Canary Islands: autonomous tariff quotas on imports of certain fishery products 2007-2013

PURPOSE: to suspend Common Customs Tariff duties on certain fishery products intended for domestic consumption in the Canary Islands: 2007-2013.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation.

BACKGROUND: due to the geographical location of the Canary Islands, the sourcing of certain fishery products intended for domestic consumption can entail considerable extra costs. In order to lessen the impact of the Canary Islands’ geographical handicap, the Community has suspended, either partially or in full, the Common Customs Tariff duties on imports of certain fishery products into the Canary Islands. This measure is based on Article 299 (2) of the EC Treaty, which provides for specific measures to assist the Community’s outermost regions. The measure is also in line with the EU’s commitment to reduce, and possibly eliminate, common customs tariff duties to allow for the supply of non-agricultural raw material to the outermost regions.

In 2004 and 2006, the Spanish authorities submitted reports to the Commission on the implementation of these measures and requested the extension of these measures to cover the 2007-2013 period. Having examined the reports in considerable detail the Commission has concluded that similar tariff quotas are indeed warranted given that they cover the needs of the Canary Islands’ domestic market, whilst at the same time ensuring that reduced-duty imports into the Community remain predictable and clearly identifiable. Further given that previous quotas have not been exhausted, the new quotas should be set at a lower level.

CONTENT: the Commission therefore proposes that, from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013, the Common Customs Tariff duties that apply to imports into the Canary Island of certain fishery products, will be suspended in full. The list of fish products, as well as the quantities that apply to the proposed Regulation, are listed in Annex. The proposed Regulation will apply exclusively to products intended for the Canary Islands’ domestic market only. Further, the Regulation will apply only to those products which are unloaded from ship or aircraft before the customs declaration for release is submitted to the authorities in the Canary Islands. Provision is also made for regular reports on the Regulation’s implementation. The proposal reserves the right of the Commission to suspend the Regulation, if it has reason to believe that the provisions are being abused.