Council Regulation (EC) No 2599/95 of 30 October 1995 opening and providing for the administration of a Community tariff quota for rum originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States (1996 to 1999)

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 2599/95 of 30  October 1995 opening and providing for the administration of a Community tariff quota for rum  originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States (1996 to 1999)
THE  COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 113  thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas the Fourth ACP-EEC Convention  (1) entered into force on 1 September 1991;
Whereas, pursuant to Protocol 6 to the said Convention, with regard to the arrangements applicable  from 1996 the Council has decided, on the basis of a report from the Commission, to discontinue as  from 1 January 1996 the quota for 'light` ACP rum and to retain a tariff quota for 'traditional`  ACP rum until full liberalization on 1 January 2000;
Whereas the volume of the tariff quota decided on by the Council has been set at 58  000  hectolitres of pure alcohol for 1996, 61  000 hectolitres for 1997, 64  000 hectolitres for 1998  and 67  000 hectolitres for 1999;
Whereas for these reasons an appropriate definition of 'traditional` ACP rum should be given;  whereas to that end the general definition of rum given in Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89  (2) which  stipulates that traditional rum is characterized by a high content of volatile substances other  than ethyl and methyl alcohol, should be taken as a basis;
Whereas equal and continuous access to the said quota should be ensured for all Community importers  and the rates laid down for the quota should be applied consistently to all imports of the products  in question into all Member States until the quota is exhausted; whereas the decision for the  opening of tariff quotas in fulfilment of its international obligations should be taken by the  Community; whereas, to ensure the efficient common administration of these quotas, however, there  is no obstacle to authorizing the Member States to draw from the quota volumes the necessary  quantities corresponding to actual imports; whereas, however, this method of administration  requires close cooperation between the Member States and the Commission and the latter must, in  particular, be able to monitor the rate at which the quotas are used up and inform the Member  States accordingly;
Whereas measures should be laid down to ensure that Protocol 6 is implemented under conditions such  as to permit the development of traditional trade flows between the ACP States and the Community,  and between the Member States,