Commission Regulation (EEC) No 290/89 of 3 February 1989 establishing ceilings and Community surveillance for imports of certain products originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States or in the overseas countries and territories (1989)

COMMISSION  REGULATION (EEC) No 290/89
of 3 February 1989
establishing ceilings and Community surveillance for imports of certain products originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States or in the overseas countries and territories (1989)
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 last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1821/87 (2), and in particular Articles 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 these tariff ceilings, customs duties are 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 1989 the preferential duties as to garlic are equal to 63,6 % of the duties applicable and as to iceberg lettuce 60 % of the duties applicable;
Whereas by Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1450/88 of 27 May 1988 concerning duties applicable to imports of iceberg lettuce from Spain and Portugal into the Community as constituted on 31 December 1985 (3), a partial suspension of customs duties to these Member States has been adopted for the period 1 July to 30 September 1989; whereas the same rates of duties should be applied to the imports of these products originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States or in the overseas countries and territories;
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 (4), Spain and Portugal are to postpone implementation of the preferential arrangements for fruit and vegetables falling within Regulation (EEC) No 1035/72 (5), as last amended by Council Regulation (EEC) No 2238/88 (6), 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 ceilings 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 tariff duties as soon as the ceilings are 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 ceilings 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 duties if the ceilings are reached;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fruit and Vegetables,