1.   For the purposes of this Regulation, an A-product shall mean a processed product falling within CN code 1602 10, 1602 50 31, 1602 50 39 or 1602 50 80, not containing meat other than that of animals of the bovine species, with a collagen/protein ratio of no more than 0,45 and containing by weight at least 20 % of lean meat excluding offal and fat with meat and jelly accounting for at least 85 % of the total net weight.

The collagen content shall be considered to be the hydroxyproline content multiplied by the factor 8. The hydroxyproline content shall be determined according to ISO method 3496-1994.

The lean bovine meat content excluding fat shall be determined in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Annex to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2429/86 (11).

Offal includes the following: heads and cuts thereof (including ears), feet, tails, hearts, udders, livers, kidneys, sweetbreads (thymus glands), pancreas, brains, lungs, throats, thick skirts, spleens, tongues, caul, spinal cords, edible skin, reproductive organs (i.e. uteri, ovaries and testes), thyroid glands, pituitary glands.

The product shall be subjected to a heat treatment sufficient to ensure the coagulation of meat proteins in the whole of the product which may not show any traces of a pinkish liquid on the cut surface when the product is cut along a line passing through its thickest part.

2.   For the purposes of this Regulation, a B-product shall mean a processed product containing beef, other than:

However, a processed product falling within CN code 0210 20 90 which has been dried or smoked so that the colour and consistency of the fresh meat has totally disappeared and with a water/protein ratio not exceeding 3:2 shall be considered to be a B-product.

1.   The overall quantity referred to in Article 1 shall be divided into two quantities:

2.   The quota shall bear the following order numbers:

3.   The customs import duties to apply on frozen beef under the quota are set out in Annex I.

1.   The quota shall be managed by attributing import rights as a first step and issuing import licences as a second.

2.   Regulations (EC) No 1445/95, (EC) No 1291/2000 and (EC) No 1301/2006 shall apply, save as otherwise provided for in this Regulation.

1.   By way of derogation from Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006, instead of engagement in trade with third countries as referred to in that Article, the applicants for import rights shall prove that they are approved as processing establishments under Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 and shall demonstrate that they have been active in production of processed products containing beef during each of the two reference periods referred to in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006.

Processing establishments in Bulgaria and Romania that were approved under Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 to export to the Community before 31 December 2006 and which have been active in production of processed products containing beef during each of the two reference periods referred to in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 may apply for import rights under the quota.

An application for import rights may not exceed 10 % of each quantity referred to in Article 3(1).

2.   The evidence of compliance with the conditions laid down in paragraph 1 shall be submitted together with the application for import rights.

By way of derogation from the second paragraph of Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006, the competent national authority shall decide what is acceptable documentary evidence of compliance with those conditions.

1.   Each application for import rights for production of A-products or B-products shall be expressed in bone-in equivalence.

For the purpose of this paragraph 100 kilograms of bone-in beef equals 77 kilograms of boneless beef.

2.   Applications for import rights for production of either A-products or B-products shall be lodged no later than 13.00, Brussels time, on 8 June 2007.

3.   A security of EUR 6 per 100 kg shall be lodged together with the application for import rights.

4.   No later than 13.00, Brussels time, on the second Friday following the end of the period for the submission of applications referred to in paragraph 2, Member States shall notify the Commission of the total quantities applied for under each of the two categories of products.

1.   Import rights shall be awarded as from the 7th and no later than the 16th working day following the end of the period for the notifications referred to in Article 6(4).

2.   If application of the allocation coefficient referred to in Article 7(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 results in fewer import rights to be allocated than had been applied for, the security lodged in accordance with Article 6(3) of this Regulation shall be released proportionally without delay.

1.   The release into free circulation of the quantities awarded under the quota is subject to the presentation of an import licence.

2.   Import licence applications shall cover the total quantity allocated. This obligation shall constitute a primary requirement within the meaning of Article 20(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 2220/85.

1.   Licence applications may be lodged solely in the Member State where the applicant has applied and obtained import rights under the quota.

Each issuing of import licence shall result in a corresponding reduction of the import rights obtained and the security lodged in accordance with Article 6(3) shall be released proportionally without delay.

2.   Import licences shall be issued in the name of the operator who has obtained the import rights.

3.   The licence application and the licence shall contain the following information:

4.   Import licences shall be valid for 120 days from the actual date of issue within the meaning of Article 23(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000.

1.   A security shall be lodged with the competent authority at the time of import ensuring that the processor having been allocated import rights processes the entire quantity of meat imported into the required finished products in his establishment specified in the licence application, within three months of the day of import.

The amounts of the security are fixed in Annex III.

2.   The security referred to in paragraph 1 shall be released in proportion to the quantity for which, within seven months of the day of import, proof has been furnished to the satisfaction of the competent authority that all or part of the imported meat has been processed into the relevant products within three months following the day of import in the designated establishment.

However, if processing took place after the three-month time limit referred to in the first subparagraph, the security shall be released minus a 15 % reduction plus 2 % of the remaining amount for each day by which the time limit has been exceeded.

If proof of processing is established within the seven-month time limit referred to in the first subparagraph and produced within 18 months following those seven months, the amount forfeited, less 15 % of the security amount, shall be repaid.

3.   The amount not released of the security referred to in paragraph 1 shall be forfeited.