Commission Regulation (EC) No 306/96 of 20 February 1996 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Decision 95/582/EC as regards the administration of a quota of 1 177 tonnes of fish food covered by CN code 2309 90 31 originating in Norway

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 306/96 of 20 February 1996 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Decision 95/582/EC as regards the administration of a quota of 1 177 tonnes of fish food covered by CN code 2309 90 31 originating in Norway
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Decision 95/582/EC of 20 December 1995 on the conclusion of agreements in the form of exchanges of letters between the European Community, of the one part, and the Republic of Iceland, the Kingdom of Norway and the Swiss Confederation, of the other part, concerning certain agricultural products (1), and in particular Article 2 thereof,
Whereas, pursuant to the agreement concluded between the Community and the Kingdom of Norway, all Community importers should be guaranteed access from 1 January 1995 to the annual tariff quota of 1 177 tonnes of fish food originating in Norway provided for in Annex II to the bilateral agreement with Norway and provision should be made for the application of a customs duty of zero ecus per tonne until such time as that quantity is used up;
Whereas this method of administration calls for close cooperation between the Member States and the Commission and whereas the latter needs in particular to be able to monitor progress in the use of the tariff quotas and to inform the Member States thereof;
Whereas provision should be made for licences covering imports of the products in question to be issued for up to the quantity laid down after a period for reflection and, where appropriate, for the fixing of a single percentage reduction in the quantities applied for;
Whereas the origin of the products should be checked in particular by making the issue of import licences conditional on the presentation of proof of origin issued or compiled in Norway;
Whereas the information to appear in applications and licences should be stipulated notwithstanding Articles 8 and 21 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3719/88 of 16 November 1988 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences and advance fixing certificates for agricultural products (2), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2137/95 (3);
Whereas, with a view to the sound management of the arrangements laid down, provision should be made, notwithstanding Article 10 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1162/95 of 23 May 1995 laying down special detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences for cereals and rice (4), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 285/96 (5), for the security for import licences under those arrangements to be set at ECU 25 per tonne;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,