(1)

Regulation (EC) No 1580/2007 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)

Regulation (EC) No 1529/2007 opened an annual import tariff quota for 2008 of 187 000 tonnes of rice, in husked-rice equivalent, originating in States that are part of the Cariforum region (serial number 09.4219), an import tariff quota of 25 000 tonnes of rice, in husked-rice equivalent, originating in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba (serial number 09.4189) and an import tariff quota of 10 000 tonnes of rice, in husked-rice equivalent, originating in the leastdeveloped OCTs (serial number 09.4190).

(2)

For these quotas, provided for in Article 1(1) and 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1529/2007, the second subperiod is the month of May.

(3)

The information provided in accordance with Article 6(a) of Regulation (EC) No 1529/2007 shows that in the case of the quota with serial number 09.4219 applications lodged during the first seven days of May 2008 in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 2(1) of that Regulation cover a quantity in husked-rice equivalent greater than the quantity available. The extent to which import licences may be issued should therefore be determined by establishing the allocation coefficient to be applied to the quantities requested under the quota in question.

(4)

The above information also shows that in the case of the quotas with serial numbers 09.4189 — 09.4190 applications lodged during the first seven days of May 2008 in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1529/0007 cover a quantity in husked-rice equivalent less than the quantity available.

(5)

In accordance with Article 4(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2021/2006, the quantities available for the next subperiod should therefore be laid down,

(1)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 581/2004 of 26 March 2004 opening a standing invitation to tender for export refunds concerning certain types of butter (2) provides for a permanent tender.

(2)

Pursuant to Article 5 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 580/2004 of 26 March 2004 establishing a tender procedure concerning export refunds for certain milk products (3) and following an examination of the tenders submitted in response to the invitation to tender, it is appropriate not to grant any refund for the tendering period ending on 20 May 2008.

(3)

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

(1)

Article 13(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2759/75 provides that the difference between prices on the world market for the products listed in Article 1 of that Regulation and prices for these products within the Community may be covered by an export refund.

(2)

Given the present situation in the market in pigmeat, export refunds should therefore be fixed in accordance with the rules and criteria provided for in Article 13 of Regulation (EEC) No 2759/75.

(3)

Article 13(3) of Regulation (EEC) No 2759/75 provides that the world market situation or the specific requirements of certain markets may make it necessary to vary the refund on the products listed in Article 1 of Regulation (EEC) No 2759/75 according to destination.

(4)

Refunds should be granted only on products that are allowed to move freely in the Community and that bear the health mark as provided for in Article 5(1)(a) 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). Those products should also comply with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs (3) and of Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific rules for the organisation of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption (4).

(5)

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

(1)

The representative prices and additional duties applicable to imports of white sugar, raw sugar and certain syrups for the 2007/08 marketing year are fixed by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1109/2007 (3). These prices and duties have been last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 398/2008 (4).

(2)

The data currently available to the Commission indicate that the said amounts should be changed in accordance with the rules and procedures laid down in Regulation (EC) No 951/2006,

(1)

Council Regulation (EC) No 41/2007 (2), fixed the amount of bluefin tuna which could be fished in 2007 in the Atlantic Ocean, east of longitude 45° W, and the Mediterranean sea by Community fishing vessels.

(2)

France and Italy overfished their bluefin tuna quotas in 2007.

(3)

On the basis of the exhaustion of the Community share, fishing for bluefin tuna by vessels flying the flag of or registered in Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Malta or Portugal was prohibited by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1073/2007 (3).

(4)

Regulation (EC) No 1073/2007 entered into force before Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Malta and Portugal had exhausted their quotas. The quotas which could not be used by those Member States in 2007 amounted to 438,6 tonnes.

(5)

Council Regulation (EC) No 40/2008 (4), fixes the amount of bluefin tuna which may be fished in 2008 in the areas concerned.

(6)

It is appropriate to make deductions from the 2008 bluefin tuna quotas of France and Italy and to allocate the amounts deducted, as appropriate, to the Member States whose fishing activities were halted before their quotas were exhausted.

(7)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture,

(1)

Article 4(3) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 883/2006 (2) provides that the summary of data (T103) provided for in paragraph 2(b) of that Article must also be sent to the Commission on paper. In view of developments in the procedures for the communication of information between the Member States and the Commission and the introduction of a single portal for operators to access the secure electronic systems used for the financing of the common agricultural policy, the requirement to send on paper is no longer necessary and may thus be abolished, especially in view of the administrative burden which it entails.

(2)

Article 150(3) of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (3) has been amended and now allows routine management expenditure for the EAGF to be committed in advance against the appropriations provided for the following financial year, up to a maximum of three quarters of the total corresponding appropriations for the current financial year. To take account of these new conditions applicable to advance commitments, Article 8(3) of Regulation (EC) No 883/2006 should be amended.

(3)

In the case of the direct payments to be made from the 2007 financial year onwards, the amounts corresponding to the dairy premiums and the additional payments as referred to in Articles 95 and 96 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 (4) to be granted to beneficiaries are included in the single payment scheme in accordance with Article 47(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003. Also, Commission Regulation (EC) No 188/2005 of 3 February 2005 laying down detailed rules for the application of the aid scheme for the meat sector in the outermost regions (5) has been repealed by Commission Regulation (EC) No 793/2006 (6). As a result, the amounts relating to the measures referred to above no longer have to be taken into account in calculating the ceiling on direct payments as provided for in Article 9(2)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 883/2006. However, that calculation must be adapted to take account of the provisions on voluntary modulation introduced by Council Regulation (EC) No 378/2007 of 27 March 2007 laying down rules for voluntary modulation of direct payments provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005 (7).

(4)

Regulation (EC) No 883/2006 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(5)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on the Agricultural Funds,

1.

Article 4(3) is deleted;

2.

Article 8(3) is replaced by the following:

3.

Article 9(2)(b) is replaced by the following:

(1)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1484/95 (4), fixes detailed rules for implementing the system of additional import duties and fixes representative prices in the poultrymeat and egg sectors and for egg albumin.

(2)

It results from regular monitoring of the information providing the basis for the verification of the import prices in the poultrymeat and egg sectors and for egg albumin that the representative prices for imports of certain products should be amended taking into account variations of prices according to origin. Therefore, representative prices should be published.

(3)

It is necessary to apply this amendment as soon as possible, given the situation on the market.

(4)

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