(1)

Regulation (EC) No 3223/94 lays down, pursuant to the outcome of the Uruguay Round multilateral trade negotiations, the criteria whereby the Commission fixes the standard values for imports from third countries, in respect of the products and periods stipulated in the Annex thereto.

(2)

In compliance with the above criteria, the standard import values must be fixed at the levels set out in the Annex to this Regulation,

(1)

Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 2247/2003 provides for the possibility of issuing import licences for beef and veal products originating in Botswana, Kenya, Madagascar, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Namibia. However, imports must take place within the limits of the quantities specified for each of these exporting non-member countries.

(2)

The applications for import licences submitted between 1 to 10 June 2005, expressed in terms of boned meat, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 2247/2003, do not exceed, in respect of products originating from Botswana, Kenya, Madagascar, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Namibia, the quantities available from those States. It is therefore possible to issue import licences in respect of the quantities applied for.

(3)

The quantities in respect of which licences may be applied for from 1 July 2005 should be fixed within the scope of the total quantity of 52 100 t.

(4)

This Regulation is without prejudice to Council Directive 72/462/EEC of 12 December 1972 on health and veterinary inspection problems upon importation of bovine, ovine and caprine animals and swine, fresh meat or meat products from third countries (4),

United Kingdom:

Germany:

(1)

Article 2(1) of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2921/90 of 10 October 1990 on aid for the production of casein and caseinates from skimmed milk (2) sets the amount of aid for the production of casein and caseinates from skimmed milk. In view of the development in the price of skimmed milk powder on the internal market and the price of casein and caseinates on the Community and world markets, the amount of the aid should be reduced.

(2)

Regulation (EEC) No 2921/90 should be amended accordingly.

(3)

The Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products has not delivered an opinion within the time-limit set by its chairman,

(1)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 14/2004 of 30 December 2003 establishing the supply balances and Community aid for the supply of certain essential products for human consumption, for processing and as agricultural inputs and for the supply of live animals and eggs to the outermost regions under Council Regulations (EC) No 1452/2001, (EC) No 1453/2001 and (EC) No 1454/2001 (2), establishes forecast supply balances and fixes Community aid.

(2)

Current implementation of the annual supply balances for cereals, vegetable oils and processed fruit and vegetable products and for the supply of live animals for the French overseas departments shows that the quantities set for supplies of the above products are below requirements owing to unexpectedly higher demand.

(3)

There has been special demand for supplies of tinned tomatoes. The quantities of seed potatoes in the supply balance exceed current implementation. In the case of female buffalo, chicks and eggs, certain characteristics of the products to be supplied should be brought into line with the needs that have become apparent on holdings in the French overseas departments.

(4)

The quantities and descriptions of the above products and animals should be brought into line with actual needs in the French overseas departments concerned.

(5)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinions of the Management Committees concerned,

1.

parts 1 to 4 of Annex I are replaced by the text in Annex I hereto;

2.

parts 1, 2 and 4 of Annex II are replaced by the text in Annex II hereto.

(1)

Article 4(1) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1591/2001 of 2 August 2001 laying down detailed rules for applying the cotton aid scheme (3) provides that the amount of aid for unginned cotton applicable for each period for which a world market price for that product has been determined, is to be fixed no later than 30 June of the marketing year concerned.

(2)

In accordance with Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1051/2001, Commission Regulation (EC) No 905/2005 (4) fixes actual production of unginned cotton and the resulting reduction in the guide price for the 2004/05 marketing year.

(3)

In accordance with Article 4(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1051/2001, the world market price for unginned cotton was fixed periodically during the 2004/05 marketing year.

(4)

The amount of aid applicable for each period for which a world market price for unginned cotton has been determined should accordingly be fixed for the 2004/05 marketing year,

(1)

Under Articles 2(2) and 3 of Regulation (EEC) No 4088/87, Community import and producer prices are fixed each fortnight for uniflorous (bloom) carnations, multiflorous (spray) carnations, large-flowered roses and small-flowered roses and apply for two-week periods. Under Article 1(b) of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 700/88 of 17 March 1988 laying down detailed rules for the application of the arrangements for the import into the Community of certain floricultural products originating in Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Morocco and the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (2), those prices are determined for two-week periods on the basis of weighted prices provided by the Member States.

(2)

Those prices should be fixed immediately so the customs duties applicable can be determined.

(3)

Following the accession of Cyprus to the European Union on 1 May 2004, it is no longer necessary to fix import prices for Cyprus.

(4)

Likewise, it is no longer necessary to fix import prices for Israel, Morocco and the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, in order to take account of the agreements approved by Council Decisions 2003/917/EC of 22 December 2003 on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the State of Israel concerning reciprocal liberalisation measures and the replacement of Protocols 1 and 2 to the EC-Israel Association Agreement (3), 2003/914/EC of 22 December 2003 on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Kingdom of Morocco concerning reciprocal liberalisation measures and the replacement of Protocols 1 and 3 to the EC-Morocco Association Agreement (4) and 2005/4/EC of 22 December 2004 on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip concerning reciprocal liberalisation measures and the replacement of Protocols 1 and 2 to the EC-Palestinian Authority Interim Association Agreement (5).

