Commission Regulation (EC) No 972/2006 of  29 June 2006  laying down special rules for imports of Basmati rice and a transitional control system for determining their origin
Date: 2006-06-29
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: certificate of origin, common organisation of markets, import (EU), import licence, rice

30.6.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 176/53

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 972/2006

of 29 June 2006

laying down special rules for imports of Basmati rice and a transitional control system for
determining their origin

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003 of
the
29 September 2003 on the common organisation of
in rice (1), and in particular Articles 10(2) and 11b
market
thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

Pursuant to the 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
to rice
the modification of concessions with respect
provided for in EC Schedule CXL annexed to the GATT
1994 (2), approved by Council Decision 2004/617/EC (3),
the duty applicable to imports of husked rice of certain
Basmati varieties is fixed at zero.

Pursuant to the Agreement in the form of an Exchange
of Letters between the European Community and
Pakistan 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
1994 (4),
GATT
Council Decision
2004/618/EC (5),
the duty applicable to imports of
husked rice of certain Basmati varieties originating in
Pakistan is fixed at zero.

approved

by

Pursuant to Article 2(1) of Decision 2004/617/EC and
Article 2(1) of Decision 2004/618/EC, the Commission
adopted Regulation (EC) No 1549/2004 (6), which, until
Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003 was amended, derogated
therefrom as regards the arrangements for importing rice
and laid down separate transitional rules for imports of
Basmati rice. Given that Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003
has been amended to that end, for the sake of clarity,
Regulation (EC) No 1549/2004 should be replaced by a
new Regulation.

(4)

The Agreements approved by Decisions 2004/617/EC
and 2004/618/EC provide for the introduction of a
Community control system based on DNA analysis at
border and transitional arrangements for imports
the

(1) OJ L 270, 21.10.2003, p. 96. Regulation as last amended by Regu-

lation (EC) No 797/2006 (OJ L 144, 31.5.2006, p. 1).

(2) OJ L 279, 28.8.2004, p. 19.
(3) OJ L 279, 28.8.2004, p. 17. Decision as amended by Decision

2005/476/EC (OJ L 170, 1.7.2005, p. 67).

(4) OJ L 279, 28.8.2004, p. 25.
(5) OJ L 279, 28.8.2004, p. 23. Decision as amended by Decision

2005/476/EC.

(6) OJ L 280, 31.8.2004, p. 13. Regulation as last amended by
L 342,

(EC) No 2152/2005 (OJ

Commission Regulation
24.12.2005, p. 30).

of Basmati rice pending the entry into force of
that
control system. Since the definitive control system has
not yet been introduced, special transitional rules should
be laid down.

To be eligible for zero import duty, Basmati rice must
belong to a variety specified in the Agreements. In order
to ascertain that Basmati rice imported at a zero rate of
duty meets those characteristics, it should be covered by
an authenticity certificate drawn up by the competent
authorities.

In order to prevent fraud, provision should be made for
measures to check the variety of Basmati rice declared.
To that end the provisions on sampling laid down in
Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July
1993 laying down provisions for the implementation
of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing
the Community Customs Code (7) should be applied.

The transitional
import arrangements for Basmati rice
provide for a procedure for consulting the exporting
country in the event of a market disturbance and
possibly applying the full rate of duty if a satisfactory
solution has not been found at the end of the consul-
tations. The point
at which the market may be
considered to be disturbed should be defined.

for

the application of

To ensure sound administrative management of imports
of Basmati rice, special rules, whether additional to or
from Commission Regulation (EC) No
derogating
laying down common
1291/2000 of 9 June 2000,
detailed rules
the system of
import and export licences and advance fixing certificates
for agricultural products (8) and Commission Regulation
(EC) No 1342/2003 of 28 July 2003 laying down special
detailed rules for the application of the system of import
and export licences for cereals and rice (9), should be
adopted concerning the lodging of applications,
the
issue of licences and the use thereof.

