(1)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1237 (3) supplements Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 with regard to the system of licences for agricultural products including the list of products subject to the presentation of an import or export licence.

(2)

Article 2(2), point (a), of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1237 in conjunction with its Annex, Part II, point A, provides for a licence obligation for exports of ‘husked (brown) rice’ falling within CN code 1006 20 and ‘semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed’ falling within CN code 1006 30.

(3)

Currently, effective export monitoring can be carried out through other means. In the interest of simplification and for the purpose of alleviating the administrative burden for Member States and operators, the obligation of export licences for husked (brown) rice and semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed should be abolished.

(4)

For the sake of clarity it is appropriate to lay down rules concerning the export licences issued for husked (brown) rice and for semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed for which the export licence obligation is abolished by this Regulation and which are still valid on the date of application of this Regulation.

(5)

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1237 should therefore be amended accordingly,

(a)

the validity of the licence has not expired on the date of entry into force of this Regulation;

(b)

the licence has been used partially or has not been used at all on the date of entry into force of this Regulation.