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.