L 80/22 Official Journal of the European Union 27.3.2003 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 540/2003 of 26 March 2003 on the issuing of system B export licences for fruit and vegetables 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 on detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 as regards export refunds on fruit and vegetables ('), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1176/ 2002 (3, and in particular Article 6(7) thereof, Whereas: (1)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 2201/2002 () fixed the indicative quantities laid down for the issue of export licences in the fruit and vegetable sector other than those requested in the context of food aid. 2)  In the light of information now available to the Commis- sion, the indicative quantities have been exceeded in the case of tomatoes. (3)  This overrun is without prejudice to compliance with the limits resulting from the agreements concluded in accordance with Article 300 of the Treaty. The rate of refund for all products covered by licences applied for under system B between 15 January and 15 March 2003 should be the indicative rate, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Atrticle 1 1.  The percentages for the issuing of system B export licences, as referred to in Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1961/ 2001, and applied for between 15 January and 15 March 2003, by which the quantities applied for and the rates of refund applicable must be multiplied, are as fixed in the Annex hereto. 2. Paragraph 1 does not apply to licences applied for in connection with food-aid operations as provided for in Article 10(4) of the Agreement on Agriculture concluded during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations. Article 2 This Regulation shall enter into force on 28 March 2003. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 26 March 2003. () OJ L 268, 9.10.2001, p. 8. () OJ L 170, 29.6.2002, p. 69. () OJL 335,12.12.2002, p. 11. For the Commission J. M. SILVA RODRIGUEZ Agriculture Director-General