WRITTEN QUESTION E-0606/02

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 March 2002)

Subject: Tuna steaks

On the basis of a study of the demand for tuna steak supplies which assessed the supply of tuna steaks to the Community market in the short and medium term, the Commission decided to open an annual quota of 4 000 tonnes at a 6 % preferential rate of duty for the period 2001 to 2003, within the COM in fisheries and aquaculture products.

Can the Commission provide information on the country or countries of origin and the annual quantities of tuna steak imported from those countries into the EU under this quota?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(17 April 2002)

Within the framework of the management of tariff quotas, the Member States do not inform the Commission of the countries of origin of tariff quotas open indistinctly to all third countries. Indeed, such information is not necessary for the attribution of the quota.

As on 7 March 2002, the quantities imported with the benefit of the autonomous tariff quota for tuna steaks in the periods in question were as follows:

- 2001: 1 796 509 tonnes (last importation declared on 21 December 2001);

- 2002: 442 347 tonnes (last importation declared on 26 February 2002).

Current information on the usage of tariff quotas is publicly available on the website and is updated every day: http://europa.eu.int/comm/taxation_customs/dds/es/home.htm.