Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 481/2012 of 7 June 2012 laying down rules for the management of a tariff quota for high-quality beef
Modified by
  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 238/2013of 15 March 2013amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 481/2012 as regards the validity of certificates of authenticity for high-quality beef, 32013R0238, March 16, 2013
  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1585of 19 September 2017opening and providing for the administration of Union tariff quotas for fresh and frozen beef and veal and pigmeat originating in Canada and amending Regulation (EC) No 442/2009 and Implementing Regulations (EU) No 481/2012 and (EU) No 593/2013, 32017R1585, September 20, 2017
  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2179of 13 December 2019amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 481/2012 as regards the country allocation of the tariff rate quota for high-quality beef and derogating from that Implementing Regulation for the quota year 2019/2020, 32019R2179, December 20, 2019
  • Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1987of 14 July 2020supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the lodging and release of securities in the administration of tariff quotas based on the chronological order of the submission of applications, 32020R1987, December 14, 2020
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 481/2012of 7 June 2012laying down rules for the management of a tariff quota for high-quality beef
Article 1Subject matter and scope1.This Regulation lays down rules for the management of an annual Union tariff quota for high-quality beef provided for in Regulation (EC) No 617/2009, hereinafter referred to as "the tariff quota". The tariff quota period, country of origin, volume and duty are set out in Annex I to this Regulation.2.This Regulation shall apply to high-quality fresh, chilled or frozen beef that fulfils the requirements laid down in Annex II.For the purposes of this Regulation, "frozen meat" means meat with an internal temperature of – 12 °C or lower when it enters the customs territory of the European Union.
Article 2Management of the tariff quota1.The tariff quota shall be managed on a first-come, first-served basis in accordance with Articles 49 to 52 and Article 53(1) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447 of 24 November 2015 laying down detailed rules for implementing certain provisions of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the Union Customs Code (OJ L 343, 29.12.2015, p. 558).. No import licences shall be required.2.The tariff quota shall be managed as a parent tariff quota with a volume of 45000 metric tonnes under order number 09.2201 with:(a)four quarterly sub-tariff quotas under order number 09.2202;(b)two quarterly sub-tariff quotas under order number 09.2203 from 1 January 2020 to 30 June 2020;(c)four quarterly sub-tariff quotas under order number 09.2203 from 1 July 2020.The benefit from the tariff quota can be granted only by applying for order numbers 09.2202 and 09.2203 referring to the sub-tariff quotas.3.The drawings on the sub-tariff quotas until 30 September, 31 December and 31 March shall be stopped respectively on the fifth working day of the Commission in November, February and May. Their unused balances shall be added to the quantities for the quarterly sub-tariff quotas starting respectively on 1 October, 1 January and 1 April. No unused balance at the end of a quota year shall be transferred to another quota year.
Article 3Certificates of authenticity1.In order to benefit from the tariff quota, a certificate of authenticity issued in the third country concerned, together with a customs declaration for release for free circulation for the goods concerned, shall be presented to the Union’s customs authorities.2.The certificate of authenticity referred to in paragraph 1 shall be established in accordance with the model set out in Annex III.3.On the reverse side of the certificate of authenticity it shall be stated that the meat originating in the exporting country fulfils the requirements laid down in Annex II.4.A certificate of authenticity shall be valid only if it is duly completed and endorsed by the issuing authority.5.A certificate of authenticity shall be considered to have been duly endorsed if it states the date and place of issue and if it bears the stamp of the issuing authority and the signature of the person or persons empowered to sign it.6.The stamp may be replaced by a printed seal on the original of the certificate of authenticity and any copies thereof.7.The validity of a certificate of authenticity shall be three months from the date of its issue.
Article 4Issuing authorities in third countries1.The issuing authority referred to in Article 3 shall:(a)be recognised as such by the competent authority of the exporting country;(b)undertake to verify entries in the certificates of authenticity.2.The following information shall be notified to the Commission:(a)the name and address, if possible including e-mail and internet address, of the authority or authorities recognised to issue the certificates of authenticity referred to in Article 3;(b)specimen of the stamps used by the issuing authority or authorities;(c)the procedures and criteria followed by the issuing authority or authorities in order to establish whether the requirements laid down in Annex II are fulfilled.
Article 5Third country notificationsWhen the requirements laid down in Annex II are fulfilled, the Commission shall publish the name of the issuing authority or authorities concerned in the C series of the Official Journal of the European Union or by any other appropriate means.
Article 6On-the-spot checks in third countriesThe Commission may request the third country to authorise representatives of the Commission to carry out, where required, on-the-spot checks in that third country. Those checks shall be performed jointly with the competent authorities of the third country concerned.
Article 7RepealRegulation (EC) No 620/2009 is repealed.
Article 8Transitional measuresLicence applications submitted in accordance with Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 620/2009 during the first seven days of June 2012 shall be rejected on the date of entry into force of this Regulation. The securities lodged in relation with those applications shall be released.
Article 9Entry into force and applicationThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.It shall apply from 1 July 2012.However, Article 8 shall apply from the date of entry into force of this Regulation.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.ANNEX ITariff quota for high-quality fresh, chilled or frozen beef
CN codesDescription of goodsTariff quota periods and subperiodsCountryTariff quota duty
All countriesUnited StatesOther countries
Order number
09.220209.220309.2202
Tariff quota volume(in tonnes net weight)
ex 0201ex 0202ex02061095ex02062991Meat of bovine animals, fresh, chilled or frozen, that fulfils the requirements laid down in Annex IIFrom 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020Zero
From 1 July to 30 September11250--
From 1 October to 31 December11250--
From 1 January to 31 March-46256625
From 1 April to 30 June-46256625
From 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021
From 1 July to 30 September-46256625
From 1 October to 31 December-46256625
From 1 January to 31 March-57505500
From 1 April to 30 June-57505500
From 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022
From 1 July to 30 September-57505500
From 1 October to 31 December-57505500
From 1 January to 31 March-63504900
From 1 April to 30 June-63504900
From 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023
From 1 July to 30 September-63504900
From 1 October to 31 December-63504900
From 1 January to 31 March-69504300
From 1 April to 30 June-69504300
From 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024
From 1 July to 30 September-69504300
From 1 October to 31 December-69504300
From 1 January to 31 March-75503700
From 1 April to 30 June-75503700
From 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025
From 1 July to 30 September-75503700
From 1 October to 31 December-75503700
From 1 January to 31 March-81503100
From 1 April to 30 June-81503100
From 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026
From 1 July to 30 September-81503100
From 1 October to 31 December-81503100
From 1 January to 31 March-87502500
From 1 April to 30 June-87502500
From 1 July 2026
From 1 July to 30 September-87502500
From 1 October to 31 December-87502500
From 1 January to 31 March-87502500
From 1 April to 30 June-87502500
ANNEX IIRequirements for goods under the tariff quota referred to in Article 11.Beef cuts are obtained from carcasses of heifers and steersFor the purposes of these requirements, heifers and steers are "bovine animals", as defined in point 1 of Part IV of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, which correspond, respectively, to categories E and C, as defined in Part A of Annex V to that Regulation. less than 30 months of age which have only been fed a diet, for at least the last 100 days before slaughter, containing not less than 62 % of concentrates and/or feed grain co-products on a dietary dry matter basis, that meets or exceeds a metabolisable energy content greater than 12,26 mega joules per one kilogram of dry matter.2.The heifers and steers that are fed the diet described in point 1 shall be fed, on average, no less than 1,4 % of live body weight per day on a dry matter basis.3.The carcass from which beef cuts are derived are evaluated by an evaluator employed by the national government who bases the evaluation, and a resulting classification of the carcass, on a method approved by the national government. The national government evaluation method, and its classifications, must evaluate expected carcass quality using a combination of carcass maturity and palatability traits of the beef cuts. Such an evaluation method of the carcass shall include, but not be limited to, an evaluation of the maturity characteristics of colour and texture of the longissimus dorsi muscle and bone and cartilage ossification, as well as an evaluation of expected palatability traits including a combination of the discrete specifications of intramuscular fat and firmness of the longissimus dorsi muscle.4.The cuts shall be labelled in accordance with Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilOJ L 204, 11.8.2000, p. 1..5.The indication "High Quality Beef" may be added to the information on the label.ANNEX III
Article 1Subject matter and scope1.This Regulation lays down rules for the management of an annual Union tariff quota for high-quality beef provided for in Regulation (EC) No 617/2009, hereinafter referred to as "the tariff quota". The tariff quota period, country of origin, volume and duty are set out in Annex I to this Regulation.2.This Regulation shall apply to high-quality fresh, chilled or frozen beef that fulfils the requirements laid down in Annex II.For the purposes of this Regulation, "frozen meat" means meat with an internal temperature of – 12 °C or lower when it enters the customs territory of the European Union.
Article 2Management of the tariff quota1.The tariff quota shall be managed on a first-come, first-served basis in accordance with Articles 49 to 52 and Article 53(1) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447 of 24 November 2015 laying down detailed rules for implementing certain provisions of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the Union Customs Code (OJ L 343, 29.12.2015, p. 558).. No import licences shall be required.2.The tariff quota shall be managed as a parent tariff quota with a volume of 45000 metric tonnes under order number 09.2201 with:(a)four quarterly sub-tariff quotas under order number 09.2202;(b)two quarterly sub-tariff quotas under order number 09.2203 from 1 January 2020 to 30 June 2020;(c)four quarterly sub-tariff quotas under order number 09.2203 from 1 July 2020.The benefit from the tariff quota can be granted only by applying for order numbers 09.2202 and 09.2203 referring to the sub-tariff quotas.3.The drawings on the sub-tariff quotas until 30 September, 31 December and 31 March shall be stopped respectively on the fifth working day of the Commission in November, February and May. Their unused balances shall be added to the quantities for the quarterly sub-tariff quotas starting respectively on 1 October, 1 January and 1 April. No unused balance at the end of a quota year shall be transferred to another quota year.
Article 3Certificates of authenticity1.In order to benefit from the tariff quota, a certificate of authenticity issued in the third country concerned, together with a customs declaration for release for free circulation for the goods concerned, shall be presented to the Union’s customs authorities.2.The certificate of authenticity referred to in paragraph 1 shall be established in accordance with the model set out in Annex III.3.On the reverse side of the certificate of authenticity it shall be stated that the meat originating in the exporting country fulfils the requirements laid down in Annex II.4.A certificate of authenticity shall be valid only if it is duly completed and endorsed by the issuing authority.5.A certificate of authenticity shall be considered to have been duly endorsed if it states the date and place of issue and if it bears the stamp of the issuing authority and the signature of the person or persons empowered to sign it.6.The stamp may be replaced by a printed seal on the original of the certificate of authenticity and any copies thereof.7.The validity of a certificate of authenticity shall be three months from the date of its issue.
Article 4Issuing authorities in third countries1.The issuing authority referred to in Article 3 shall:(a)be recognised as such by the competent authority of the exporting country;(b)undertake to verify entries in the certificates of authenticity.2.The following information shall be notified to the Commission:(a)the name and address, if possible including e-mail and internet address, of the authority or authorities recognised to issue the certificates of authenticity referred to in Article 3;(b)specimen of the stamps used by the issuing authority or authorities;(c)the procedures and criteria followed by the issuing authority or authorities in order to establish whether the requirements laid down in Annex II are fulfilled.
Article 5Third country notificationsWhen the requirements laid down in Annex II are fulfilled, the Commission shall publish the name of the issuing authority or authorities concerned in the C series of the Official Journal of the European Union or by any other appropriate means.
Article 6On-the-spot checks in third countriesThe Commission may request the third country to authorise representatives of the Commission to carry out, where required, on-the-spot checks in that third country. Those checks shall be performed jointly with the competent authorities of the third country concerned.
Article 7RepealRegulation (EC) No 620/2009 is repealed.
Article 8Transitional measuresLicence applications submitted in accordance with Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 620/2009 during the first seven days of June 2012 shall be rejected on the date of entry into force of this Regulation. The securities lodged in relation with those applications shall be released.
Article 9Entry into force and applicationThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.It shall apply from 1 July 2012.However, Article 8 shall apply from the date of entry into force of this Regulation.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.ANNEX ITariff quota for high-quality fresh, chilled or frozen beef
CN codesDescription of goodsTariff quota periods and subperiodsCountryTariff quota duty
All countriesUnited StatesOther countries
Order number
09.220209.220309.2202
Tariff quota volume(in tonnes net weight)
ex 0201ex 0202ex02061095ex02062991Meat of bovine animals, fresh, chilled or frozen, that fulfils the requirements laid down in Annex IIFrom 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020Zero
From 1 July to 30 September11250--
From 1 October to 31 December11250--
From 1 January to 31 March-46256625
From 1 April to 30 June-46256625
From 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021
From 1 July to 30 September-46256625
From 1 October to 31 December-46256625
From 1 January to 31 March-57505500
From 1 April to 30 June-57505500
From 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022
From 1 July to 30 September-57505500
From 1 October to 31 December-57505500
From 1 January to 31 March-63504900
From 1 April to 30 June-63504900
From 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023
From 1 July to 30 September-63504900
From 1 October to 31 December-63504900
From 1 January to 31 March-69504300
From 1 April to 30 June-69504300
From 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024
From 1 July to 30 September-69504300
From 1 October to 31 December-69504300
From 1 January to 31 March-75503700
From 1 April to 30 June-75503700
From 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025
From 1 July to 30 September-75503700
From 1 October to 31 December-75503700
From 1 January to 31 March-81503100
From 1 April to 30 June-81503100
From 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026
From 1 July to 30 September-81503100
From 1 October to 31 December-81503100
From 1 January to 31 March-87502500
From 1 April to 30 June-87502500
From 1 July 2026
From 1 July to 30 September-87502500
From 1 October to 31 December-87502500
From 1 January to 31 March-87502500
From 1 April to 30 June-87502500
ANNEX IIRequirements for goods under the tariff quota referred to in Article 11.Beef cuts are obtained from carcasses of heifers and steersFor the purposes of these requirements, heifers and steers are "bovine animals", as defined in point 1 of Part IV of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, which correspond, respectively, to categories E and C, as defined in Part A of Annex V to that Regulation. less than 30 months of age which have only been fed a diet, for at least the last 100 days before slaughter, containing not less than 62 % of concentrates and/or feed grain co-products on a dietary dry matter basis, that meets or exceeds a metabolisable energy content greater than 12,26 mega joules per one kilogram of dry matter.2.The heifers and steers that are fed the diet described in point 1 shall be fed, on average, no less than 1,4 % of live body weight per day on a dry matter basis.3.The carcass from which beef cuts are derived are evaluated by an evaluator employed by the national government who bases the evaluation, and a resulting classification of the carcass, on a method approved by the national government. The national government evaluation method, and its classifications, must evaluate expected carcass quality using a combination of carcass maturity and palatability traits of the beef cuts. Such an evaluation method of the carcass shall include, but not be limited to, an evaluation of the maturity characteristics of colour and texture of the longissimus dorsi muscle and bone and cartilage ossification, as well as an evaluation of expected palatability traits including a combination of the discrete specifications of intramuscular fat and firmness of the longissimus dorsi muscle.4.The cuts shall be labelled in accordance with Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilOJ L 204, 11.8.2000, p. 1..5.The indication "High Quality Beef" may be added to the information on the label.ANNEX III