Commission Regulation (EC) No 620/2009 of 13 July 2009 providing for the administration of an import tariff quota for high-quality beef

15.7.2009 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 182/25
COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 620/2009
of 13 July 2009
providing for the administration of an import tariff quota for high-quality beef
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation) (1), and in particular Article 144(1) and Article 148 thereof, in conjunction with Article 4,
Whereas:
(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 617/2009 (2) opens on a multiannual basis an autonomous import tariff quota for import of 20 000 tonnes of high-quality beef. Article 2 of that Regulation provides that the tariff quota is to be managed by the Commission in accordance with Article 144 of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007. Detailed rules should therefore be adopted for the administration of that quota.
(2) That quota should be managed using import licences. Therefore, rules should be laid down concerning the submission of applications and the information to be provided in the applications and licences. Where necessary, that can be done by way of derogation from certain provisions of Commission Regulation (EC) No 376/2008 of 23 April 2008 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences and advance fixing certificates for agricultural products (3), and Commission Regulation (EC) No 382/2008 of 21 April 2008 on rules of application for import and export licences in the beef and veal sector (4).
(3) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 of 31 August 2006 laying down common rules for the administration of import tariff quotas for agricultural products managed by a system of import licences (5) lays down detailed rules concerning the applications for import licences, the status of applicants and the issue of licences. That Regulation limits the period of validity of licences to the last day of the import tariff quota period. The provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 should apply to import licences issued for the quota covered by Regulation (EC) No 617/2009, without prejudice to additional conditions laid down in this Regulation.
(4) In order to ensure a regular flow of imports, it is appropriate to sub-divide each import tariff quota period into several sub-periods.
(5) The release into free circulation of the products imported under the quota covered by Regulation (EC) No 617/2009 should be subject to a presentation of a certificate of authenticity issued by the competent authority of the exporting third country. The issue of such certificates of authenticity should guarantee that the imported products qualify as high-quality beef as defined in this Regulation. The form and layout of the certificates of authenticity and the procedures for using those certificates should be specified. Certificates should be issued by authorities in third countries affording all the necessary guarantees to ensure that the arrangements concerned are properly applied.
(6) Regulation (EC) No 617/2009 provides that the import tariff quota is opened from 1 August 2009. Therefore, this Regulation should also apply from the same day.
(7) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets,