L 133/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 7.5.98 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 953/98 of 6 May 1998 laying down detailed rules of application for the importation of olive oil origin- ating in Tunisia THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 906/98 of 27 April 1998 laying down general rules for the import of olive oil originating in Tunisia ('), and in particular Article 1 thereof, Whereas, pursuant to Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 906/98, the arrangements for opening an managing the quota for imports of olive oil originating in Tunisia should be laid down; whereas the current and foreseeable situation regarding the supply of olive oil to the Community market permits the planned quantity to be disposed; whereas the risk of disturbing the market is reduced provided imports are not concentrated in a short period of the 1997/98 marketing year; whereas provision should be made for import licences to be issued during that marketing year according to a monthly schedule; Whereas, for the sound management of the quantity in question, a mechanism must be created that encourages the operators to return forthwith licences that they will not use to the issuing agency; whereas it is also necessary to create a mechanism encouraging the operators to return the licences to the issuing agency after their date of expiry so that the unused quantites can be re-used and so that the Commission is aware of them; Whereas oil imported from Tunisia may not exceed a given quantity; whereas, therefore, the tolerance provided for in Article 8 of 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 1404/97 (%), should not be applied; Whereas the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part (*), no longer provides for special arrangements for the importation of olive oil falling within CN codes 1509 and 1510 wholly obtained in Tunisia and imported into the Community direct from 128, 30. 4. 1998, p. 20. 331, 2. 12. 1988, p. 1. 194, 23. 7. 1997, p. S. 97, 30. 3. 1998, p. 2. 0000 S | ol ol ol o that country outside the quota of 46 000 tonnes at a reduced rate of duty; Whereas Commission Regulation (EC) No 666/96 (°), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2387/96 (¢), and (EC) No 150/98 () should be repealed; Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Oil and Fats, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 1. Untreated olive oil falling within CN codes 150910 10 and 1509 10 90, wholly obtained in Tunisia and transpoted direct from that country to the Community, which qualifies for the customs duty laid down in Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 906/98 may be imported from 1 March of the 1997/98 marketing year. Import licences shall be issued for up to 46 000 tonnes for the 1997/98 marketing year. 2. For the 1997/98 marketing year and without preju- dice to the limit of 46 000 tonnes, licences may be issued in accordance with the conditions laid down in Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 906/98 for up to 10 000 tonnes per month. However, this quantity shall be reduced to 5 000 tonnes for March and 8 000 tonnes for April. If the quantity authorised for one month is not used entirely during the month in question, the remainder shall be added to the quantity for the following month, but may not be carried over thereafter. 3. For the purposes of calculating the quantity author- ised each month, where a week begins in one month and finishes in the following month, it must be considered part of the month in which the Thursday falls. Article 2 1. With a view to applying the customs duty referred to in Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 906/98, importers must submit an import licence application to the competent authorities of the Member States. Such applications must be accompanied by a copy of the purchase contract concluded with the Tunisian exporter. () OJ L 92, 13. 4. 1996, p. 9. () OJ L 326, 17. 12. 1996, p. 21. () OJ L 18, 23. 1. 1998, p. .