31. 7. 96 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 190/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1522/96 of 24 July 1996 opening and providing for the administration of certain tariff quotas for imports of rice and broken rice THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 3093/95 of 22 December 1995 laying down the rates of duty to be applied by the Community resulting from negotiations under GATT Article XXIV (6) consequent upon the accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden to the European Union ('), and in particular Article 5 thereof, Having regard to Council Decision 96/317/EC of 13 May 1996 concerning the conclusion of the results of the consultations with Thailand under GATT Article XXIII (%, and in particular Article 3 thereof, Whereas, under the negotiations conducted pursuant to GATT Article XXIV (6) in the wake of the accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden to the European Union, it was agreed to open from 1 January 1996 annual import quotas for 63000 tonnes of semi-milled and wholly milled rice covered by CN code 1006 30 at zero duty and for 20 000 tonnes of husked rice covered by CN code 1006 20 at a fixed duty of ECU 88 per tonne; whereas these quotas were included in the European Communities list provided for in Article II (1) (a) of GATT 1994; whereas during the negotiations it was agreed with the United States that further consultations should take place on how to implement the agreed quotas; whereas these consultations have not yet been brought to an end; whereas imports under the tariff quotas of rice from the United States should be provided for only when the consultations have been concluded; Whereas, under the consultations with Thailand pursuant to GATT Article XXIII, it was agreed to open an annual quota for 80 000 tonnes of broken rice covered by CN code 1006 40 00 at an import duty reduced by ECU 28 () OJ No L 334, 30. 12. 1995, p. 1. () O] No L 122, 22. 5. 1996, p. 15. per tonne; whereas in 1996 that quota is to apply from 1 April to 31 December and to cover 60 000 tonnes; Whereas the abovementioned commitments provide that the administration of those quotas is to take account of traditional suppliers; Whereas, with a view to preventing imports under those quotas from causing disturbance in the normal marketing of Community grown rice, such imports should be stag- gered over the year so they can be absorbed more easily by the Community market; Whereas the distribution of the quota for 1996 cannot commence before July and whereas, in order to allow the United States administration to finalize the relevant measures, provision should be made for imports from that country to commence from August only; Whereas, with a view to the sound administration of the abovementioned quotas and in particular in order to ensure that the quantities fixed are not exceeded, special detailed rules must be laid down to cover the submission of applications and the issue of licences; whereas such detailed rules must either supplement or derogate from Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3719/88 of 16 November 1988 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences and advance fixing certificates for agricultural products (%), Whereas it should be stipulated that Commission Regula- tion (EC) No 1162/95 of 23 May 1995 laying down special detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences for cereals and rice (*) applies under this Regulation; () OJ No L 331, 2. 12. 1988, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2137/95 (O] No L 214, 8. 9. 1995, p. 21). () OJ No L 117, 24. 5. 1995, p. 2. Regulation as last amended by Re)gulation (EC) No 2917/95 (O] No L 305, 19. 12. 1995, p. 53).