(1)

Following the Agreement on Agriculture (2) concluded during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations, the Community undertook to open, as from the 1995/96 marketing year, quotas for imports into Portugal of 500 000 tonnes of maize and into Spain of 2 000 000 tonnes of maize and 300 000 tonnes of sorghum respectively.

(2)

The conditions for the administration of those quotas have been established by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1839/95 (3). In the light of the experience gained from the application of that Regulation, it appears necessary to simplify and clarify the administration of the quotas in question.

(3)

It is in the interest of Community operators to ensure an adequate supply of the products concerned on the Community market at stable prices whilst avoiding unnecessary and excessive risks or even market disruptions in the form of severe price fluctuations. The Commission, taking account of the evolving international markets, the supply conditions in Spain and Portugal, and the Community’s international commitments, should decide whether a reduction to the applicable import duties fixed in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 1249/96 of 28 June 1996 on rules of application (cereal sector import duties) for Council Regulation (EEC) 1766/92 (4) are required to ensure that the import quotas for the products concerned are filled.

(4)

Regulation (EC) No 1839/95 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(5)

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