(1)

Article 3(1) and (2) of Protocol No 1 (3) to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part (4), opens a tariff quota at a zero rate of duty for imports of untreated olive oil falling within CN codes 1509 10 10 and 1509 10 90, wholly obtained in Tunisia and transported direct from that country to the European Union, up to the limit laid down for each year.

(2)

Article 2(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1918/2006 of 20 December 2006 opening and providing for the administration of tariff quota for olive oil originating in Tunisia (5) lays down monthly quantitative limits for the issue of import licences.

(3)

Import licence applications have been submitted to the competent authorities under Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1918/2006 in respect of a total quantity exceeding the limit laid down for the month of February in Article 2(2) of that Regulation.

(4)

In these circumstances, the Commission must set an allocation coefficient allowing import licences to be issued in proportion to the quantity available.

(5)

Since the limit for the month of February has been reached, no more import licences can be issued for that month,