Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and India pursuant to Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 relating to the modification of concessions with respect to rice provided for in EC Schedule CXL annexed to the GATT 1994
Date: 2004-08-20
Institutions: European Community, India
Subjects: GATT, India, import (EU), originating product, rice, tariff quota, trade agreement (EU)

28.8.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 279/19

AGREEMENT IN THE FORM OF AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS

between the European Community and India pursuant to Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 relating
to the modification of concessions with respect to rice provided for in EC Schedule CXL annexed
to the GATT 1994

Sir,

A. Letter from the European Community

Following negotiations between the European Community (EC) and India under Article XXVIII of GATT
1994 for the modification of concessions with respect to rice provided for in EC Schedule CXL annexed to
the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT 1994), the EC agrees to the conclusions as
outlined below.

Final import regime

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

With respect to the import regime of husked rice (CN codes 1006 20 17 and NC 1006 20 98) of the
varieties Basmati 370, Basmati 386, Type-3 (Dehradun), Taraori Basmati (HBC-19), Basmati 217, Ranbir
Basmati, Pusa Basmati and Super Basmati, the EC's specific bound rate of duty shall be zero. To that
purpose:

— a Community control system based on DNA analysis at the border shall be created; India shall actively
cooperate with the EC to set up such a control system and the EC shall provide the appropriate technical
assistance in this matter,

— it is understood that Basmati rice of the varieties described above is produced in certain geographical
areas and that India will protect Basmati rice as a geographical indication. The EC would welcome an
application for protection as a geographical indication of Basmati rice under Council Regulation (EEC)
No 2081/92 of 14 July 1992 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin
for agricultural products and foodstuffs (1). The EC shall process any such application as expeditiously as
possible. The EC shall provide any necessary technical assistance in this matter.

Transitional arrangement

As from 1 September 2004 and until the date of entry into force of the abovementioned Community
control system, the EC shall put in place a transitional regime with regard to husked rice (CN codes
1006 20 17 and 1006 20 98) of the varieties described above based on the following elements.

The EC's autonomous applied rate of duty shall be zero. However, if market disturbance occurs, the EC will
consult with India's competent authorities to agree an appropriate solution. If no agreement is reached, the
EC reserves the right to revert to the bound rate of duty of EUR 65/tonne for husked rice (CN code
1006 20).

General

For the purposes of this Agreement:

— the EC shall establish separate tariff lines for Basmati rice of the varieties indicated in the agreements

with India and Pakistan,

— the competent Indian authorities shall continue to issue the authenticity certificates prior to the issuance
of import licences, meaning that the current system of administration of the certificates of authenticity
shall be maintained.

The EC recognises that India has initial negotiating rights with respect to the concessions specified in the
present letter.

This Agreement shall be approved by the Parties in accordance with their own procedures.

(1) OJ L 208, 24.7.1992, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003 (OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 1).

L 279/20

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

28.8.2004

The provisions of this Agreement shall be applicable from 1 September 2004.

I would be grateful if you could confirm the agreement of your Government to the above.

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

Hecho en Bruselas, el
V Bruselu dne
Udfærdiget i Bruxelles, den
Geschehen zu Brüssel am
Brüssel,
Έγινε στις Βρυξέλλες, στις
Done at Brussels,
Fait à Bruxelles, le
Fatto a Bruxelles, addì
Briselÿ,
Priimta Briuselyje,
Kelt Brüsszelben,
Magÿmula fi Brussel,
Gedaan te Brussel,
Sporzÿdzono w Brukseli, dnia
Feito em Bruxelas,
V Bruseli
V Bruslju,
Tehty Brysselissä
Utfärdat i Bryssel den

Por la Comunidad Europea
Za Evropské společenstvί
For Det Europæiske Fællesskab
Für die Europäische Gemeinschaft
Euroopa Ühenduse nimel
Για την Ευρωπαϊκή Κοινότητα

