Commission Regulation (EC) No 1498/2007 of 18 December 2007 laying down specific rules for issuing import licences for sugar and sugar and cocoa mixtures with ACP/OCTs or EC/OCTs cumulation of origin

19.12.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 333/6
COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1498/2007
of 18 December 2007
laying down specific rules for issuing import licences for sugar and sugar and cocoa mixtures with ACP/OCTs or EC/OCTs cumulation of origin
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Decision 2001/822/EC of 27 November 2001 on the association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Community (Overseas Association Decision) (1), and in particular the fifth subparagraph of Article 6(4) of Annex III thereto,
Whereas:
(1) Decision 2001/822/EC allows ACP/OCTs or EC/OCTs cumulation of origin for the quantities laid down in that Decision with regard to products falling within CN Chapter 17 and CN codes 1806 10 30 and 1806 10 90.
(2) Specific rules for issuing import licences have been established for these products under Commission Regulation (EC) No 192/2002 of 31 January 2002 laying down detailed rules for issuing import licences for sugar and sugar and cocoa mixtures with ACP/OCTs or EC/OCTs cumulation of origin (2) so as to permit the requisite controls on imports of the quantities provided for in Decision 2001/822/EC.
(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 (3) applies to import licences for the import tariff quota periods commencing from 1 January 2007. Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 lays down, in particular, detailed rules for applications for import licences, the status of applicants and the issue of licences. It limits the validity of licences to the final day of the tariff quota period. The provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 should apply, without prejudice to the additional rules laid down by this Regulation.
(4) The rules laid down in the above Regulation should therefore apply to Regulation (EC) No 192/2002. However, certain rules should be adapted to reflect the specific characteristics of the trade covered by Regulation (EC) No 192/2002. In the interests of clarity and rationality, Regulation (EC) No 192/2002 should be repealed and replaced by a new Regulation.
(5) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 of 9 June 2000 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences and advance-fixing certificates for agricultural products (4) should also apply, subject to the specific measures provided for in this Regulation.
(6) With a view to ensuring orderly management, preventing speculation and providing for effective controls, detailed rules should be laid down for submitting licence applications and the documents that the interested parties must produce. To this end, the rules laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 should apply.
(7) The specific features of the licence application form for importing the products in question should be laid down and, in order to ensure that such imports are managed strictly, it should be laid down that the rights deriving from licences are not transferable.
(8) Rules should also be laid down regarding time limits for the submission of licence applications and the issue of licences by the competent authorities of the Member States,