Proposal for a Council Regulation on the modification of the definition for certain import quotas of high quality beef
Date: 2006-08-10
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, World Trade Organisation, beef, common organisation of markets, originating product, tariff quota

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 10.08.2006 
COM(2006) 455 final 

2006/0155 (ACC) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION 

on the modification of the definition for certain import quotas of high quality beef 

(presented by the Commission) 

EN 

   EN 

 
 
 
  
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

Only  high  quality  beef  cuts  corresponding  to  the  associated  product  definition  can 
benefit  from  the  Community  preferential  WTO  tariff  quotas.  The  Commission 
recommends  the  adoption  of  measures  that  would  ensure  compliance  with  the 
conditions for these tariff quotas.  

Discussions  with  the  relevant  countries  (Argentina,  Brazil  and  Uruguay)  exporting 
high quality beef within the EC WTO tariff quotas of 11 000 t, 5 000 t and 4 000 t 
respectively revealed the need to better adapt the import definitions for these quotas.  

To  clarify  the  situation,  it  is  appropriate  to  allocate  the  relevant  tariff  quotas  for 
which Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay are the sole suppliers to the respective country. 

The  adoption  of  this  regulation  is  necessary  in  order  to  allow  the  Commission  to 
subsequently  adopt  definitions  which  are  more  easily  auditable  and  verifiable  in 
accordance with the procedure foreseen in Council Regulation (EC) No 1254/19991 
of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in beef and veal so as to 
allow  for  an  ex  post  verification  and  audit  of  the  definition  compliance,  without 
changing the basic import conditions.  

1 

OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 21. 

EN 

2 

   EN 

 
                                                 
2006/0155 (ACC) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION 

on the modification of the definition for certain import quotas of high quality beef 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

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

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

It is advisable to adopt measures that would ensure compliance with the conditions for 
certain tariff quotas for imports of high quality beef into the Community.  

Discussions with the countries exporting high quality beef within the EC WTO tariff 
quotas  of  11 000  t,  5 000  t  and  4 000  t  respectively  have  revealed  the  need  to  better 
adapt the import definitions for these quotas. 

To clarify the situation, it is appropriate to allocate the relevant tariff quotas for which 
Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay are the sole suppliers to the respective country. 

The  Commission  should  subsequently  adopt  definitions  which  are  more  easily 
auditable  and  verifiable  in  accordance  with  the  procedure  foreseen  in  Council 
Regulation  (EC)  No 1254/1999  of  17  May  1999  on  the  common  organisation  of  the 
market  in  beef  and  veal2  so  as  to  allow  for  an  ex  post  verification  and  audit  of  the 
definition compliance, without changing the basic import conditions, 

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 

Article 1 

The conditions for the EC WTO tariff quotas of 11 000 t, 5 000 t and 4 000 t respectively for 
imports  of  high  quality  beef  of  CN  codes  0201 30 00  and  0206 10 95  into  the  Community 
shall apply as specified in the Annex to this regulation. 

2 

OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 21. 

EN 

3 

   EN 

 
                                                 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the 
Official Journal of the European Union. 

Article 2 

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

Done at Brussels,  

For the Council 
The President 

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ANNEX 

Description of product 

Tariff item 
numbers 

Quota and in-quota 
tariff rate 

Other terms and conditions 

Boneless meat of bovine 
animals, fresh or chilled 

Edible offal of bovine 
animals: thick skirt and thin 
skirt, fresh or chilled 

Boneless meat of bovine 
animals, fresh or chilled 

Edible offal of bovine 
animals: thick skirt and thin 
skirt, fresh or chilled 

Boneless meat of bovine 
animals, fresh or chilled 

Edible offal of bovine 
animals: thick skirt and thin 
skirt, fresh or chilled 

ex 0201 30 00 

11 000 t 

ex 0206 10 95 

20% 

ex 0201 30 00 

5 000 t 

ex 0206 10 95 

20% 

ex 0201 30 00 

4 000 t 

ex 0206 10 95 

20% 

“High quality” meat of bovine 
animals, fresh or chilled, allocated to: 
Argentina 

Qualification for the quota is subject 
to conditions laid down in the 
relevant Community provisions 

“High quality” meat of bovine 
animals, fresh or chilled, allocated to: 
Brazil  

Qualification for the quota is subject 
to conditions laid down in the 
relevant Community provisions 

“High quality” meat of bovine 
animals, fresh or chilled, allocated to: 
Uruguay 

Qualification for the quota is subject 
to conditions laid down in the 
relevant Community provisions 

EN 

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FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

BUDGET HEADING: 
Chapter 10 – Agricultural Duties  

APPROPRIATIONS B2006: 
€763,5 Mio  

TITLE: 
Council Regulation on the modification of the definition for certain import quotas of high quality beef. 

LEGAL BASIS: 
Article 133 of the Treaty 

AIMS: 
To adopt measures in order to ensure compliance with the conditions for certain tariff quota for imports of high 
quality beef into the Community. 

5. 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS (1) 

5.0 

CHARGED TO THE EC BUDGET 

EXPENDITURE 
– 
(REFUNDS/INTERVENTIONS) 
– 
– 

NATIONAL AUTHORITIES 
OTHER 

5.1  REVENUE 

OWN RESOURCES OF THE EC  

– 
(LEVIES/CUSTOMS DUTIES) 
– 

NATIONAL 

5.0.1  ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE 
5.1.1  ESTIMATED REVENUE 

5.2  METHOD OF CALCULATION: 

– 

12 MONTH 
PERIOD 

(EUR million) 

CURRENT 
FINANCIAL 
YEAR 2006 
(EUR million) 

FOLLOWING 
FINANCIAL 
YEAR 2007 
(EUR million) 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

– 
– 

– 
– 

– 
– 

– 
– 

6.0  CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED FROM APPROPRIATIONS ENTERED IN THE 

RELEVANT CHAPTER OF THE CURRENT BUDGET? 

6.1  CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED BY TRANSFER BETWEEN CHAPTERS OF THE 

CURRENT BUDGET? 

6.2  WILL A SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET BE NECESSARY? 

6.3  WILL APPROPRIATIONS NEED TO BE ENTERED IN FUTURE BUDGETS? 

YES NO 

YES NO 

YES NO 

YES NO 

(1) OBSERVATIONS: 

The aim of this proposal is to adapt the definitions for certain import quotas of high quality beef so as to make them 
more  easily  auditable  and  verifiable.  The  measure  is  taken  in  order  to  minimise  the  risk  of  non  compliance  and  it 
doesn’t  change  the  basic  import  conditions.  It  is  estimated  that  it  will  not  have  any  financial  impact  on  budgetary 
income. 

EN 

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