L 90/12 Official Journal of the European Union 30.3.2007 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 341/2007 of 29 March 2007 opening and providing for the administration of tariff quotas and introducing a system of import licences and certificates of origin for garlic and certain other agricultural products imported from third countries THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 of 28 October 1996 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables (1), and in particular Articles 31(2) and 34(1) thereof, Whereas: Since 1 June 2001 the normal customs duty for imports of garlic falling within CN code 07032000 has consisted of an ad valorem customs duty of 9,6 % and a specific amount of EUR 1 200 per tonne net. However, a quota of 38 370 tonnes free of specific duty was opened by an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Argentine Republic pursuant to Article XXVII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 for the modification of concessions with respect to garlic provided for in Schedule CXL annexed to the GATT (3), approved by Council Decision 2001/404/EC (3). The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the People’s Republic of China pursuant to Article XXIV:6 and Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 relating to the modification of concessions in the schedules of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic in the course of their accession to the European Union (*), approved by Council Decision 2006/398EC (°), provides, for China, for an increase by 20 500 tonnes of the tariff quota for garlic. () O) L 297, 21.11.1996, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by 2 3 5 () O () O () 0 0) O Commission Regulation (EC) No 47/2003 (O] L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 64). L 142, 29.5.2001, p. 8. L 142, 29.5.2001, p. 7. L 154, 8.6.2006, p. 24. L 154, 8.6.2006, p. 22. (3) The conditions for the administration of those quotas (hereinafter the ‘GATT quota) were set out in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1870/2005 of 16 November 2005 opening and providing for the admin- istration of tariff quotas and introducing a system of import licences and certificates of origin for garlic imported from third countries (°). For the sake of clarity, that Regulation should be repealed and replaced by a new regulation from 1 April 2007. However, Regu- lation (EC) No 1870/2005 should continue to apply with regard to import licences issued in accordance with that Regulation for the import tariff quota period expiring on 31 May 2007. Garlic may also be imported outside the GATT quota at the normal duty or on preferential terms under agreements concluded between the Community and certain third countries. Garlic is an important product of the Community’s fruit and vegetables sector, with an annual production of around 250 000 tonnes in the Community. The annual import from third countries is also significant, ranging from 60000 to 80 000 tonnes. The two main third country suppliers are China (30 000 to 40 000 tonnes per year) and Argentina (around 15 000 tonnes per year). Commission Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 of 31 August 2006 laying down common rules for the admin- istration of import tariff quotas for agricultural products managed by a system of import licences () applies to import licences for import tariff quota periods starting from 1 January 2007. Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 lays down in particular detailed provisions on appli- cations for import licences, the status of applicants and the issue of licences. That Regulation limits the period of validity of licences to the last day of the import tariff quota period. The provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 should apply to import tariff quotas under this Regulation without prejudice to additional conditions and derogations concerning the applicants and notifi- cations to the Commission, laid down in this Regulation. (®) OJ L 300, 17.11.2005, p. 19. Regulation as last amended by Regu- lation (EC) No 2000/2006 (O] L 379, 28.12.2006, p. 37). () OJ L 238, 1.9.2006, p. 13. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 289/2007 (O] L 78, 17.3.2007, p. 17).