(1)

Protocol 2 to the bilateral Free Trade Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Norway (3), and Protocol No 3 to the EEA Agreement (4), determine the trade arrangements for certain agricultural and processed agricultural products between the contracting parties.

(2)

Protocol 3 to the EEA Agreement, as amended by Decision No 138/2004 of the EEA Joint Committee (5), provides for a zero duty applying to certain waters containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or flavoured, classified under CN code 2202 10 00 and certain other non-alcoholic beverages containing sugar, classified under CN code ex 2202 90 10.

(3)

The zero duty for the waters and other beverages in question has been temporarily suspended for Norway by the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Kingdom of Norway on Protocol No 2 to the bilateral Free Trade Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Norway (6), hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’, approved by Decision 2004/859/EC. According to point IV of the Agreed Minutes of the Agreement, duty-free imports of goods of the CN codes 2202 10 00 and ex 2202 90 10 originating in Norway are to be permitted only within the limits of a duty-free quota while a duty is to be paid for imports outside the quota allocation.

(4)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 93/2008 (7) withdrew the temporary suspension of the duty-free regime for the period 1 January to 31 December 2008 for the importation into the Community of certain goods of the CN codes 2202 10 00 and ex 2202 90 10 originating in Norway.

(5)

It is necessary to open the tariff quota for the year 2009 for the soft drinks in question. The last annual quota for 2007 for the products in question was opened by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1795/2006 (8). No annual quota was opened for 2008. The quota volume for 2009 should therefore remain the same as for 2007.

(6)

Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code (9), lays down rules for the management of tariff quotas. It is appropriate to provide that the tariff quota opened by this Regulation is to be managed in accordance with those rules.

(7)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for horizontal questions concerning trade in processed products not listed in Annex I,