Commission Regulation (EC) No 31/2004

of 8 January 2004

on the issue of import licences for high-quality fresh, chilled or frozen beef and veal

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 936/97 of 27 May 1997 opening and providing for the administration of tariff quotas for high-quality fresh, chilled and frozen beef and for frozen buffalo meat(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 649/2003(2),

Whereas:

(1) Regulation (EC) No 936/97 provides in Articles 4 and 5 the conditions for applications and for the issue of import licences for meat referred to in Article 2(f).

(2) Article 2(f) of Regulation (EC) No 936/97 fixes the amount of high-quality fresh, chilled or frozen beef and veal originating in and imported from the United States of America and Canada which may be imported on special terms for the period 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004 at 11500 t.

(3) It should be recalled that licences issued pursuant to this Regulation will, throughout the period of validity, be open for use only in so far as provisions on health protection in force permit,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

1. All applications for import licences from 1 to 5 January 2004 for high-quality fresh, chilled or frozen beef and veal as referred to in Article 2(f) of Regulation (EC) No 936/97 shall be granted in full.

2. Applications for licences may be submitted, in accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 936/97, during the first five days of February 2004 for 5945,337 t.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 9 January 2004.

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

Done at Brussels, 8 January 2004.

For the Commission

J. M. Silva Rodríguez

Agriculture Director-General

(1) OJ L 137, 28.5.1997, p. 10.

(2) OJ L 95, 11.4.2003, p. 13.