1.3.86 Official Journal of the European Communities No L54/25 COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 491/86 of 25 February 1986 laying down detailed rules concerning quantitative restrictions on imports into Spain of certain agricultural products from third countries THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to the Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal, and in particular Article 89 (1) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas Article 77 of the Act of Accession provides that the Kingdom of Spain may maintain, until 31 December 1995, quantitative restrictions on Imports of certain products from third countries; whereas the Council must lay down detailed rules for the application of such quantitative restrictions; Whereas either the average of imports into Spain or a percentage of Spanish production should be used as a criterion for fixing the quantitative restrictions; whereas, if neither of these criteria seems satisfactory, account should be taken of the requirements of the Spanish market and the need to contribute, in the common interest, to the harmonious development of world trade; Whereas the Kingdom of Spain may apply quantitative restrictions to the import from third countries of products subject to the supplementary mechanism applicable to imports from the Community as constituted on 31 December 1985; Whereas the quantitative restrictions must not have the effect that Community products are treated less favourably than products from third countries; Whereas this Regulation applies to all third countries, without prejudice to the protocols to be concluded with the preferential third countries in accordance with Article 179 of the Act or to the transitional measures referred to in Article 180 thereof; whereas it should nevertheless be specified that the quantitative restrictions fixed in implementation of these Articles will be included in those valid for the third countries as a whole in implementation of this Regulation, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 1. The quantitative restrictions on imports into Spain from third countries of the products referred to in Article 77 of the Act of Accession shall consist in annual quotas made available without discrimination between €conomic operators. 2 The initial quota for 1986 for each product or group of products, expressed in terms of volume, shall be fixed: (a) either at the average of Spanish imports over the three years preceding accession for which statistics are available; the products concerned are listed in Annex I; or (b) at a percentage of average ~annual Spanish production over the three years preceding accession for which statistics are available; the percentage for each product or group of products is given in Annex II; or (c) on the basis of the requirements of the Spanish market without however preventing the harmonious development of world trade; the products concerned are listed in Annex III 3. The minimum rate of increase in the quotas shall be fixed in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 3 (1). The minimum rate of increase may be varied, in particular from one product to another. The minimum rate of increase shall be fixed taking account, in particular, of: — the patterns of trade, — the state of bilateral or multilateral negotiations. 4. From 1 March to 31 December 1986 the quota applicable shall be the same as the initial quota minus one-sixth thereof. 5.  With regard to the preferential countries, where the protocols referred to in Article 179 of the Act of Accession or, failing these, the autonomous measures adopted pursuant to Article 180 of the said Act provide for quantitative restrictions, the quantities resulting from the application of the abovementioned provisions shall be determined before the quantities are fixed for the other third countries, within the framework established in accordance with paragraph 2. Article 2 The quota fixed for a product or group of products from third countries may not exceed the quantity of that product or group of products which may be imported from the Community as constituted on 31 December 1985, subject to the provisions of Article 84 of the Act of Accession. Article 3 1.  Detailed rules for the application of this Regulation shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Artcle 26 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2727/75 of 29 October 1975 on the common organ-