So as not to disrupt the continuity of imports of Basmati
rice, it should be laid down that authenticity certificates
and import licences issued before 1 July 2006 pursuant
to Regulation (EC) No 1549/2004 remain valid for their
entire period of validity and that the zero rate of duty
applies to products imported under those licences.

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(7) OJ L 253, 11.10.1993, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regu-

lation (EC) No 402/2006 (OJ L 70, 9.3.2006, p. 35).

(8) OJ L 152, 24.6.2000, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regu-

lation (EC) No 410/2006 (OJ L 71, 10.3.2006, p. 7).

(9) OJ L 189, 29.7.2003, p. 12. Regulation as last amended by Regu-

lation (EC) No 830/2006 (OJ L 150, 3.6.2006, p. 3).

L 176/54

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Official Journal of the European Union

30.6.2006

(10)

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

The body issuing the import licence shall keep the original

2.
of the authenticity certificate and give the applicant a copy.

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

the
This Regulation shall apply to husked Basmati rice of
varieties of Basmati rice falling within CN code 1006 20 17
and CN code 1006 20 98, as specified in Annex IIIa to Regu-
lation (EC) No 1785/2003.

The authenticity certificate shall be valid for 90 days from the
date of issue.

It shall be valid only if the boxes are duly completed and it is
signed.

Article 4

Article 2

Import
1.
following details:

licences

for Basmati

rice

shall

contain the

1.
Import licence applications for Basmati rice as referred to
in Article 10(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003 shall contain
the following details:

(a)

in box 8, indication of the country of origin and the word
‘yes’ marked with a cross;

(a)

in box 8, indication of the country of origin and the word
‘yes’ marked with a cross;

(b) in box 20, one of the entries listed in Annex IV hereto.

(b) in box 20, one of the entries listed in Annex I.

The copy of the authenticity certificate referred to in Article 3(2)
shall be annexed to the import licence.

Import
2.
accompanied by:

licence applications for Basmati

rice shall be

(a) proof that the applicant is a natural or legal person who
has, for at least 12 months, carried on a commercial activity
in the rice sector and is registered in the Member State
where the application is made;

(b) a product authenticity certificate issued by a competent
body in the exporting country, as listed in Annex II hereto.

Article 3

The authenticity certificate shall be drawn up on a form in

1.
accordance with the specimen given in Annex III hereto.

The form shall measure approximately 210 × 297 millimetres.
The original shall be drawn up on such paper as shall show up
any tampering by mechanical or chemical means.

The forms shall be printed and completed in English.

The original and the copies thereof shall be either typewritten
or handwritten. In the latter case, they shall be completed in ink
and in block capitals.

Each authenticity certificate shall contain a serial number in the
top right-hand box. The copies shall bear the same number as
the original.

2.
Notwithstanding Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No
1291/2000, rights deriving from import licences for Basmati
rice shall not be transferable.

Notwithstanding Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No
for
security relating to import

3.
1342/2003,
Basmati rice shall be EUR 70 per tonne.

licences

the

Article 5

Member States shall e-mail the following information to the
Commission:

(a) no later than two working days following a refusal, the
import
in respect of which applications
quantities
licences for Basmati rice have been refused, with an indi-
cation of the date of refusal and the grounds, the CN code,
the country of origin, the issuing body and the number of
the authenticity certificate, as well as the holder's name and
address;

for

(b) no later than two working days following their issue, the
quantities
import
in respect of which applications
licences for Basmati rice have been issued, with an indi-
cation of the date, the CN code, the country of origin,
the issuing body and the number of the authenticity certi-
ficate, as well as the holder's name and address;

for

The text of the form in the other Community languages shall be
published in the C series of the Official Journal of the European
Union.

(c)

in the event of the cancellation of a licence, no later than
two working days after cancellation, the quantities in respect
of which licences have been cancelled and the names and
addresses of the holders of the cancelled licences;

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Official Journal of the European Union

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(d) on the last working day of each month following the month
of release for free circulation, the quantities actually released
for free circulation, with an indication of the CN code, the
country of origin, the issuing body and the number of the
authenticity certificate.

The information referred to in the first paragraph shall be
communicated separately from that relating to other import
licence applications for rice.

Article 6

1.
In the context of random checks or checks targeted at
operations entailing a risk of fraud, Member States shall take
representative samples of imported Basmati rice as laid down in
Article 242 of Regulation (EC) No 2454/93. The samples shall
be sent to the competent body in the country of origin, as listed
in Annex V, for a DNA-based variety test.

The Member States may also carry out variety tests on the same
sample in a Community laboratory.

2.
If the results of one of the tests referred to in paragraph 1
show that the product analysed does not correspond to what is
indicated on the authenticity certificate, the import duty on
husked rice falling within CN code 1006 20, provided for in
Article 11a of Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003, shall apply.

the

regards

contact

If the tests referred to in paragraph 1 or other information
3.
available to the Commission indicate a serious and lasting
the control procedures applied by a
problem as
the Commission
competent body in the country of origin,
may
country
in the
authorities
concerned. If such contacts fail to yield a satisfactory solution,
the Commission may decide to apply the rate of import duty
for husked rice falling within CN code 1006 20, provided for in
Article 11a of Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003 to the imports
checked by the body in question, based on Article 11b of the
said Regulation and under the conditions laid down therein.

competent

for one quarter of the year relative to the previous quarter and
there is no satisfactory explanation.

the

consultations

If a disturbance of the rice market persists and if the
2.
countries
of
Commission's
concerned fail to yield a satisfactory solution, the import duty
on husked rice falling within CN code 1006 20, provided for in
Article 11a of Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003, may also be
applied to imports of Basmati rice, by Commission Decision,
on the basis of Article 11b of the said Regulation and subject to
the conditions laid down in therein.

exporting

Article 8

The Commission shall keep Annexes II and V up to date.

Article 9

Authenticity certificates and import licences for Basmati rice
issued prior
to 1 July 2006 under Regulation (EC) No
1549/2004 shall remain valid and products imported under
such licences shall be eligible for the import duty provided
for in Article 11a of Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003.

Article 10

Regulation (EC) No 1549/2004 is hereby repealed.

references

to Articles 2 to 8 of Regulation (EC) No
All
1549/2004 and Annexes II
thereto shall be read as
references to Articles 2 to 8 of this Regulation and Annexes I
to V hereto.

to VI

All references to Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1549/2004
shall be read as references to Annex IIIa to Regulation (EC)
No 1785/2003.

Article 11

Article 7

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publi-
cation in the Official Journal of the European Union.

The rice market shall be considered to be disturbed when,
1.
inter alia, a substantial increase in Basmati rice imports is noted

It shall apply from 1 July 2006.

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

Done at Brussels, 29 June 2006.

For the Commission

Mariann FISCHER BOEL
Member of the Commission

L 176/56

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Official Journal of the European Union

30.6.2006

ANNEX I

Indications referred to in Article 2(1)(b)

— in Spanish:

Arroz Basmati del código NC 1006 20 17 o 1006 20 98 importado con derecho cero en aplicación
del Reglamento (CE) no 972/2006, acompañado del certificado de autenticidad no … expedido por
[nombre de la autoridad competente]

— in Czech:

rýže Basmati kódu KN 1006 20 17 nebo 1006 20 98, která se dováží za nulové clo na základě
nařízení (ES) č. 972/2006, a ke které se připojí osvědčení o pravosti č. … vydané [název příslušného
subjektu]

— in Danish:

— in German:

— in Estonian:

Basmati-ris henhørende under KN-kode 1006 20 17 eller 1006 20 98 importeres med nultold i
[den
henhold til
kompetente myndigheds navn]

ledsaget af ægthedscertifikat nr. … udstedt af

forordning (EF) nr. 972/2006,

Basmati-Reis des KN-Codes 1006 20 17 oder 1006 20 98, eingeführt zum Zollsatz Null gemäß der
Verordnung (EG) Nr. 972/2006 und begleitet von einem Echtheitszeugnis Nr. …, ausgestellt durch
[Name der zuständigen Behörde]

basmati riis CN-koodiga 1006 20 17 või 1006 20 98, mis on imporditud tollimaksu nullmääraga
vastavalt määrusele (EÜ) nr 972/2006 ning millega on kaasas [pädeva asutuse nimi] välja antud
autentsussertifikaat nr …

— in Greek:

Ρύζι μπασμάτι του κωδικού 1006 20 17 ή 1006 20 98 εισαγόμενο με μηδενικό δασμό κατ’ εφαρμογή του
κανονισμού (ΕΚ) αριθ. 972/2006, συνοδευόμενο με το πιστοποιητικό γνησιότητας αριθ. … που εκδόθηκε
από [ονομασία της αρμόδιας αρχής]

— in English:

— in French:

— in Italian:

basmati rice falling within code of CN 1006 20 17 or 1006 20 98 and imported at a zero rate of
duty under Regulation (EC) No 972/2006, accompanied by authenticity certificate No … drawn up
by [name of the competent authority]

riz Basmati du code NC 1006 20 17 ou 1006 20 98 importé à droit nul en application du règlement
(CE) no 972/2006, accompagné du certificat d’authenticité no … établi par [nom de l’autorité
compétente]

Riso Basmati di cui al codice NC 1006 20 17 o 1006 20 98 importato a dazio zero ai sensi del
regolamento (CE) n. 972/2006, corredato del certificato di autenticità n. … rilasciato da [nome
dell’autorità competente]

— in Latvian:

Basmati rīsi ar KN kodu 1006 20 17 vai 1006 20 98, ko importē bez ievedmuitas nodokļa saskaņā ar
Regulu (EK) Nr. 972/2006, kuriem pievienota autentiskuma apliecība Nr. …, ko izsniegusi [kompe-
tentās iestādes nosaukums]

— in Lithuanian:

Basmati ryžiai klasifikuojami KN kodu 1006 20 17 arba 1006 20 98,
įvežti pagal nulinį muito
mokestį pagal Reglamentas (EB) Nr. 972/2006, prie kurio pridėtas autentiškumo sertifikatas Nr.
…, išduotas [kompetentingos institucijos pavadinimas]

— in Hungarian:

az 1006 20 17 vagy az 1006 20 98 KN-kód alá sorolt, a/az 972/2006/EK rendelet alkalmazásában
nulla vámtétel mellett behozott basmati rizs, a/az [illetékes hatóság neve] által kiállított, … számú
eredetiségigazolással együtt

— in Dutch:

Basmati-rijst van GN-code 1006 20 17 of 1006 20 98,
ingevoerd met nulrecht overeenkomstig
Verordening (EG) nr. 972/2006, vergezeld van het echtheidscertificaat nr. …, opgesteld door
[naam van de bevoegde instantie]

— in Polish:

Ryż Basmati objęty kodem CN 1006 20 17 lub 1006 20 98, do którego przywiezienia zastosowano
zerową stawkę celną zgodnie z rozporządzeniem (WE) nr 972/2006, z załączonym do niego certy-
fikatem autentyczności nr … sporządzonym przez [nazwa właściwego organu]

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Official Journal of the European Union

L 176/57

— in Portuguese:

Arroz Basmati do código NC 1006 20 17 ou 1006 20 98 importado com direito nulo em aplicação
do Regulamento (CE) n.o 972/2006, acompanhado do certificado de autenticidade n.o … estabelecido
por [nome da autoridade competente]

— in Slovak:

ryža Basmati s kódom KN 1006 20 17 alebo 1006 20 98 dovážaná s nulovou sadzbou cla v súlade s
nariadením (ES) č. 972/2006, sprevádzaná osvedčením o pravosti č. … vystavenom [názov príslušného
orgánu]

— in Slovenian:

Riž basmati s kodo KN 1006 20 17 ali 1006 20 98, uvožen po stopnji nič ob uporabi Uredbe (ES)
št. 972/2006, s priloženim potrdilom o pristnosti št. …, ki ga je izdal [naziv pristojnega organa]

— in Finnish:

— in Swedish:

Asetuksen (EY) N:o 972/2006 mukaisesti tullivapaasti tuotu CN-koodiin 1006 20 17 tai 1006 20 98
kuuluva Basmati-riisi, jonka mukana on ….:n [toimivaltaisen viranomaisen nimi] myöntämän aitousto-
distuksen N:o …

Basmatiris med KN-nummer 1006 20 17 eller 1006 20 98 som importeras tullfritt i enlighet med
förordning (EG) nr 972/2006, åtföljt av äkthetsintyg nr … som utfärdats av [den behöriga myndighetens
namn]

L 176/58

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Official Journal of the European Union

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ANNEX II

Bodies authorised to issue the authenticity certificates referred to in Article 2(2)(b)

INDIA (1)

PAKISTAN (2)

Export Inspection Council (Ministry of Commerce,
Government of India)

Trading Corporation of Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd

(1) In respect of the varieties Basmati 370, Basmati 386, Type-3 (Dhradun), Taraori Basmati (HBC-19), Basmati 217, Ranbir Basmati, Pusa

Basmati and Super Basmati.

(2) In respect of the varieties Kernel (Basmati), Basmati 370, Pusa Basmati and Super Basmati.

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ANNEX III

Specimen authenticity certificate referred to in Article 3(1)

L 176/60

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Official Journal of the European Union

30.6.2006

ANNEX IV

Indications referred to in Article 4(1)(b)

— in Spanish:

Arroz Basmati del código NC 1006 20 17 o 1006 20 98 importado con derecho cero en aplicación
del Reglamento (CE) no 972/2006, acompañado de una copia del certificado de autenticidad no …
expedido por [nombre de la autoridad competente]

— in Czech:

rýže Basmati kódu KN 1006 20 17 nebo 1006 20 98, která se dováží za nulové clo na základě
nařízení (ES) č. 972/2006, a ke které se připojí kopie osvědčení o pravosti č. … vydané [název
příslušného subjektu]

— in Danish:

— in German:

— in Estonian:

Basmati-ris henhørende under KN-kode 1006 20 17 eller 1006 20 98 importeres med nultold i
henhold til forordning (EF) nr. 972/2006, ledsaget af en kopi af ægthedscertifikat nr. … udstedt af
[den kompetente myndigheds navn]

Basmati-Reis des KN-Codes 1006 20 17 oder 1006 20 98, eingeführt zum Zollsatz Null gemäß der
Verordnung (EG) Nr. 972/2006 und begleitet von einer Kopie des Echtheitszeugnisses Nr. …,
ausgestellt durch [Name der zuständigen Behörde]

basmati riis CN-koodiga 1006 20 17 või 1006 20 98, mis on imporditud tollimaksu nullmääraga
vastavalt määrusele (EÜ) nr 972/2006 ning millega on kaasas [pädeva asutuse nimi] välja antud
autentsussertifikaadi nr …koopia

— in Greek:

Ρύζι μπασμάτι του κωδικού 1006 20 17 ή 1006 20 98 εισαγόμενο με μηδενικό δασμό με εφαρμογή του
κανονισμού (ΕΚ) αριθ. 972/2006, συνοδευόμενο με αντίγραφο του πιστοποιητικού γνησιότητας αριθ. …
που εκδόθηκε από [ονομασία της αρμόδιας αρχής]

— in English:

— in French:

— in Italian:

basmati rice falling within code of CN 1006 20 17 or 1006 20 98 and imported at a zero rate of
duty under Regulation (EC) No 972/2006, accompanied by a copy of authenticity certificate No …
drawn up by [name of the competent authority]

riz Basmati du code NC 1006 20 17 ou 1006 20 98 importé à droit nul en application du règlement
(CE) no 972/2006, accompagné d’une copie du certificat d’authenticité no … établi par [nom de
l’autorité compétente]

Riso Basmati di cui al codice NC 1006 20 17 o 1006 20 98 importato a dazio zero ai sensi del
regolamento (CE) n. 972/2006, corredato di una copia del certificato di autenticità n. … rilasciato da
[nome dell’autorità competente]

