Commission Regulation (EC) No 134/2003

of 24 January 2003

on the issuing of A1 export licences for fruit and vegetables

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1961/2001 of 8 October 2001 on detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 as regards export refunds on fruit and vegetables(1), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1176/2002(2), and in particular Article 2(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 2200/2002(3) sets the quantities for which A1 export licences, other than those requested in the context of food aid, may be issued.

(2) Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1961/2001 sets the conditions under which special measures may be taken by the Commission with a view to avoiding an overrun of the quantities for which A1 licences may be issued.

(3) The Commission has received information which indicates that those quantities, reduced or increased by the quantities referred to in Article 2(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1961/2001, would be exceeded if A1 licences were issued without restriction for hazelnuts in shell in response to applications submitted since 21 January 2003. Therefore, one percentage should be fixed for the issuing of licences for quantities applied for on 21 January 2003 and applications for A1 licences submitted later in that application period should be rejected,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

A1 export licences for hazelnuts in shell for which applications were submitted on 21 January 2003 pursuant to Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 2200/2002 shall be issued for 58,1 % of the quantities applied for.

Applications for A1 export licences submitted after 21 January 2003 and before 24 June 2003 for this product shall be rejected.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 25 January 2003.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 24 January 2003.

For the Commission

J. M. Silva Rodríguez

Agriculture Director-General

(1) OJ L 268, 9.10.2001, p. 8.

(2) OJ L 170, 29.6.2002, p. 69.

(3) OJ L 335, 12.12.2002, p. 8.