No L 144/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 6. 97 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 996/97 of 3 June 1997 on the opening and administration of an import tariff quota for frozen thin skirt of bovine animals falling within CN code 0206 29 91 THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1095/96 of 18 June 1996 on the implementation of the concessions set out in Schedule CXL drawn up in the wake of the conclusion of the GATT XXIV.6 negotiations ('), and in particular Article 1 (1) thereof, Whereas, pursuant to Schedule CXL, the Community agreed to open an annual tariff quota of 1 500 tonnes for frozen thin skirt of bovine animal falling within CN code 0206 29 91; whereas that quota should be opened on a multiannual basis for periods of 12 months commencing on 1 July and the detailed rules of application laid down; Whereas Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3719/88 (3, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 495/97 (%), lays down detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences and advance-fixing certificates for agricultural products; whereas Commission Regulation (EC) No 1445/95 (%), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 266/97 (), lays down detailed rules for implementing the arrangements for import licences for beef and veal; Whereas, in order to ensure efficient administration of the import of meat originating in and coming from Argen- tina, that country is required to issue certificates of authenticity guaranteeing the origin of the products concerned; whereas the layout of those certificates and the procedures for using them must be specified; Whereas certificates of authenticity must be issued by an authority in Argentina; whereas that authority must present all the necessary guarantees to ensure that the arrangements in question operate properly; Whereas, in order to ensure efficient administration of the import of frozen thin skirt originating in and coming from Argentina, it should be laid down that, where appro- priate, the issue of import licences should be subject to verification inter alia of the information given on certi- ficates of authenticity; Whereas, for other countries, the quota should be managed only on the basis of Community import () OJ No L 146, 20. 6. 1996, p. 1. () OJ No L 331, 2. 12. 1988, p. 1. () O] No L 77, 19. 3. 1997, p. 12. () Of No L 143, 27. 6. 1995, p. 35. () O] No L 45, 15. 2. 1997, p. 1. licences, with derogations in certain cases from the applicable rules; Whereas experience has shown that importers do not always inform the competent authorities which have issued the import licences of the quantity and origin of the beef and veal imported under the quota concerned; whereas that information is important for assessing the market situation; whereas a security attached to compli- ance with that obligation should be provided for; Whereas provision must be made for the Member States to forward information on the imports in question; Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Beef and Veal, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 1. A Community tariff quota for frozen thin skirt of bovine animals falling within CN code 020629 91 is hereby opened on a multiannual basis for an annual volume of 1500 tonnes for periods from 1 July to 30 June of the following year, hereinafter referred to as the ‘year of import’. The serial number of the quota shall be 09.4020. 2. The ad valorem customs duty on the quota referred to in paragraph 1 shall be 4 %. 3. The annual quota shall be allocated as follows: (a) 700 tonnes originating in and coming from Argentina; (b) 800 tonnes originating in and coming from other third countries. 4. Only whole thin skirt may be imported under the quota. 5. For the purposes of this Regulation, thin skirt which is frozen, with an internal temperature of not above —12°C when it enters the customs territory of the Community, shall be deemed to be ‘frozen thin skirt’.