EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1.CONTEXT OF THE DELEGATED ACT
The 2013 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) confirmed that the system of agricultural import and export licences as a tool for monitoring trade flows should continue to apply and as a primarily management requirement (they should be addressed in a flexible way).
Therefore, provisions as regards the general licensing rules were updated following the reform and replaced the previous ones by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1237 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1239.
Among other things, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1237 sets out a list of products with import and / or export licence obligation which includes rice. In addition, the nature and type of information to be notified by the Member States to the Commission is also laid down. In order to keep the ongoing practice [in accordance with Article 16(1)(a)(i) and 16(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1342/2003 which were repealed by Article 11(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1237] and to make use of the data gathered through licences, Regulation (EU) 2016/1237 should set out also the nature and type of information to be notified by the Member States as regards the notifications of the quantities of rice covered by licences.
2.CONSULTATIONS PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OF THE ACT
In the period July 2014 to July 2015, the provisions on import and export licences laid down in at the time existing Commission Regulations and the issues arising from them were discussed extensively with the experts of the Member States and resulted then in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1237 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1239. The current draft Delegated Act is just to put formally in line the existing practice as regards the notifications of the quantities of rice covered by licences.
The Commission discussed the draft Delegated Act with experts nominated by the Member States in the framework of the CMO Expert Group and took account of the views and positions expressed.
The experts of the European Parliament were informed about the discussions and invited to the meetings.
3.LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE DELEGATED ACT
The delegated act supplements Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 as regards the import and export licences. In particular, in accordance with the basic act empowering the Commission to adopt delegated acts as regards the nature and type of information to be notified. (Article 223(2)(a)).
The delegated act confirms the longstanding practice as regards the notifications by the Member States to the Commission as regards quantities of rice covered by licences.
Finally, the delegated act amends the existing Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1237 in this respect.
COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) …/...
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amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1237 as regards the nature and type of information to be notified for licences in the rice sector
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,