19.12.2008 Official Journal of the European Union L 340/57 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1296/2008 of 18 December 2008 laying down detailed rules for the application of tariff quotas for imports of maize and sorghum into Spain and imports of maize into Portugal (Codified version) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 establishing a common organisation of agri- cultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agri- cultural products (Single CMO Regulation) ('), and in particular Article 144(1) in conjunction with Article 4 thereof, Whereas: Commission Regulation (EC) No 1839/95 of 26 July 1995 on laying down detailed rules for the application of tariff quotas for imports of maize and sorghum into Spain and imports of maize into Portugal (}) has been substantially amended several times (). In the interests of clarity and rationality the said Regulation should be codified. Under the agreements concluded during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations, the Community has undertaken, as from the 1995/96 marketing year, to open reduced-tariff quotas for imports into Portugal of 500 000 tonnes of maize and into Spain of two million tonnes of maize and 300 000 tonnes of sorghum respectively. In the case of the quota for imports into Spain, the quantities of certain grain substitutes imported into Spain are to be deducted in proportion to the total quantities imported. In the case of the quota opened for imports of maize into Portugal, the import duty actually paid should not exceed EUR 50 per tonne. In order to ensure the sound management of these quotas, provision should be made for similar methods for booking imports of maize and sorghum effected in Spain and in Portugal. () OJ L 299, 16.11.2007, p. 1. () O] L 177, 28.7.1995, p. 4. (®) See Annex V. S In order to attain this objective and to guarantee effective monitoring by the Commission of the arrangements and of the Community’s international obligations, it is appro- priate to determine with precision the imports to be booked pursuant to these quotas and to provide for Spain and Portugal to communicate to the Commission, each month, all imports of the products concerned actually carried out, specifying the calculation method applied. The period laid down for the import of import quotas of maize into Portugal and of maize and sorghum into Spain and for the taking account of any imports of substitute products must be based on the calendar year. The quantity of maize to be imported into Portugal and of maize and sorghum to be imported into Spain in a given year, reduced by the quantities of certain grain substitutes imported into Spain during that same year, does not allow, at the end of the year, the balance of maize and sorghum which remains to be imported in the year concerned to be determined. Consequently, the period during which imports may be booked against a year must be extended, in cases of necessity, to the month of May of the following year. It is in the interest of Community operators to ensure an adequate supply of the products concerned on the Community market at stable prices whilst avoiding unne- cessary and excessive risks or even market disruptions in the form of severe price fluctuations. The Commission, taking account of the evolving international markets, the supply conditions in Spain and Portugal, and the Community’s international commitments, should decide whether a reduction to the applicable import duties fixed in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 1249/96 of 28 June 1996 on rules of application (cereal sector import duties) for Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 (*) are required to ensure that the import quotas for the products concerned are fully used. In order to ensure that these quotas are applied, provision should be made for direct purchase on the world market or application of an import duty reduction system established pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1249/96. (% O] L 161, 29.6.1996, p. 125.