For the European Community
Pour la Communauté européenne
Per la Comunità europea
Eiropas Kopienas vārdā
Europos bendrijos vardu
az Európai Közösség részéről
Għall-Komunità Ewropea
Voor de Europese Gemeenschap
W imieniu Wspólnoty Europejskiej
Pela Comunidade Europeia
Za Európske spoločenstvo
za Evropsko skupnost
Euroopan yhteisön puolesta
På Europeiska gemenskapens vägnar

28.8.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 279/21

Sir,

B. Letter from the Republic of India

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

‘Following negotiations between the European Community (EC) and India under Article XXVIII of
GATT 1994 for the modification of concessions with respect to rice provided for in EC Schedule CXL
annexed to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT 1994), the EC agrees to the
conclusions as outlined below.

Final import regime

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

With respect to the import regime of husked rice (CN codes 1006 20 17 and NC 1006 20 98) of the
varieties Basmati 370, Basmati 386, Type-3 (Dehradun), Taraori Basmati
(HBC-19), Basmati 217,
Ranbir Basmati, Pusa Basmati and Super Basmati, the EC's specific bound rate of duty shall be zero.
To that purpose:

— a Community control system based on DNA analysis at the border shall be created; India shall
actively cooperate with the EC to set up such a control system and the EC shall provide the
appropriate technical assistance in this matter,

— it is understood that Basmati rice of the varieties described above is produced in certain geogra-
phical areas and that India will protect Basmati rice as a geographical indication. The EC would
welcome an application for protection as a geographical indication of Basmati rice under Council
Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 of 14 July 1992 on the protection of geographical indications and
designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs (1). The EC shall process any such
application as expeditiously as possible. The EC shall provide any necessary technical assistance in
this matter.

Transitional arrangement

As from 1 September 2004 and until the date of entry into force of the abovementioned Community
control system, the EC shall put in place a transitional regime with regard to husked rice (CN codes
1006 20 17 and 1006 20 98) of the varieties described above based on the following elements.

The EC's autonomous applied rate of duty shall be zero. However, if market disturbance occurs, the EC
will consult with India's competent authorities to agree an appropriate solution. If no agreement is
reached, the EC reserves the right to revert to the bound rate of duty of EUR 65/tonne for husked rice
(CN code 1006 20).

General

For the purposes of this Agreement:

— the EC shall establish separate tariff
agreements with India and Pakistan,

lines for Basmati rice of

the varieties indicated in the

— the competent Indian authorities shall continue to issue the authenticity certificates prior to the
issuance of import licences, meaning that the current system of administration of the certificates of
authenticity shall be maintained.

The EC recognises that India has initial negotiating rights with respect to the concessions specified in
the present letter.

This Agreement shall be approved by the Parties in accordance with their own procedures.

___________
(1) OJ L 208, 24.7.1992, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003 (OJ L 122, 16.5.2003,

p. 1).

L 279/22

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

28.8.2004

The provisions of this Agreement shall be applicable from 1 September 2004.
I would be grateful if you could confirm the agreement of your Government to the above.’

India has the honour of confirming its agreement with the contents of this letter.
Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.

Done at Brussels,
Hecho en Bruselas, el
V Bruselu dne
Udfærdiget i Bruxelles, den
Geschehen zu Brüssel am
Brüssel,
Έγινε στις Βρυξέλλες, στις
Fait à Bruxelles, le
Fatto a Bruxelles, addì
Briselÿ,
Priimta Briuselyje,
Kelt Brüsszelben,
Magÿmula fi Brussel,
Gedaan te Brussel,
Sporzÿdzono w Brukseli, dnia
Feito em Bruxelas,
V Bruseli
V Bruslju,
Tehty Brysselissä
Utfärdat i Bryssel den

On behalf of India
En nombre de la India
Za Indii
På Indiens vegne
Im Namen Indiens
India nimel
Εξ ονόματος της Ινδίας

Au nom de l'Inde
Per l'India
Indijas vārdā
Indijos vardu
India nevében
Għan-nom ta’ l-Indja
Namens India
W imieniu Indii
Em nome da Índia
V mene Indie
V imenu Indije
Intian puolesta
På Indiens vägnar