directly by the interested party
to the agency in charge of the payment of export refunds. This
agency shall attribute and stamp the licence.

Article 9

Regulation (EC) No 1371/95 is repealed.

References to the repealed Regulation shall be construed as
references to this Regulation and shall be read in accordance
with the correlation table in Annex V.

Article 10

This Regulation shall enter
into force on the 20th 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, 30 March 2004.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 102, 17.4.1999, p. 11.

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Product code of the agricultural product
nomenclature for export refunds (1)

0407 0 0 11 9000

0407 0 0 19 9000

0407 0 0 30 9000

0408 1 1 80 9100

0408 1 9 81 9100
0408 1 9 89 9100

0408 9 1 80 9100

0408 9 9 80 9100

ANNEX I

Category

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

(1) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3846/87 (OJ L 366, 24.12.1987, p. 1), part 8.
(2) For destinations shown in Annex III.
(3) Other destinations.

Rate of the security
(EUR/100 kg net weight)

—

—

3 (2)
2 (3)

10

5

15

4

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ANNEX II

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ANNEX III

Bahrain

Egypt

Hong Kong

Japan

Kuwait

Malaysia

Oman

Philippines

Qatar

Russia

South Korea

Taiwan

Thailand

United Arab Emirates

Yemen, Republic of

ANNEX IV

Repealed Regulation with its successive amendments

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1371/95

(OJ L 133, 17.6.1995, p. 16)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 2522/95

(OJ L 258, 28.10.1995, p. 39)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 2840/95

(OJ L 296, 9.12.1995, p. 5)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1157/96

(OJ L 153, 27.6.1996, p. 19)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1008/98

(OJ L 145, 15.5.1998, p. 6)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 2336/1999

(OJ L 281, 4.11.1999, p. 16)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 2260/2001

(OJ L 305, 22.11.2001, p. 11)

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ANNEX V

Correlation table

Regulation (EC) No 1371/95

This Regulation

Articles 1 and 2

Article 3(1) to (3)

Article 3(4) first indent

Article 3(4) second indent

Article 3(4) third indent

Article 3(5) to (7)

Article 4 first and second subparagraphs

Article 4 third subparagraph

Article 5

Article 6 first subparagraph

Article 6 second subparagraph

Article 7(1)

Article 7(2) first indent

Article 7(2) second indent

Article 7(2) third indent

Article 7(2) fourth indent

Article 7(3) and (4)

Article 8

Article 9

Article 10

_

Article 11

Annexes I to III

_

-

Articles 1 and 2

Article 3(1) to (3)

Article 3(4)(a)

Article 3(4)(b)

Article 3(4)(c)

Article 3(5) to (7)

Article 4(1)

Article 4(2)

Article 5

Article 6(1)

Article 6(2)

Article 7(1)

Article 7(2)(a)

Article 7(2)(b)

Article 7(2)(c)

Article 7(2)(d)

Article 7(3) and (4)

_

Article 8

_

Article 9

Article 10

Annexes I to III

Annex IV

Annex V