2004/619/ECCouncil Decision of 11 August 2004 modifying the Community import regime with respect to rice
Date: 2004-08-11
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: India, Pakistan, Thailand, United States, import (EU), import policy, rice, trade agreement (EU)

28.8.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 279/29

COUNCIL DECISION

of 11 August 2004

modifying the Community import regime with respect to rice

(2004/619/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

establishing the European

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

authorised

the Council

On 26 June 2003,
the
Commission to open negotiations under Article XXVIII
the GATT 1994 with a view to modify certain
of
concessions
the Community
rice. Accordingly,
notified the WTO on 2 July 2003 of its intention to
modify certain concessions in EC Schedule CXL.

for

Negotiations have been conducted by the Commission in
consultation with the Committee established by Article
133 of
the
negotiating directives issued by the Council.

the Treaty and within the framework of

supplying interest

The Commission has negotiated with the United States of
America, having a principal
in
products of HS subheading 1006 20 (husked rice) and
substantial supplier interest in products of HS subheading
1006 30 (milled rice), Thailand, having a principal
supplying
in products of HS subheading
1006 30 (milled rice) and substantial supplier interest
in products of HS subheading 1006 20 (husked rice)
and India and Pakistan, each having a substantial
supplier interest in products of HS subheading 1006 20
(husked rice).

interest

The Commission has negotiated an agreement with India
and Pakistan in the form of an exchange of letters but
has not been able to negotiate an acceptable agreement
with the United States of America and Thailand.

In order to allow the modifications of certain concessions
concerning husked and milled rice in EC Schedule CXL, a
new tariff rate for husked and milled rice should be
established.

As the fixing of a new tariff rate for husked and milled
rice requires modification of Council Regulation (EC) No
1785/2003 of 29 September 2003 on the common

organisation of the market in rice (1), the Commission
temporary derogations
should be authorised to adopt
from that Regulation.

(7)

The measures necessary for the implementation of this
Decision should be adopted in accordance with Council
Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the
implementing powers
the exercise of
procedures for
conferred on the Commission (2),

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The tariff rate for husked rice (CN code 1006 20) shall be EUR
65/tonne.

The tariff rate for milled rice (CN code 1006 30) shall be EUR
175/tonne.

Article 2

To the extent necessary to permit the full application of this
Decision by 1 September 2004, the Commission may derogate
from Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003, in accordance with the
procedure referred to in Article 3(2) of this Decision, until that
Regulation is amended but at the latest until 30 June 2005.

Article 3

1.
The Commission shall be assisted by the Management
Committee for Cereals instituted by Article 25 of Council Regu-
lation (EC) No 1784/2003 of 29 September 2003 on the
common organisation of the market in cereals (3).

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and
7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply.

The period provided
1999/468/EC shall be set at one month.

for

in Article 4(3) of Decision

3.

The Committee shall adopt its Rules of Procedure.

Done at Brussels, 11 August 2004.

For the Council
The President

B. BOT

(1) OJ L 270, 21.10.2003, p. 96.
(2) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.
(3) OJ L 270, 21.10.2003, p. 78.