L 351/22 Official Journal of the European Communities 23. 12. 97 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2603/97 of 16 December 1997 laying down the detailed implementing rules for imports of rice originating in the ACP countries or the overseas countries and territories (OCT) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Decision 91/482/EEC of 25 July 1991 on the association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Economic Community ('), as last amended by Decision 97/803/EC (3, and in particular Article 108a (5) thereof, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 715/90 of 5 March 1990 on the arrangements applicable to agricul- tural products and certain goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products originating in the ACP States or in the overseas countries and territories (OCT) (%), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 619/96 (%), and in particular Article 13 (1) and (3) thereof, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 3290/94 of 22 December 1994 on the adjustments and transitional arrangements required in the agricultural sector in order to implement the agreements concluded during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations (), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1161/97 (%), and in particular Article 3 (1) thereof, Whereas, by Decision 97/803/EC, the Council adapted the import arrangements for rice originating in the over- seas countries and territories (OCTs); whereas the new Article 108a states that the cumulation of ACP/OCT origin referred to in Article 6 of Annex II to Decision 91/482/EEC is permitted up to an overall limit of 160 000 tonnes of husked rice equivalent, including the tariff quota for rice originating in the ACP States under the Fourth Lomé Convention; whereas imports from the OCTs can reach the above level if the ACP States do not make effective use of their direct export options under the above tariff quota; whereas import licences for 35000 tonnes in husked rice equivalent is initially issued to the OCTs in January each year Whereas to ensure balanced management of the Commu- nity market in rice, import licences are issued in respect of several periods over the course of a year 263, 19. 9. 1991, p. 1. 329, 29. 11. 1997, p. 50. 84, 30. 3. 1990, p. 85. 89, 10. 4. 1996, p. 1. 349, 31. 12. 1994, p. 105. 169, 27. 6. 1997, p. 1. (el alal ah el ) Whereas, to manage the cumulative system, the detailed rules for the import of rice from the ACP States and OCT need to be adopted in a single text; whereas Commission Regulation (EEC) No 999/90 of 20 April 1990 laying down detailed implementing rules for imports of rice originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP) and the overseas countries and territories (OCT) (), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1407/97 (%), should therefore be repealed and its appropriate provi- sions included herein; whereas the provisions governing the reductions in the customs duties applying to imports and the collection of an export charge by the exporting country should be included in particular; Whereas this Regulation should apply from 1 January 1998; whereas Commission Regulation (EC) No 2352/97 of 27 November 1997 introducing specific measures in respect of imports of rice originating in the overseas countries and territories (*) should therefore be repealed; Whereas the Management Committee for Cereals has not delivered an opinion within the time limit set by its chariman, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 This Regulation lays down the detailed implementing rules for imports of rice originating in the ACP States or in the overseas countries and territories (OCT) pursuant to Article 108a of Decision 91/482/EEC. TITLE 1 Imports of rice originating in the ACP States Article 2 1. As regards the quantity of 125 000 tonnes or rice, in husked-rice equivalent, falling within CN codes 1006 10 21 to 10006 1098, 1006 20 and 1006 30 laid 101, 21. 4. 1990, p. 20. N OJL O] L 194, 23. 7. 1997, p. 13. oj L ( ) 6! 326, 28. 11. 1997, p. 21.