THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to the Council Regulation of 20 July 1998 on the arrangements applicable to agricultural products and goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP States) ( 1 ), and in particular Article 30(1) thereof,

Whereas Commission Regulation (EC) No 2603/97 ( 2 ) lays down the detailed implementing rules for imports of rice originating in the ACP countries or in overseas countries and territories (OCT); whereas, following the Council's adoption of the Regulation, which implements the amendments to the arrangements governing imports from the ACP countries as a result of the mid-term review of the Fourth Lomé Convention, Regulation (EC) No 2603/97 should be amended accordingly;

Whereas Article 13 of the Regulation provides for a further reduction in the customs duty applicable to rice originating in the ACP countries; whereas that reduction is subject to the levying by the exporting ACP country of an export charge equal to the amount of the reduction in the customs duty; whereas, pursuant to Article 34 of that Regulation, the reduction is to apply from 1 January 1996;

Whereas the partial reimbursement of import duties resulting from the reduction in duties applicable from 1 January 1996 is to be carried out in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of 12 October 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code ( 3 ), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 82/97 ( 4 ), and Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code ( 5 ), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 75/98 ( 6 );

Whereas, in the interests of clarity and administrative convenience, the method for calculating the amount of the reimbursement should be specified; whereas the certificate to be presented to establish that the export charge of the country of origin has been levied, for the purpose of applying Article 880 of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93, should also be specified;

Whereas experience shows that the intervals at which the Member States forward information on the quantities released for free circulation under these import arrangements should be adapted;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

1. Article 2(1) is replaced by the following:

‘1.  As regards the quantity of 125 000 tonnes of rice, in husked rice equivalent, falling within CN codes 1006 10 21 to 1006 10 98, 1006 20 and 1006 30 laid down in Article 14(1) of the Council Regulation of 20 July 1998, licences for imports at a reduced rate of customs duty shall be issued each year under the following tranches:

;

2. Article 3(1) is replaced by the following:

‘1.  As regards the quantity of 20 000 tonnes of broken rice falling within CN code 1006 40 00 laid down in Article 14(1) of the Council Regulation of 20 July 1998, licences for imports at a reduced rate of customs duty shall be issued each year under the following tranches:

;

3. Article 4 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 4

For the purposes of applying Article 13(1) of the Council Regulation of 20 July 1998, the amounts of the customs duties shall be calculated each week but fixed every two weeks by the Commission.’

;

4. Article 5(5) is replaced by the following:

‘5.  The customs duty shall be that applying on the day the licence application is lodged.’

;

5. Article 7 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 7

1.  Quantities carried over referred to in Article 2(2) may be the subject of licence applications for the import of rice originating in the ACP States falling within CN codes 1006 10 21 to 1006 10 98, 1006 20 and 1006 30 and rice originating in the OCTs falling within CN code 1006.

2.  Quantities as referred to in paragraph 1 that are not covered by import licences issued under a tranche shall be carried over to the following tranche.’

;

6. Article 12 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 12

The Member States shall notify the Commission by telex or fax in the form set out in Annex I:

Such notifications must also be made where no licence has been issued and no imports have taken place.’

— to 15 % of the full customs duty applicable to third countries on the date on which the import licence application was lodged, in the case of broken rice falling within CN code 1006 40 00, paddy rice falling within CN codes 1006 10 21 to 1006 10 98 and husked rice falling within CN code 1006 20,

— to 15 % of the difference between the full customs duty applicable to third countries on the date on which the import licence application was lodged and the amount of ECU 16,78, in the case of wholly milled and semi-milled rice falling within CN code 1006 30.

(a) the import licence or a certified copy thereof;

(b) the declaration of release for free circulation, or a certified copy thereof, for the import consignment concerned;

and

(c) a certificate drawn up by the Member State that issued the import licence, as provided for in Article 880 of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93, presented in accordance with the specimen in the Annex.

Amount in national currency:

(Signature and official stamp).