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 996/97^f2 provides for the opening and administration, on a multi-annual basis, of an import tariff quota for frozen thin skirt of bovine animals falling within CN code 0206 29 91.

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.

For the quantities originating in and coming from Argentina, as referred to in Article 1(3)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 996/97, the provisions of Chapter III of Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 should apply, from 1 July 2007, to import licences issued pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 996/97, without prejudice to additional conditions laid down in that Regulation.

For the quantities originating in and coming from third countries other than Argentina, as referred to in Article 1(3)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 996/97, the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 on applications for import licences, the status of applicants and the issue of licences should apply. Chapter I and II of Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 should therefore apply, from 1 July 2007, to imports licences issued for those quantities pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 996/97, without prejudice to additional conditions laid down in that Regulation.

It is necessary to align the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 996/97 on Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 where appropriate. That Regulation, in particular, limits the period of validity of licences to the last day of the import tariff quota period.

Regulation (EC) No 996/97 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: