L 20/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 27.1.1999 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 174/1999 of 26 January 1999 laying down special detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 as regards export licences and export refunds in the case of milk and milk products THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 of 27 June 1968 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products ('), as last amended by Regula- tion (EC) No 1587/96 (3, and in particular Articles 13(3), 16a(1) and 17(9) and (14) thereof, 1.  Whereas Commission Regulation (EC) No 1466/95 of 27 June 1995 laying down special detailed rules of application for export refunds on milk and milk products (%), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2184/98 (%), has been substantially amended several times; whereas, since further amendments are to be made, it should be recast in the interests of clarity and efficiency; 2.  Whereas wunder the Agriculture Agreement concluded during the Uruguay Round of the GATT trade negotiations (°) (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Agriculture Agreement’), export refunds on agricultural products, including milk products, are limited within each 12-month period starting from 1 July 1995 to a maximum quantity and a maximum value; whereas, in order to ensure compliance with those limits, the issue of export licences should be monitored; whereas procedures must also be adopted for allocating the quantities which may be exported with a refund; 3. Whereas Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 lays down general rules for granting of export refunds in the milk and milk products sector, in order, in partic- ular, to permit the monitoring of the value and quantity limits for refunds; whereas detailed rules for the application of those arrangements should be laid down; 4. Whereas, by way of derogation from Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3665/87 of 27 November 1987 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of export refunds on agri- OJ L 148, 28. 6. 1968, p. 13. O] L 206, 16. 8. 1996, p. 21. O] L 144, 28. 6. 1995, p. 22. O] L 275, 10. 10. 1998, p. 21. OJ L 336, 23. 12. 1994, p. 1. cultural products (°), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2334/98 ("), cases where a refund may be granted without presentation of an export licence should be defined and the maximum time that products may remain under customs control should be specified; Whereas special provisions should be adopted for the milk and milk products sector, in particular with regard to licences, by way of derogation from Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3719/88 of 16 November 1988 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences and advance fixing certificates for agricultural products (¥), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1044/98 (°); whereas, in addi- tion, the tolerance permitted by that Regulation as regards the quantity of goods exported compared with the quantity indicated on the licence should be reduced and, in order to ensure effective controls on limits, there should be no refunds paid on quantities exceeding what is indicated on the licence; whereas the securities to be lodged when licence applications are submitted should be suffi- cient to prevent speculative applications; Whereas the term of validity of export licences should be fixed; whereas that term should vary according to the products concerned, with a shorter term for products where there is a higher risk of speculation; Whereas, in order to ensure accurate checking of products exported and to minimise the risk of speculation, the possibility of changing the product for which a licence has been issued should be restricted; Whereas Article 2a(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 3665/87 lays down rules for the use of export licences with advance fixing of the refund for the exportation of products with a 12-digit code other than that shown in Section 16 of the licence; 351, 14. 12. 1987, p. 1. 291, 30. 10. 1998, p. 15. ) O] L ) OJ L ) OJ L 331, 2. 12. 1988, p. 1. ) OJ L 149, 20. 5. 1998, p. 11.