11. 3. 97 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 69/7 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 455/97 of 10 March 1997 laying down detailed rules for the application to milk and milk products of the arrangements provided for in the Interim Agreement between the Community and the Republic of Slovenia THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 410/97 of 24 February 1997 on certain procedures for applying the Interim Agreement on Trade and Trade-Related Measures between the European Community, the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the Republic of Slovenia, of the other part ('), and in particular Article 1 thereof, Whereas an Interim Agreement on trade and accom- panying measures between the European Community, the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the Republic of Slovenia, of the other part, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’, signed in Brussels on 11 November 1996 (3, provides that, pending the entry into force of the Europe Agreement, the provisions of the latter Agreement as regards trade and accompanying measures are to enter into force, and whereas those provi- sions are to apply temporarily from 1 January 1997; Whereas Regulation (EC) No 410/97 introduces arrange- ments for reducing import duties on certain products including milk and milk products; whereas detailed rules of application should be adopted with a view to adminis- tering the arrangements concerned;, whereas those detailed rules are either supplementary to 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 (*), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2402/96 (*); Whereas, in order to ensure proper administration of imports, a security should be required for applications for import licences and certain conditions should be laid down as regards applications for licences; whereas the fixed amounts should be staggered over the year and the procedure for awarding licences as well as their term of validity should be specified; Whereas continuous access to the said fixed amounts should be ensured for all Community importers and the () OJ No L 62, 4. 3. 1997, p. 5. () Of No L 344, 31. 12. 1996, p. 3. () OJ No L 331, 2. 12. 1988, p. 1. ) O No L 327, 18. 12. 199, p. 14. reduced duty rate should be applied consistently to all imports of the products in question in all the Member States until the fixed amounts are exhausted; whereas the necessary measures should be taken to ensure efficient Community administration of those fixed amounts and, because of the risk of speculation in particular, access by importers to the said scheme should be subject to compli- ance with specific conditions; whereas this method of administration requires close cooperation between the Member States and the Commission; Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 Within the framework of Article 15 (2) of the Agreement with Slovenia all imports into the Community of milk products falling within the CN codes listed in Annex I hereto shall be subject to the presentation of import licences issued and applied for under the terms set out herein. The quantities of products to which these arrangements apply and the rate of reduction in the duty shall be those listed in Annex I hereto. Article 2 From 1 January 1997 (with the exception of cheese falling within CN code 0406 90), the quantities referred to in Annex I shall be staggered over the year as follows: — 25% in the period 1 January to 31 March, — 25 % in the period 1 April to 30 June, — 25% in the period 1 July to 30 September, — 25% in the period 1 October to 31 December. From 1 January 1997 the quantities referred to in Annex I in respect of cheeses falling within CN code 0406 90 shall be staggered over the year as follows: — 50 % in the period 1 January to 30 June, — 50% in the period 1 July to 31 December.