Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1549/2004 of 30 August 2004 derogating from Council Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003 as regards the arrangements for importing rice and laying down separate transitional rules for imports of basmati rice^f1, and in particular Article 1 thereof,

Whereas:

Based on the information provided by the competent authorities, the Commission notes that import licences for husked rice falling within CN code 1006 20, other than import licences for basmati rice, were issued in respect of 212 325 tonnes for the period from 1 September 2004 to 28 February 2005. In accordance with Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 1549/2004, the import duty on husked rice falling within CN code 1006 20 other than basmati rice must therefore be adjusted. This adjustment must take effect on 1 March 2005 to take account of the application on that date of Regulation (EC) No 1006/2005 amending Regulation (EC) No 1549/2004.

As the applicable duty must be fixed within three days of the entry into force of Regulation (EC) No 1006/2005, this Regulation should enter into force immediately. Because this duty is being fixed retroactively, provision should be made to reimburse the traders concerned any duty overpayments, at their request,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: