Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2777/75 of 29 October 1975 on the common organisation of the market in poultrymeat^f1, and in particular Article 3(2) and Article 6(1) thereof,

Whereas:

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1251/96^f2 provides for the opening and administration of tariff quotas in the poultrymeat sector.

The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the United States of America pursuant to Article XXIV:6 and Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994^f3, approved by Council Decision 2006/333/EC^f4, provides for an increase of the annual import tariff quota of poultrymeat, erga omnes, of 49 tonnes for certain fresh, chilled or frozen chicken carcass, of 4 070 tonnes for fresh, chilled or frozen chicken cuts, of 1 605 tonnes for cuts of fowls and of 201 tonnes for fresh, chilled or frozen turkey meat.

The increase of the quota for cuts of fowls makes no more necessary the measure provided for in the second paragraph of Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1251/96.

In view of the possible accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union as from 1 January 2007, it is advisable to provide for a different period for lodging the licence applications for the first quarter of the year 2007.

Regulation (EC) No 1251/96 should be amended accordingly.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Poultrymeat and Eggs,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: