Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2286/2002 of 10 December 2002 on the arrangements applicable to agricultural products and goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP States) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1706/98^f1, and in particular Article 5 thereof,

Whereas:

Commission Regulation (EC) No 2247/2003^f2 opens, on a multi-annual basis for periods from 1 January to 31 December, a quota for the import of certain products in the beef and veal sector originating from the ACP States.

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^f3 applies to import licences for import tariff quota periods starting from 1 January 2007. Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 lays down in particular detailed provisions on applications for import licences, the status of applicants and the issue of licences. That Regulation limits the period of validity of licences to the last day of the import tariff quota period. The provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 should apply to imports licences issued pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 2247/2003, without prejudice to additional conditions laid down in that Regulation. It is necessary to align the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 2247/2003 on Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 where appropriate.

For the sake of clarity, Article 2(2) of Regulation (EC) No 2247/2003 should be deleted as this provision is merely a repetition of the provision in Article 50(1) of 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^f4.

Regulation (EC) No 2247/2003 should therefore 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: