Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 31 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

In order to ensure sufficient and uninterrupted supply of certain goods insufficiently produced in the Union and to avoid any disturbances on the market for certain agricultural and industrial products, autonomous tariff quotas have been opened by Council Regulation (EU) No 1388/2013^f1. Products within those tariff quotas can be imported into the Union at reduced or zero duty rates. For the reasons indicated, it is necessary to open, with effect from 1 July 2015, tariff quotas at zero duty rates for an appropriate volume as regards seven new products.

In certain cases, the existing autonomous tariff quotas of the Union should be adapted. In the case of two products, it is necessary to amend the product description for clarification purposes and in order to take into account the recent product developments. In the case of six other products, the quota volumes should be increased as such increase is in the interest of economic operators of the Union.

In the case of two products, the autonomous tariff quotas of the Union should be closed with effect from 1 July 2015 and converted into autonomous tariff suspensions, as there is no longer any need to limit the import volume.

It should be clarified that any mixtures, preparations or products made up of different components containing products subject to autonomous tariff quotas are not covered by the Annex to Regulation (EU) No 1388/2013.

Regulation (EU) No 1388/2013 should therefore be amended accordingly.

Since the amendments pursuant to this Regulation should take effect from 1 July 2015, this Regulation should apply from that date,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: