Commission Regulation (EC) No 1006/97 of 4 June 1997 opening and providing for the administration of an import tariff quota for frozen beef intended for processing (1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998)

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1006/97 of 4 June 1997 opening and providing for the administration of an import tariff quota for frozen beef intended for processing (1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1095/96 of 18 June 1996 on the implementation of the concessions set out in Schedule CXL drawn up in the wake of the conclusion of the GATT XXIV.6 negotiations (1), and in particular Article 1 (1) thereof,
Whereas pursuant to Schedule CXL the Community has undertaken to open an annual import tariff quota of 50 700 tonnes of frozen beef intended for processing; whereas the rules of application for the quota year 1997/98 starting 1 July 1997 must be established;
Whereas the import of frozen beef under the tariff quota shall qualify for the total suspension of the specific rate of customs duty where the meat is intended for the manufacture of preserved food, which does not contain characteristic components other than beef and jelly; whereas where the meat is intended for other processed products containing beef the import shall qualify for a 55 % suspension of the autonomous specific rate of customs duty; whereas the breakdown of the tariff quota into each of the arrangements referred to above should be made taking into account the experience gained in respect of similar imports in the past;
Whereas so as to avoid speculation, access to the quota should be allowed only to active processors carrying out processing in a processing establishment approved in accordance with Article 8 of Council Directive 77/99/EEC (2), as last amended by Directive 95/68/EC (3);
Whereas, imports into the Community under the present tariff quota are subject to presentation of an import licence; whereas licences may be issued following allocations of import rights on the basis of applications from eligible processors; whereas subject to the provisions of this Regulation the provisions 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 (4), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2350/96 (5), and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1445/95 of 26 June 1995 on rules of application for import and export licences in the beef and veal sector and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2377/80 (6), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 266/97 (7), shall apply to import licences issued under this Regulation;
Whereas the application of the present tariff quota requires strict surveillance of imports and effective checks as to their use and destination; whereas the processing should therefore be authorized only in the importing Member State; whereas, furthermore, a security shall be lodged in order to ensure that the imported meat is used according to the tariff quota specifications; whereas the amount of security should be fixed taking into account the difference between the customs duties applicable inside and outside the quota;
Whereas experience shows that importers do not always notify the competent authorities which issued the import licences of the quantity and origin of the beef imported under the quota concerned; whereas this information is important for assessing the market situation; whereas a security covering notification of the information should therefore be introduced;
Whereas provision should be made for communication by the Member States of information concerning the imports concerned;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Beef and Veal,