— in Latvian:

Basmati rīsi ar KN kodu 1006 20 17 vai 1006 20 98, ko importē bez ievedmuitas nodokļa saskaņā ar
Regulu (EK) Nr. 972/2006, kuriem pievienota autentiskuma apliecības Nr. … kopija, ko izsniegusi
[kompetentās iestādes nosaukums]

— in Lithuanian:

Basmati ryžiai klasifikuojami KN kodu 1006 20 17 arba 1006 20 98,
įvežti pagal nulinį muito
mokestį pagal Reglament (EB) Nr. 972/2006, prie kurio pridėta autentiškumo sertifikato Nr. …,
išduoto [kompetentingos institucijos pavadinimas], kopija

— in Hungarian:

az 1006 20 17 vagy az 1006 20 98 KN-kód alá sorolt, a 972/2006/EK rendelet alkalmazásában nulla
vámtétel mellett behozott basmati rizs, a/az [illetékes hatóság neve] által kiállított, … számú eredetisé-
gigazolás másolatával együtt

— in Dutch:

Basmati-rijst van GN-code 1006 20 17 of 1006 20 98,
ingevoerd met nulrecht overeenkomstig
Verordening (EG) nr. 972/2006, vergezeld van een kopie van het echtheidscertificaat nr. …, opge-
steld door [naam van de bevoegde instantie]

— in Polish:

Ryż Basmati objęty kodem CN 1006 20 17 lub 1006 20 98, do którego przywiezienia zastosowano
zerową stawkę celną zgodnie z rozporządzeniem (WE) nr 972/2006, z załączoną do niego kopią
certyfikatu autentyczności nr … sporządzonego przez [nazwa właściwego organu]

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— in Portuguese:

Arroz Basmati do código NC 1006 20 17 ou 1006 20 98 importado com direito nulo em aplicação
do Regulamento (CE) n.o 972/2006, acompanhado de uma cópia do certificado de autenticidade n.o
… estabelecido por [nome da autoridade competente]

— in Slovak:

ryža Basmati s kódom KN 1006 20 17 alebo 1006 20 98 dovážaná s nulovou sadzbou cla v súlade s
nariadením (ES) č. 972/2006, sprevádzaná kópiou osvedčenia o pravosti č. … vystavenom [názov
príslušného orgánu]

— in Slovenian:

Riž basmati s kodo KN 1006 20 17 ali 1006 20 98, uvožen po stopnji nič ob uporabi Uredbe (ES)
št. 972/2006, s priloženo kopijo potrdila o pristnosti št. …, ki ga je izdal [naziv pristojnega organa]

— in Finnish:

— in Swedish:

Asetuksen (EY) N:o 972/2006 mukaisesti tullivapaasti tuotu CN-koodiin 1006 20 17 tai 1006 20 98
kuuluva Basmati-riisi, jonka mukana on ….:n [toimivaltaisen viranomaisen nimi] myöntämän aitousto-
distuksen N:o … jäljennös

Basmatiris med KN-nummer 1006 20 17 eller 1006 20 98 som importeras tullfritt i enlighet med
förordning (EG) nr 972/2006, åtföljt av en kopia av äkthetsintyg nr … som utfärdats av [den behöriga
myndighetens namn]

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ANNEX V

Bodies authorised to conduct the variety tests referred to in Article 6

INDIA

Export Inspection Council
Department of Commerce
Ministry of Commerce and Industry
3rd Floor
NDYMCA Cultural Central Bulk
1 Jaisingh Road
New Delhi 110 001
India
Tel: (91-11) 374 81 88/89, 336 55 40
Fax: (91-11) 374 80 24
e-mail: eic@eicindia.org

PAKISTAN:

Trading Corporation of Pakistan Limited
4th and 5th Floor
Finance & Trade Centre
Shahrah-e-Faisal
Karachi 75530
Pakistan
Tel: (92-21) 290 28 47
Fax (92-21) 920 27 22 and 920 27 31