31. 12, %94 No L 349/105 Official Journal of the European Communities COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 3290/94 of 22 December 1994 on the adjustments and transitional arrangements required in the agriculture sector in order to implement the agreements concluded during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to-the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 805/68 of 27 June 1968 on the common organization of the market in beef and veal (), and in particular Article 7 (2) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (3), Whereas the Community has adopted a set of rules governing the common agricultural policy; Whereas, under the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations, the Community has negotiated various agreements (hereinafter referred to as the ‘GATT agreements’); whereas several of those agreements concern- agriculture, in particular the Agreement on Agriculture (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’); whereas the concessions relating to domestic support can be complied with by setting prices and aid at a suitable level and specific provisions need not be laid down on this subject; whereas the Agreement lays down a six-year timetable for the extension of access to the Community market for agricultural products from third countries on the one hand and the gradual reduction in support granted by the Community on exports of agricultural products on the other hand; whereas the agricultural legislation on trade with third countries should be adapted accordingly; Whereas, by converting all the measures restricting imports of agricultural products into customs duties {tarification) and by prohibiting the application of such measures in the future, the Agreement requires the abolition of variable import levies and of the other measures and import charges currently provided for under the market organizations; whereas the rates of customs duty applicable to agricultural products in accordance with the Agreement are to be fixed in the (') O] No L 148, 28. 6. 1968, p. 24. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1884/94 (O] No L 197, 30. 7. 1994, p. 27). (3) Opinion delivered on 14 December 1994 (not yet published in the Official Journal). Common Customs Tariff; whereas, however, for certain product groups such as cereals, rice, wine and fruit and vegetables, the introduction of supplementary or other trade mechanisms that do not involve the collection of fixed customs duties calls for the adoption of rules providing for derogations in the basis regulations; whereas, in addition, the measures to protect the Community market against imports of dried grapes and processed cherries can, under the Agreement on Safeguards, be maintained for a period of five years; whereas, moreover, in order to avert problems of supply to the Community market, the suspension of customs duties on certain sugar products should be permitted,; Whereas, in order to maintain a minimum level of protection against the adverse effects on the market as a result of tarification, the Agreement permits the application of additional customs duties under precisely defined conditions but only to products subject to tarification; whereas the corresponding provisions should accordingly be inserted into the basic Regulations concerned; Whereas the Agreement provides for a series of tariff quotas under arrangements for current and minimum access; whereas the conditions applicable to such quotas are spelled out in detail in the Agreement; whereas, in view of the large number of quotas and in order to ensure that they are implemented as effectively as possible, the Commission should be responsible for opening and administering them using the management committee procedure; Whereas the amendments resulting from the framework agreement on bananas concluded with certain countries in South America under the Uruguay Round should be incorporated in Council Regulation (EEC) No 404/93 of 13 February 1993 on the common organization of the market in bananas (3); Whereas, since the Agreement of Safeguards lays down clear rules on the application of protective clauses as (3) OJ No L 47, 25. 2. 1993, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 3518/93 (O] No L 320, 22.12. 1993, p. 15).