Trade arrangements applicable to certain goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products

The European Parliament adopted by 565 votes to 107 with 7 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the trade arrangements applicable to certain goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products.

Parliament adopted its position in first reading following the ordinary legislative procedure. The amendments adopted in plenary are the result of an agreement negotiated between Parliament and Council.

Objectives: the Regulation lays down the trade arrangements applicable to imports of processed agricultural products and exports of non-Annex I goods and agricultural products incorporated in those non-Annex I goods. It also applies to imports of agricultural products covered by an international agreement concluded, or provisionally applied, by the Union in accordance with the TFEU and which provides for the assimilation of those products to processed agricultural products subject to preferential trade.

Alignment of the new provisions to the Lisbon Treaty (delegated and implementing powers):

The Commission will be empowered to adopt delegated acts in order to:

·        take into account the evolution of trade and market developments, the needs of the markets for ovalbumin and lactalbumin or the market for eggs and the results of the monitoring of the imports of ovalbumin and lactalbumin,

·        implement the international agreements providing for the reduction or phasing out of import duties on processed agricultural products on the basis of specific agricultural products used in the manufacturing of the processed agricultural products;

·        ensure equitable market access for operators and equal treatment of operators, to take account of the supply requirements of the Union market and to preserve the equilibrium of that market;

·        ensure that it is possible for exported products to benefit from special treatment on importation into a third country under certain conditions, pursuant to international agreements concluded by the Union in accordance with the TFEU;

·        ensure the prudent and efficient management of the inward processing arrangements;

·        monitor the expenditure on export refunds and the implementation of the refund certificate system;

·        ensure the integrity of information systems and the authenticity and legibility of documents and associated data transmitted;

·        ensure the application of horizontal rules adopted on the basis of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 to import licences and tariff quotas for processed agricultural products and to export refunds and refund certificates for non-Annex I goods.

When adopting delegated acts in accordance with Article 290 TFEU, it is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work prior to adopting delegated acts, including at expert level. 

The amended text also sets out the implementing powers given to the Commission to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of the Regulation as regards imports, exports, inward processing arrangements and certain general provisions.

In order to maintain the status quo, the amended text includes annexes containing each of the following: 

• a list with processed agricultural products, which replaces Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1216/2009;
• a list with non-Annex I goods, which replaces Annex II to Commission Regulation (EU) No 578/2010 and Annex XX to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007;
• a list with the basic products used for the manufacture of non-Annex I goods, which replaces Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 578/2010;
• a list with processed agricultural products on which additional import duties may be levied which replaces Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1216/2009; and 
• a list with agricultural products used for the manufacture of processed agricultural products, which replaces Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1216/2009.