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 the sufficient and uninterrupted supply of certain goods insufficiently produced in the Union and to avoid disturbances on the market for certain agricultural and industrial products, autonomous tariff quotas were 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 2016, tariff quotas at zero duty rates for an appropriate volume as regards nine new products.

Moreover, in certain cases, the existing autonomous tariff quotas of the Union should be adapted. In the case of one product, it is necessary to amend the product description for clarification purposes. In the case of three other products, the quota volumes need to be increased as such increase is in the interest of economic operators and the Union.

Finally, in case of one product, the autonomous tariff quotas of the Union should be closed with effect from 1 July 2016, as it is not in the Union's interest to maintain the autonomous tariff quotas after that date.

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

As the changes regarding the tariff quotas for the products concerned provided for in this Regulation have to apply from 1 July 2016, this Regulation should enter into force as a matter of urgency,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: