Commission Regulation (EEC) No 369/88 of 9 February 1988 establishing a ceiling and Community surveillance for imports of certain products originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States or in the overseas countries and territories (1988)

COMMISSION  REGULATION (EEC) No 369/88
of 9 February 1988
establishing a ceiling and Community surveillance for imports of certain products originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States or in the overseas countries and territories (1988)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 486/85 of 26 February 1985 on the arrangements applicable to agricultural products and certain goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States or in the overseas countries and territories (1), as amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1821/87 (2), and in particular Article 13a and 22 thereof,
Whereas Article 13a of Regulation (EEC) No 486/85 stipulates that products listed there, originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States or in the overseas countries and territories, are subject on importation into the Community to progressively reduced rates of duty; whereas such reduction of duties applies only up to ceilings above which the customs duties actually applied in respect of third countries may be re-established;
Whereas, within the limits of this tariff ceiling, the customs duty is reduced progressively by the percentage specified in that Article, during the same period and in accordance with the same timetable as provided for in Articles 75 and 268 of the Act of Accession of the Kingdom of Spain and the Portuguese Republic; whereas for 1988 the preferential duty is equal to 72,7 % of the duties applicable;
Whereas by virtue of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1820/87 of 25 June 1987 concerning the application of Decision No 2/87 of the ACP-EEC Council of Ministers on the advance implementation of the Protocol to the Third ACP-EEC Convention consequent on the Accession of the Kingdom of Spain and the Portuguese Republic to the European Communities (3), Spain and Portugal are to postpone implementation of the preferential arrangements for fruit and vegetables falling within Regulation (EEC) No 1035/72 (4), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 223/88 (5), until 31 December 1989 and 31 December 1990 respectively; whereas consequently, the abovementioned tariff concession does not apply at present in Spain or Portugal;
Whereas the application of ceilings requires the Community to be regularly informed of the trend of imports of the relevant products originating in these countries; whereas imports should, therefore, be made subject to a system of surveillance;
Whereas this objective may be achieved by means of an administrative procedure based on offsetting imports of the products in question against the ceiling at Community level as and when these products are entered with customs authorities for free circulation; whereas this administrative procedure must make provision for the possible re-establishment of the customs tariff duty as soon as the ceiling is reached at Community level;
Whereas this administrative procedure requires close and particularly swift cooperation between the Member States and the Commission; whereas the latter must, in particular, be able to follow the progress of quantities charged against the ceiling and keep the Member States informed; whereas this cooperation has to be particularly close since the Commission must be able to take the appropriate measures to re-establish the customs tariff duty if the ceiling is reached;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fruit and Vegetables,