Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania,

Having regard to the Act of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania, and in particular of Article 41 thereof,

Whereas:

Until 31 December 2006, imports in the Community of certain live bovine animals within import tariff quotas opened with Bulgaria or Romania on a multi-annual basis by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1217/2005 of 28 July 2005 laying down detailed rules for the application of a tariff quota for certain live bovine animals originating in Bulgaria, provided for in Council Decision 2003/286/EC^f1 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1241/2005 of 29 July 2005 laying down detailed rules for the application of a tariff quota for certain live bovine animals originating in Romania, provided for in Council Decision 2003/18/EC^f2, were subject to the allocation of import rights managed through import licences. As of 1 January 2007, those import licences could no longer be used for such trade.

Certain import rights granted in July 2006 and valid normally until 30 June 2007 have not been used at all or have been used only partially. Failure to fulfil the commitments made in connection with those import rights should result in the forfeiture of the security lodged. Given that such commitments can no longer be fulfilled after the accession of Bulgaria and Romania, it is necessary to adopt, with effect from the date of accession of those two countries, a measure providing for the release of the securities related to the import rights within those import tariff quotas.

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: