Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in beef and veal^f1, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 32(1) thereof,

Whereas:

Commission Regulation (EC) No 936/97^f2 provides for the opening and administration, on a multi-annual basis, of a number of quotas of high quality beef.

Qualification for these quotas is subject to the conditions laid down in Regulation (EC) No 936/97. Article 2(a), (c) and (d) of that Regulation lays down in particular the definitions of high quality beef imported respectively from Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. In order to refer to parameters which are verifiable and auditable, these definitions should, following the entry into force of Council Regulation (EC) No 1532/2006 of 12 October 2006 on the conditions for certain import quotas of high quality beef^f3, be amended and refer respectively to official categories defined on the day of entry into force of this Regulation by the competent authorities of each of these countries.

It is also appropriate to specify that the provisions of Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council^f4, which establishes a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals and sets out provisions regarding the labelling of beef and beef products, should be applicable to the import of high quality beef referred to in Article 2(a), (c) and (d) of Regulation (EC) No 936/97.

Regulation (EC) No 936/97 should be amended accordingly.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: