(1)

By Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1044/2012 (3), the Commission granted Guatemala a derogation from the rules of origin laid down in Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 allowing it to consider certain processed fishery products produced in Guatemala from non-originating fish as originating in Guatemala. This derogation expired on 30 June 2013.

(2)

By letter dated 27 May 2013, Guatemala submitted a request for the extension of the derogation. The request is for the extension until 31 December 2013 with respect to 987,5 tonnes of cooked, frozen and vacuum-packed tuna fillets known as ‘loins’ (hereafter ‘tuna loins’) of CN code 1604 14 16. By letters dated 17 and 29 July 2013, Guatemala submitted additional information in support of that request.

(3)

The request demonstrates that the time covered by the said derogation was insufficient for Guatemala to secure adequate flows of originating tuna to the country.

(4)

The extension of the derogation is therefore required in order to give Guatemala sufficient time to prepare its fish processing industry to comply with the rules for the acquisition of preferential origin of fish.

(5)

In order to ensure that the temporary derogation is limited to the time needed for Guatemala to achieve compliance with the rules for the acquisition of preferential origin of tuna loins, the derogation should be granted from 1 July 2013 to 31 December 2013.

(6)

In order to ensure the continuity of exports of the fish eligible for preferential tariff treatment from Guatemala to the Union, the derogation should be granted with retroactive effect from 1 July 2013.

(7)

Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1044/2012 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(8)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Customs Code Committee,

(1)

Article 2 is replaced by the following:

(2)

The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1044/2012 is replaced by the text set out in the Annex to this Regulation.