(5)

The Commission must adopt these measures in between the meetings of the Management Committee for Live Plants and Floriculture Products,

(1)

The export refunds on poultrymeat were fixed by Commission Regulation (EC) No 755/2005 (2).

(2)

It follows from applying the criteria referred to in Article 8 of Regulation (EEC) No 2777/75 to the information known to the Commission that the export refunds at present in force should be altered to the amounts set out in the Annex hereto,

(1)

Regulation (EC) No 1372/95 provides for specific measures where applications for export licences concern quantities and/or expenditure which exceed the normal trade patterns or where there is a risk that they will be exceeded, taking account of the limit referred to in Article 8(11) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2777/75 (2), and/or the corresponding expenditure during the period in question.

(2)

Uncertainty is a feature of the market in certain poultrymeat products. The impending adjustment of the refunds applicable to those products has led to the submission of applications for export licences for speculative ends. There is a risk that the issue of licences for the quantities applied for from 13 to 17 June and 20 June 2005 may lead to an overrun in the quantities of the products concerned normally disposed of by way of trade. Applications covering the products concerned in respect of which export licences have not yet been granted should be rejected,

(1)

On the basis of the assessment of the cutaneous toxicities of costus root oil (Saussurea lappa Clarke), 7-Ethoxy-4-methylcoumarin, hexahydrocoumarin and peru balsam (Myroxylon pereirae), the Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products intended for Consumers (SCCNFP) is of the opinion that those substances should not be used as fragrance ingredients in cosmetic products. They should therefore be included in Annex II to Directive 76/768/EEC.

(2)

Azo-dyes CI 12150, CI 20170 and CI 27290 are included in Part 1 of Annex IV to Directive 76/768/EEC as colouring agents which are allowed for use in cosmetic products. The safety of those colorants has been questioned on the ground that they may form carcinogenic amines during metabolism. The SCCNFP is of the opinion, based on the available information, that the use of the colorants CI 12150, CI 20170 and CI 27290 poses a risk to the health of the consumer as they may release one or more carcinogenic aromatic amines. Those colorants should therefore be excluded from Part 1 of Annex IV to Directive 76/768/EEC.

(3)

Benzethonium chloride is included as reference number 53 in Part 1 of Annex VI to Directive 76/768/EEC as a preservative which may be employed in rinse-off cosmetic products up to a concentration of 0,1 %. It is the opinion of the SCCNFP that Benzethonium chloride should also be allowed to be employed in leave-on cosmetic products other than for oral care use up to a concentration of 0,1 %. The entry under the reference number 53 in Part 1 of Annex VI to Directive 76/768/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(4)

The SCCNFP is of the opinion that Methylisothiazolinone does not pose a risk to the health of consumers if employed in finished cosmetic products as a preservative up to a concentration of 0,01 %. Methylisothiazolinone should therefore be included in Part 1 of Annex VI to Directive 76/768/EEC as reference number 57.

(5)

Directive 76/768/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(6)

The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Cosmetic Products,

(1)

On 24 April 2001, Monsanto submitted to the competent authorities of the Netherlands a request, in accordance with Article 4 of the Regulation, for placing on the market foods and food ingredients derived from genetically modified maize line NK 603 as novel foods or as novel food ingredients.

(2)

In their initial assessment report of 5 November 2002, the Netherlands’ competent food assessment body came to the conclusion that foods and food ingredients derived from maize NK 603 are as safe as foods and food ingredients derived from conventional maize and may be used in the same manner.

(3)

The Commission forwarded the initial assessment report to all Member States on 6 January 2003. Within the 60 days period laid down in Article 6(4) of the Regulation, reasoned objections to the marketing of the product were raised in accordance with that provision.

(4)

On 27 August 2003, the Commission requested an opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), in accordance with Article 11 of the Regulation. On 25 November 2003, EFSA delivered its opinion that NK 603 maize is as safe as conventional maize and therefore the placing on the market of NK 603 maize for food or feed or processing is unlikely to have an adverse effect on human and animal health and, in that context, the environment (2). In delivering its opinion, the EFSA considered all specific questions and concerns raised by the Member States.

(5)

Article 46(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 on genetically modified food and feed (3) provides that requests submitted under Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 258/97 before the date of application of this Regulation shall be processed under the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 258/97, notwithstanding Article 38 of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, in cases where the additional assessment report required in accordance with Article 6(3) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97 has been transmitted to the Commission before the date of application of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003.

(6)

The Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC) in collaboration with the European Network of GMO Laboratories (ENGL), has validated a method for detection of the NK 603 maize. The JRC has carried out a full validation study (ring-trial) following internationally accepted guidelines to test the performance of a quantitative event-specific method to detect and quantify the NK 603 transformation event in maize. The materials needed in the study had been provided by Monsanto. The JRC has considered that the method performance was appropriate for its aimed purpose, taken into account the performance criteria proposed by the ENGL for methods submitted for regulatory compliance as well as the current scientific understanding about satisfactory method performance. Both the method and the results of the validation have been made publicly available.

(7)

Reference material for maize from genetically modified maize line NK 603 has been produced by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission.

(8)

Food and food ingredients from genetically modified maize line NK 603 should be labelled in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 and should be subject to the traceability requirements laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1830/2003 concerning the traceability and labelling of genetically modified organisms and the traceability of food and feed products produced from genetically modified organisms and amending Directive 2001/18/EC (4).

(9)

In accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 65/2004 (5), a unique identifier has been assigned to the product for the purposes of Regulation (EC) No 1830/2003.

(10)

Information, contained in the Annex, on the identification of foods and food ingredients derived from genetically modified maize line NK 603, including the validated detection method and the reference material, should be retrievable from the Register referred to in Article 28 of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003.

(11)

The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health has not given an opinion; the Commission has therefore submitted a proposal to the Council on 4 February 2004 pursuant to Article 13(b) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97 and in accordance with Article 5(4) of the Council Decision 1999/468/EC (6), the Council being-required to act within three months.

(12)

However, the Council has not acted within the required time-limit; a Decision should now be adopted by the Commission.

(1)

According to Article 6(2)(b) of Directive 1999/62/EC of 17 June 1999 on the charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructures, Member States may apply reduced rates or exemptions for vehicles which travel only occasionally on the public roads of the Member State of registration and are used by natural or legal persons whose main occupation is not the carriage of goods, provided that the transport operations carried out by these vehicles do not cause distortions of competition. This reduction or exemption is subject to the Commission's agreement.

(2)

France has requested the Commission to agree on the exemption from the vehicle tax according to Directive 1999/62/EC for vehicles of 12 tonnes or more, which are used exclusively in connection with public and industrial works in France.

(3)

The conditions foreseen by Article 6(2)(b) of Directive 1999/62/EC are fulfilled, as these vehicles do not permanently use public roads, as these vehicles are not used to carry goods and furthermore as these vehicles do not cause a distortion of competition because they cannot be used for carriage of any goods other than those permanently installed at the vehicle and used for their own activity.

(4)

The agreement should be given for a limited time.

(5)

The exemption requested by France should therefore be approved,

1.

Self-propelled lifting and handling gear (cranes mounted on road chassis);

2.

Mobile pumps or pumping stations permanently mounted on road chassis;

3.

Mobile motor compressor sets permanently mounted on road chassis;

4.

Concrete mixers and pumps permanently mounted on road chassis (except drum vehicles for transporting concrete);

5.

Mobile generating sets permanently mounted on road chassis;

6.

Mobile drilling machines permanently mounted on road chassis.

(1)

Commission Decision 92/452/EEC of 30 July 1992 establishing lists of embryo collection teams and embryo production teams approved in third countries for export of bovine embryos to the Community (2) provides that Member States are only to import embryos from third countries where they have been collected, processed and stored by embryo collection teams listed in that Decision.

(2)

New Zealand has requested that amendments should be made to the list as regards entries for that country, notably the deletion of seven centres and amendments to the addresses of three centres. Furthermore, New Zealand has changed the lettering in the approval number of centres.

(3)

The United States of America have requested that amendments should be made to the list as regards entries for that country, notably the addition of one centre and amendments to the addresses of three centres.

(4)

New Zealand and the United States of America have provided guarantees regarding compliance with the appropriate rules set out in Directive 89/556/EEC and the embryo collection teams concerned have been officially approved for exports to the Community by the veterinary services of those countries.

(5)

Decision 92/452/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(6)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

(1)

On 24 February 2005 the Council adopted Decision 2005/211/JHA concerning the introduction of some new functions for the Schengen Information System, including in the fight against terrorism (2).

(2)

Pursuant to Article 2(1), (2) and (3) of that Decision, some of its provisions take effect on the dates specified therein.

(3)

It is appropriate for identical provisions of the Council Regulation, to apply from the same dates.

(4)

Article 2(2) of the Council Regulation specifies that the Council Regulation will apply from a date to be fixed by the Council, as soon as the necessary preconditions have been fulfilled, and that the Council may decide to set different dates for the application of different provisions.

(5)

The preconditions referred to in Article 2(2) of the Council Regulation have been fulfilled in respect of Article 1(1), (3), (7) and (8) thereof.

(6)

As regards Iceland and Norway, this Decision constitutes a development of those provisions of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Agreement concluded by the Council of the European Union and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the latters’ association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis (3), which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point G of Council Decision 1999/437/EC of 17 May 1999 on certain arrangements for the application of that Agreement (4).

(7)

As regards Switzerland, this Decision constitutes a development of those provisions of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Agreement signed between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation’s association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis (5), which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point G of Decision 1999/437/EC read in conjunction with Article 4(1) of the Council Decisions of 25 October 2004 on the signing on behalf of the European Union, and on the signing on behalf of the European Community, and on the provisional application of certain provisions of that Agreement (6),