Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 207(4) in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

The Agreement between the European Union and Japan for an Economic Partnership^f1 (‘the Agreement’) was concluded by the Union by Council Decision (EU) 2018/1907^f2. It enters into force on 1 February 2019.

Pursuant to paragraph 1 of Article 2.28 of the Agreement, a certificate authenticated in conformity with the laws and regulations of Japan, including a self-certificate established by a producer authorised by the competent authority of Japan, suffices as documentation serving as evidence that the requirements for the importation and sale in the Union of wine products originating in Japan referred to in Article 2.25, 2.26 or 2.27 of the Agreement have been fulfilled.

Pursuant to paragraph 2 of Article 2.28 of the Agreement, the Working Group on Wine is, by decision, to adopt the modalities for the implementation of paragraph 1 of that Article, and in particular the forms to be used, and the information to be provided on the certificate.

Subparagraph 2(a) of Article 2.35 of the Agreement provides that the Working Group on Wine is to adopt the modalities concerning self-certification.

Pursuant to paragraph 3 of Article 2.35 of the Agreement, the Working Group on Wine is to hold its first meeting on the date of entry into force of the Agreement.

The Working Group on Wine, during its first meeting on 1 February 2019, is to adopt the decision on the forms to be used for certificates for the import of wine products originating in Japan into the Union and on the modalities concerning the self-certification in order to allow for the effective implementation of the Agreement and thus simplify import of wine products originating in Japan. The envisaged forms and modalities concerning the self-certification are consistent with the Union policies on facilitating trade and cooperating on prevention of fraud with third countries that concluded agreements with the Union.

It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union's behalf within the Working Group on Wine.

The position of the Union within the Working Group on Wine should therefore be based on the attached draft Decision,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: