(1)

Regulation (EC) No 3223/94 lays down, pursuant to the outcome of the Uruguay Round multilateral trade negotiations, the criteria whereby the Commission fixes the standard values for imports from third countries, in respect of the products and periods stipulated in the Annex thereto.

(2)

In compliance with the above criteria, the standard import values must be fixed at the levels set out in the Annex to this Regulation,

(1)

Under Article 12(3) of Regulation (EEC) No 404/93, compensatory aid to Community producers for any loss of income is calculated on the basis of the difference between the flat-rate reference income and the average production income from bananas produced and marketed in the Community during the year in question.

(2)

As from 1 January 2007, Regulation (EEC) No 404/93 as amended by Regulation (EC) No 2013/2006 no longer provides for the compensatory aid scheme for bananas. However, pursuant to the second indent of Article 4(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2013/2006, Article 12 of Regulation (EEC) No 404/93 continues to apply in respect of the compensatory aid scheme for 2006.

(3)

Article 2(2) of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1858/93 of 9 July 1993 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EEC) No 404/93 as regards the aid scheme to compensate for loss of income from marketing in the banana sector (2) fixes the flat-rate reference income at EUR 64,03 per 100 kilograms net weight of green bananas ex-packing shed.

(4)

In 2006, the average production income, calculated on the basis of the average of the prices for bananas marketed outside the producer regions at the stage of delivery at first port of unloading (goods not unloaded), on the one hand, and the selling prices on local markets for bananas marketed in their producer region, on the other, less the flat-rate amounts laid down in Article 3(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 1858/93, was less than the flat-rate reference income fixed for 2006. The compensatory aid to be granted in respect of 2006 should be fixed accordingly.

(5)

Under the second subparagraph of Article 12(6) of Regulation (EEC) No 404/93, supplementary aid is granted in one or more producer regions where the average income from production is significantly lower than the average for the Community.

(6)

The annual average production income from the marketing of bananas produced in Martinique, Guadeloupe and Crete and Lakonia has proved to be significantly lower than the Community average during 2006. As a result, supplementary aid should be granted in the producer regions of Martinique, Guadeloupe and Crete and Lakonia. In view of the data for 2006, which point to difficult marketing conditions, supplementary aid covering 75 % of the difference between the average income in the Community and the average income recorded on selling products in those regions should be fixed.

(7)

Given that not all the necessary data were available, it has not hitherto been possible to determine the compensatory aid for 2006. Provision should be made for the balance of the aid for 2006 to be paid within two months of the entry into force of this Regulation.

(8)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables,

(1)

Article 10(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 states that the import duty on products falling within CN codes 1001 10 00, 1001 90 91, ex 1001 90 99 (high quality common wheat), 1002, ex 1005 other than hybrid seed, and ex 1007 other than hybrids for sowing, is to be equal to the intervention price valid for such products on importation and increased by 55 %, minus the cif import price applicable to the consignment in question. However, that duty may not exceed the rate of duty in the Common Customs Tariff.

(2)

Article 10(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 lays down that, for the purposes of calculating the import duty referred to in paragraph 2 of that Article, representative cif import prices are to be established on a regular basis for the products in question.

(3)

Under Article 2(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1249/96, the price to be used for the calculation of the import duty on products of CN codes 1001 10 00, 1001 90 91, ex 1001 90 99 (high quality common wheat), 1002 00, 1005 10 90, 1005 90 00 and 1007 00 90 is the daily cif representative import price determined as specified in Article 4 of that Regulation.

(4)

Import duties should be fixed for the period from 1 May 2007, and should apply until new import duties are fixed and enter into force,

(1)

Pursuant to Article 3(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2535/2001 (2), import licences shall only be valid for the product code shown on it. Imports under quotas may experience difficulties where allocation coefficients are reducing the quantities for each product code for which licence applications have been lodged. To facilitate trade and to optimise the use of the import quotas it is appropriate that import licences are also valid for other product codes falling under the same quota number, provided they are submitted to an equal import duty. Since the current provisions may result in quantities of import licences issued in January 2007 not being used, it is appropriate to provide for a retroactive application of the new provisions.

(2)

The Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products (3), approved by Decision 2002/309/EC, Euratom, of the Council and of the Commission (4) (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Agreement with Switzerland’), includes the opening of quotas and reductions in customs duties on certain milk products originating in Switzerland. In its Annex 3, relating to concessions regarding cheeses, point 1 provides for the full liberalisation of the bilateral trade in cheeses as from 1 June 2007, after a five-year transition process.

(3)

The objective of the Agreement with Switzerland is to strengthen the free-trade relations between the Parties by gradually eliminating the barriers affecting the bulk of their trade. Bilateral trade in cheese will no longer be submitted to any quotas as from 1 June 2007. Therefore, and since the trade in cheeses between the Community and Switzerland relates to important quantities and a high commercial value, it is appropriate to reduce substantially the security on the import licences for cheese originating in Switzerland.

(4)

Following the adoption of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1719/2005 of 27 October 2005 amending Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff (5), CN codes 0406 90 02 to 0406 90 06 have been deleted. Article 4(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2535/2001 has therefore become redundant and should be also deleted.

(5)

Annex II to the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Republic of Iceland concerning additional trade preferences in agricultural products undertaken on the basis of Article 19 of the Agreement on the European Economic Area (6), approved by Council Decision 2007/138/EC (7), provides for the opening of an annual tariff quota for certain dairy products. Chapter I of Title 2 of Regulation (EC) No 2535/2001 and Annex I thereto should be adapted accordingly.

(6)

Regulation (EC) No 2535/2001 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(7)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products,

1.

In Article 3(2), the following subparagraph is added:

‘However, where licences are issued under import tariff quotas referred to in Chapter I and Section 2 of Chapter III of Title 2, they shall be valid for all the CN codes falling under the same quota number, provided that the import duty applied is identical.’

2.

In Article 4, paragraph 3 is deleted.

3.

Article 5 is amended as follows:

4.

In Article 13(2), the second subparagraph is replaced by the following:

‘However, in the case of the quotas referred to in Article 5(c) to (f), (h) and (i), licence applications shall relate to at least 10 tonnes and no more than the quantity available for each period.’

5.

In Article 19 the following point (h) is added:

6.

Article 20 is amended as follows:

7.

Annex I is amended as follows:

8.

Annex II.D is replaced by the text in Annex III to this Regulation.

(1)

Commission Decision 2004/210/EC (1) provides for the establishment of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (the SCCP), the Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (the SCHER), and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (the SCENIHR) (the Scientific Committees). The Scientific Committees are composed of members appointed by the Commission.

(2)

Under Article 7(1) of that Decision, the term of office of members of the Scientific Committees is limited to three years and the term of office of current members is due to expire on 24 July 2007.

(3)

New developments are expected over the next two years which will have significant consequences for the Commission needs for scientific advice on risk assessment and for the structure and competences of the Scientific Committees. In particular, the establishment in 2008 of the European Chemical Agency (ECHA), implementing the Registration, Evaluation Authorisation and Restrictions of Chemicals (REACH) under Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2), will require a redefinition of the tasks of SCHER.

(4)

In order to obtain a better view of the future tasks for the Scientific Committees and to prepare for a scientific advice structure and composition better adapted to future needs, while ensuring the provision of necessary scientific advice until the establishment of the ECHA, it is appropriate to permit the prolongation of the term of office of the members of the Scientific Committees, in exceptional circumstances, by a period not exceeding 18 months.

(5)

In addition, it also appropriate to provide for the possibility to appoint new members to the Scientific Committees following the publication of a call for expression of interest, if the necessary expertise is not available among members on the reserve list.

(6)

It is urgent, in the light of operational experience and in order to cover immediate needs, to increase the number of members of the SCENIHR.

(7)

Decision 2004/210/EC should therefore be amended accordingly,

1.

in Article 3, paragraph 2, the first sentence is replaced by the following:

‘The SCENIHR shall consist of a maximum of 17 members’.

2.

Article 7 is replaced by the following:

(1)

Commission Decision 2007/30/EC of 22 December 2006 laying down transitional measures for the marketing of certain products of animal origin obtained in establishments in Bulgaria and Romania (1) provides for certain transitional measures for products of animal origin falling within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin (2) and obtained in establishments in Bulgaria and Romania until 31 December 2006.

(2)

Bulgaria has now requested the possibility to export to third countries certain milk products obtained in establishments in that Member State before 31 December 2006 which fall within the scope of Decision 2007/30/EC.

(3)

This request can be granted under the conditions of Article 12(1) of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3). In this framework, Bulgaria has provided the necessary information on the agreement of the countries of destination.

(4)

Decision 2007/30/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(5)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

(1)

The model certificate for intra-Community trade in live bees (Apis mellifera) is laid down in Part 2 of Annex E to Directive 92/65/EEC. In this health certificate, there are no animal health requirements as regards the small hive beetle (Aethina tumida) or the Tropilaelaps mite (Tropilaelaps spp.), as these infestations have never been recorded in the Community.

(2)

However, to reflect the potential threat of these pests, their presence is now subject to a compulsory OIE (International Office of Epizootic Diseases) notification and protection measures on the importation of live bees from third countries have been laid down in Commission Decision 2003/881/EC (2).

(3)

Despite these measures, should these pests be introduced into the Community, it is important that additional precautionary measures are in place to limit the spread of the disease throughout the Community. It is therefore opportune to review the certificate for intra-Community trade of live bees and bumble bees in order to introduce animal health requirements concerning the small hive beetle and the Tropilaelaps mite infestations.

(4)

These requirements should be aimed at limiting the movements of live bees (Apis mellifera) and bumble bees (Bombus spp.) from infected areas. Taking into account the capacity of the small hive beetle and the Tropilaelaps mite to spread quickly, the area to consider under restriction in the case of an outbreak of this disease should be at least 100 kilometres around the infected premises.

(5)

In addition, the Trade Control and Expert System (Traces), an integrated computerised veterinary system, was established in accordance with Commission Decision 2003/623/EC (3). For Traces to work as effectively as possible, the models for the certificates for intra-Community trade should be compatible with this electronic system.

(6)

Therefore, the health certificates in Annex E to Directive 92/65/EEC should be amended in order to facilitate the operation of Traces, and the health certificate in Part 2 of Annex E should, in addition, be modified to include the additional health measures for the trade in live bees and bumble bees.

(7)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

(1)

The terms of office of Mr Jörg PIRRUNG, Mr Hubert LEGAL, Mr John D. COOKE, Mr Rafael GARCÍA-VALDECASAS, Mr Nicholas James FORWOOD, Ms Ena CREMONA, Ms Irena PELIKÁNOVÁ, Mr Vilenas VADAPALAS, Ms Ingrīda LABUCKA, Mr Enzo MOAVERO MILANESI, Mr Nils WAHL, Mr Miro PREK and Mr Theodore CHIPEV, as judges at the Court of First Instance of the European Communities are due to end on 31 August 2007.

(2)

The membership of the Court of First Instance of the European Communities should be renewed in part for the period from 1 September 2007 to 31 August 2013. However, in the absence of a proposal, the appointment of one judge cannot take place until a later date,

Mr Theodore CHIPEV

Mr John D. COOKE

Ms Ena CREMONA

Mr Alfred DITTRICH

Mr Nicholas James FORWOOD

Ms Ingrīda LABUCKA

Mr Enzo MOAVERO MILANESI

Ms Irena PELIKÁNOVÁ

Mr Miro PREK

Mr Laurent TRUCHOT

Mr Vilenas VADAPALAS

Mr Nils WAHL