L 305/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 22.11.2001 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2259/2001 of 21 November 2001 on the issuing of system A3 export licences in the fruit and vegetables sector THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1961/2001 of 8 October 2001 laying down detailed rules for imple- menting Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 as regards export refunds on fruit and vegetables ('), and in particular Article 4(4) thereof, Whereas: (1)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 2102/2001 (%) opens an invitation to tender setting the indicative refund rates and indicative quantities for system A3 export licences other than those tendered for as part of food aid. 2)  In the light of the tenders submitted, the maximum refund rates and the percentages for reducing the quant- ities awarded for tenders quoting those maximum rates should be set. (3)  In the case of lemons and apples, the maximum rate necessary to award licences for the indicative quantity up to the quantities tendered for is not more than one-and-a-half times the indicative refund rate, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 In the case of lemons and apples, the maximum refund rates and the percentages for reducing the quantities awarded under the invitation to tender opened by Regulation (EC) No 2102/ 2001 shall be as set out in the Annex. Article 2 This Regulation shall enter into force on 22 November 2001. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 21 November 2001. For the Commission Franz FISCHLER Member of the Commission ANNEX Product Maximum refund rate (EUR/t net) Percentage awarded of quantities tendered for quoting the maximum refund rate Lemons 24 % Apples 11% () O] L 268, 9.10.2001, p. 8. () O] L 283, 27.10.2001, p. 3.