Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products^f1, and in particular Article 31(3) thereof,

Whereas:

Article 31(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 provides that the difference between prices on the world market for the products listed in Article 1 of that Regulation and prices for those products on the Community market may be covered by an export refund.

Given the present situation on the market in milk and milk products, no export refunds should therefore be fixed.

The Agreement on Trade, Development and Cooperation between the European Community and its Member States (TDCA), of the one part, and the Republic of South Africa, of the other part, approved by Council Decision 2004/441/EC^f2 entered into force on 1 May 2004. In the context of negotiations on accelerated trade liberalisation of cheeses between the European Community and South Africa, it has been convened that the cheese traded by both parties should not benefit from any export refunds.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: