PURPOSE : to amend Regulation 1785/2003/EC as regards the arrangements for importing rice.

LEGISLATIVE ACT : Council Regulation 797/2006/EC.

CONTENT : th e Council adopted a regulation amending regulation 1785/2003/EC as regards the arrangements for importing rice by incorporating amendments to the arrangements applicable to imports of rice which result from agreements reached by the Community with India, Pakistan, the United States and Thailand.

- Under agreements between the EU and India (Council decision 2004/617/EC) and Pakistan (Council decision 2004/618/EC), the duty applicable to imports of husked rice of certain Basmati varieties originating in India and in Pakistan is fixed at zero.

- The agreement between the EU and United States (Council decision 2005/476/EC) lays down a mechanism for calculating and fixing at regular intervals the duty applicable to imports of husked rice falling within CN code 1006 20.

- The agreement between the EC and Thailand (Council decision 2005/953/EC) lays down a mechanism for calculating and fixing at regular intervals the duty applicable to imports of semi-milled and milled rice falling within CN code 1006 30, and fixes the duty applicable to imports of broken rice falling within CN code 1006 40 00 at EUR 65 per tonne.

ENTRY INTO FORCE : 03/06/2006. The regulation will apply from 1 July 2006.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Joseph DAUL (EPP-ED, FR), and approved the Commission’s proposal.

The committee adopted the report by its chair, Joseph DAUL (EPP-ED, FR), approving unamended - under the consultation procedure - the proposed regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003 as regards the arrangements for importing rice.

PURPOSE: to amend Regulation 1785/2003/EC on the common organisation of the market in rice as regards arrangements for the import of this product.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation.

CONTENT: in June 2003, the Commission was authorised by the Council to notify the WTO of the EU’s intention to modify concessions on the import of two types of rice, namely husked rice and milled rice. Following this notification, the Commission negotiated agreements with those countries principally affected by these two types of rice. Accordingly, India, Pakistan, the United States and Thailand signed Agreements with the EU. The Agreements, in the form of Council Decisions, lay down the conditions for fixing import duties in line with the nature of the product and the quantities imported. In signing these Agreements the Commission has had to derogate form Regulation 1785/2003/EC on the common organisation of the market in rice for a transitional period only – i.e. 30 June 2006. The purpose of this proposal, therefore, is to incorporate the Agreements into Regulation 1785/2003 in the form of amendments before the transitional period runs out in June 2006.

The proposal includes provisions on the import duty of both husked rice, semi-milled or wholly milled rice and broken rice. It also sets out the quantities to be imported depending on which CN code they fall under. Finally, the proposed Regulation includes a new Article on husked Basmati rice, certain types of which should qualify for a zero rate of import duty.

PURPOSE: to amend Regulation 1785/2003/EC on the common organisation of the market in rice as regards arrangements for the import of this product.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation.

CONTENT: in June 2003, the Commission was authorised by the Council to notify the WTO of the EU’s intention to modify concessions on the import of two types of rice, namely husked rice and milled rice. Following this notification, the Commission negotiated agreements with those countries principally affected by these two types of rice. Accordingly, India, Pakistan, the United States and Thailand signed Agreements with the EU. The Agreements, in the form of Council Decisions, lay down the conditions for fixing import duties in line with the nature of the product and the quantities imported. In signing these Agreements the Commission has had to derogate form Regulation 1785/2003/EC on the common organisation of the market in rice for a transitional period only – i.e. 30 June 2006. The purpose of this proposal, therefore, is to incorporate the Agreements into Regulation 1785/2003 in the form of amendments before the transitional period runs out in June 2006.

The proposal includes provisions on the import duty of both husked rice, semi-milled or wholly milled rice and broken rice. It also sets out the quantities to be imported depending on which CN code they fall under. Finally, the proposed Regulation includes a new Article on husked Basmati rice, certain types of which should qualify for a zero rate of import duty.