5.4.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 96/1

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COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 548/2006

of 4 April 2006

establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 3223/94 of 21 December 1994 on detailed rules for the application of the import arrangements for fruit and vegetables (1), and in particular Article 4(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(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,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The standard import values referred to in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 3223/94 shall be fixed as indicated in the Annex hereto.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 5 April 2006.

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(1)  OJ L 337, 24.12.1994, p. 66. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 386/2005 (OJ L 62, 9.3.2005, p. 3).

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5.4.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 96/3

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COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 549/2006

of 3 April 2006

establishing a prohibition of fishing for Northern prawn in NAFO zone 3L by vessels flying the flag of a Member State other than Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the common fisheries policy (1), and in particular Article 26(4) thereof,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 of 12 October 1993 establishing a control system applicable to common fisheries policy (2), and in particular Article 21(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

Council Regulation (EC) No 51/2006 of 22 December 2005 fixing for 2006 the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in Community waters and for Community vessels, in waters where catch limitations are required (3), lays down quotas for 2006.

(2)	According to the information received by the Commission, catches of the stock referred to in the Annex to this Regulation by vessels flying the flags of or registered in the Member States referred to therein have exhausted the quota allocated for 2006.

(3)	It is therefore necessary to prohibit fishing for that stock and its retention on board, transhipment and landing,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Quota exhaustion

The fishing quota allocated to the Member States referred to in the Annex to this Regulation for the stock referred to therein for 2006 shall be deemed to be exhausted from the date set out in that Annex.

Article 2

Prohibitions

Fishing for the stock referred to in the Annex to this Regulation by vessels flying the flags of or registered in the Member States referred to therein shall be prohibited from the date set out in that Annex. It shall be prohibited to retain on board, tranship or land such stock caught by those vessels after that date.

Article 3

Entry into force

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

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(1)  OJ L 358, 31.12.2002, p. 59.

(2)  OJ L 261, 20.10.1993, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 768/2005 (OJ L 128, 21.5.2005, p. 1).

(3)  OJ L 16, 20.1.2006, p. 1.

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5.4.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 96/5

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COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 550/2006

of 4 April 2006

on granting import licences for cane sugar for the purposes of certain tariff quotas and preferential agreements

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/2001 of 19 June 2001 on the common organisation of the markets in the sugar sector (1),

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1095/96 of 18 June 1996 on the implementation of the concessions set out in Schedule CXL drawn up in the wake of the conclusion of the GATT XXIV.6 negotiations (2),

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1159/2003 of 30 June 2003 laying down detailed rules of application for the 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2005/06 marketing years for the import of cane sugar under certain tariff quotas and preferential agreements and amending Regulations (EC) No 1464/95 and (EC) No 779/96 (3), and in particular Article 5(4) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)	Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1159/2003 lays down detailed rules on determining the delivery obligations at zero duty for products falling within CN code 1701 expressed as white sugar equivalent for imports originating in countries which are parties to the ACP Protocol and the India Agreement.

(2)	The weekly totals referred to in Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1159/2003 show that some sugar is still available for the delivery obligations for preferential sugar originating in Malawi for the 2005/06 delivery period which have already reached their limits.

(3)	Under these circumstances, the Commission must indicate that the limits concerned have not been reached,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The limits for the delivery obligations for preferential sugar originating in Malawi for the 2005/06 delivery period have not yet been reached.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 5 April 2006.

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(1)  OJ L 178, 30.6.2001, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 987/2005 (OJ L 167, 29.6.2005, p. 12).

(2)  OJ L 146, 20.6.1996, p. 1.

(3)  OJ L 162, 1.7.2003, p. 25. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 568/2005 (OJ L 97, 15.4.2005, p. 9).

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5.4.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 96/6

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COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 551/2006

of 4 April 2006

amending the import duties in the cereals sector applicable from 5 April 2006

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 of 29 September 2003 on the common organisation of the market in cereals (1),

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1249/96 of 28 June 1996 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 as regards import duties in the cereals sector (2), and in particular Article 2(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)	The import duties in the cereals sector are fixed by Commission Regulation (EC) No 532/2006 (3).

(2)

Article 2(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1249/96 provides that if during the period of application, the average import duty calculated differs by EUR 5 per tonne from the duty fixed, a corresponding adjustment is to be made. Such a difference has arisen. It is therefore necessary to adjust the import duties fixed in Regulation (EC) No 532/2006,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Annexes I and II to Regulation (EC) No 532/2006 are hereby replaced by Annexes I and II to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 5 April 2006.

It shall apply from 5 April 2006.

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(1)  OJ L 270, 29.9.2003, p. 78. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1154/2005 (OJ L 187, 19.7.2005, p. 11).

(2)  OJ L 161, 29.6.1996, p. 125. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1110/2003 (OJ L 158, 27.6.2003, p. 12).

(3)  OJ L 94, 1.4.2006, p. 3.

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5.4.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 96/9

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Information relating to the entry into force of the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Albania on the readmission of persons residing without authorisation

The Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Albania on the readmission of persons residing without authorisation will enter into force on 1 May 2006, the procedure provided for in Article 22 of the Agreement having been completed on 2 March 2006.

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5.4.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 96/9

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Information concerning the entry into force of the Agreement between the European Community and the Kingdom of Denmark extending to Denmark the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 343/2003 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an asylum application lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national and Council Regulation (EC) No 2725/2000 concerning the establishment of ‘Eurodac’ for the comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of the Dublin Convention

The aforementioned Agreement between the European Community and the Kingdom of Denmark, which the Council concluded on 21 February 2006, entered into force on 1 April 2006, the notifications concerning the completion of the procedures in accordance with Article 11 of the Agreement having been carried out on 23 February 2006.

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5.4.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 96/10

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COMMISSION DECISION

of 3 April 2006

concerning certain protection measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza in Israel and repealing Decision 2006/227/EC

(notified under document number C(2006) 1245)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2006/266/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 15 July 1991 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries and amending Directives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC and 90/675/EEC (1), and in particular Article 18 (1), (6) and (7) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 97/78/EC of 18 December 1997 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries (2), and in particular Article 22(1), (5) and (6) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

Avian influenza is an infectious viral disease in poultry and other birds, causing mortality and disturbances which can quickly take epizootic proportions liable to present a serious threat to animal and public health and to sharply reduce the profitability of poultry farming. There is a risk that the disease agent might be introduced into Member States via international trade in live poultry and certain other birds and products thereof.

(2)	Israel has notified the Commission of outbreaks in poultry of highly pathogenic avian influenza caused by influenza A virus of subtype H5N1.

(3)	Commission Decision 2006/227/EC of 17 March 2006 concerning certain interim protection measures in relation to a suspicion of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Israel (3) was adopted following that notification by Israel.

(4)	In view of the animal health risk of the introduction of the disease into the Community, it is appropriate to suspend imports of live poultry, ratites and farmed and wild feathered game and hatching eggs of those species from Israel.

(5)	As Member States are authorised to import game trophies and eggs for human consumption, imports into the Community of these products should also be suspended because of the animal health risk involved.

(6)

It is also appropriate to suspend the importation into the Community from Israel of fresh meat of poultry, ratites and farmed and wild feathered game and the importation of minced meat, mechanically separated meat, meat preparations and meat products consisting of or containing meat of those species, as well as certain other products of birds.

(7)	It is appropriate to provide for measures that may be applied regarding parts of Israel depending on the epidemiological situation.

(8)	Certain products derived from poultry, ratites and farmed and wild feathered game slaughtered or hunted before 15 February 2006 should continue to be authorised, taking into account the incubation period of the disease.

(9)

Commission Decision 2005/432/EC of 3 June 2005 laying down the animal and public health conditions and model certificates for imports of meat products for human consumption from third countries and repealing Decisions 97/41/EC, 97/221/EC and 97/222/EC (4) lays down the list of third countries from which Member States may authorise the importation of certain meat products and establishes treatment regimes considered effective in inactivating the respective pathogens. In order to prevent the risk of disease transmission via such products, appropriate treatment must be applied depending on the health status of the country of origin and the species the product is obtained from. It appears therefore appropriate, that imports of meat products of poultry, ratites and farmed and wild feathered game originating in Israel and treated to a temperature of at least 70 °C throughout the product should continue to be authorised.

(10)

The conditions for the imports of feathers are laid down in Commission Decision 2006/7/EC of 9 January 2006 concerning certain protection measures in relation to the imports of feathers from certain third countries (5). It is therefore unnecessary to provide for a specific ban on imports of untreated feathers from Israel.

(11)	In the interests of clarity of Community legislation it is appropriate to repeal Decision 2006/227/EC and replace it by the present Decision.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Member States shall suspend imports of:

(a)	live poultry, ratites and farmed and wild feathered game, and hatching eggs of those species coming from the parts of Israel listed in part A of the Annex;

(b)

the following products coming from the parts of Israel listed in part B of the Annex: (i) fresh meat of poultry, ratites and farmed and wild feathered game; (ii) minced meat, mechanically separated meat, meat preparations and meat products consisting of or containing meat referred to in (i); (iii) raw pet food and unprocessed feed material containing any parts of poultry, ratites and farmed and wild feathered game; (iv) eggs for human consumption from poultry, ratites and farmed and wild feathered game, and unpasteurised egg products produced from those eggs; (v) non-treated game trophies from any birds; (vi) unprocessed manure and manure products from any birds.

Article 2

1.   By way of derogation from Article 1(b), Member States shall authorise the importation of the products referred to in point (b)(i), (ii) and (iii) of that Article, which have been obtained from birds slaughtered or hunted before 15 February 2006.

2.   In the veterinary certificates/commercial documents accompanying consignments of the products referred to in Article 1(b) (i), (ii) and (iii), the following words as appropriate to the species shall be included:

3.   By way of derogation from Article 1(b)(ii), Member States shall authorise the importation of meat products consisting of or containing meat of poultry, ratites, farmed or wild feathered game provided that the meat of those species has undergone at least one of the specific treatments referred to under points B, C or D in part 4 of Annex II to Decision 2005/432/EC.

4.   The specific treatment applied in accordance with paragraph 3 of this Article shall be certified by adding the following wording:

(a)	to point 9.1, column B of the animal health attestation in the veterinary certificate, drawn up in accordance with the model set out in Annex III to Decision 2005/432/EC: ‘Meat products treated in accordance with Commission Decision 2006/266/EC.’;

(b)	to point 8.2 to the veterinary certificate, drawn up in accordance with the model set out in Annex IV to Decision 2005/432/EC: ‘Meat products treated in accordance with Commission Decision 2006/266/EC.’

Article 3

Member States shall immediately take the necessary measures to comply with this Decision and publish those measures. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.

Article 4

Decision 2006/227/EC is repealed.

Article 5

This Decision shall apply until 31 July 2006.

Article 6

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

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(1)  OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 56. Directive as last amended by the 2003 Act of Accession.

(2)  OJ L 24, 31.1.1998, p. 9. Directive as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 165, 30.4.2004, p. 1, as corrected by OJ L 191, 28.5.2004, p. 1).

(3)  OJ L 81, 18.3.2006, p. 43.

(4)  OJ L 151, 14.6.2005, p. 3.

(5)  OJ L 5, 10.1.2006, p. 17. Decision as amended by Decision 2006/183/EC (OJ L 65, 7.3.2006, p. 49).

(6)  Delete as appropriate.’

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5.4.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 96/14

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POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE DECISION BiH/8/2006

of 15 March 2006

amending Decision BiH/1/2004 on the acceptance of third States’ contributions to the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Decision BiH/3/2004 on the setting-up of the Committee of Contributors for the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina

(2006/267/CFSP)

THE POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular the third paragraph of Article 25 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)	The Political and Security Committee adopted Decision BiH/1/2004 (1) on 21 September 2004 and Decision BiH/3/2004 (2) on 29 September 2004.

(2)	Following the recommendation of the EU Operation Commander on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's contribution, the European Union Military Committee (EUMC) agreed to recommend the Political and Security Committee to accept the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's contribution.

(3)

In conformity with Article 6 of the Protocol on the position of Denmark annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Denmark does not participate in the elaboration and implementation of decisions and actions of the European Union which have defence implications. Therefore, Denmark does not participate in the financing of the operation.

(4)

The Copenhagen European Council adopted on 12 and 13 December 2002 a Declaration stating that the ‘Berlin plus’ arrangements and the implementation thereof will apply only to those EU Member States which are also either NATO members or parties to the ‘Partnership for Peace’, and which have consequently concluded bilateral security agreements with NATO,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Annex to Decision BiH/1/2004 shall be replaced by the following:

Article 2

The Annex to Decision BiH/3/2004 shall be replaced by the following:

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.

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(1)  OJ L 324, 27.10.2004, p. 20. Decision as amended by Decision BiH/5/2004 (OJ L 357, 2.12.2004, p. 39).

(2)  OJ L 325, 28.10.2004, p. 64. Decision as amended by Decision BiH/5/2004.

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