6. 1. 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 4/3 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 10/94 of 5 January 1994 opening an invitation to tender for the reduction in the levy on maize imported into Spain 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 3640/93 of 17 December 1993 on special arrangements for imports of maize and sorghum into Spain for the year 1993 (') and in particular Articles 3 (2) and 8 thereof, Whereas, as part of an agreement with the United States of America, the Community has undertaken to import a certain quantity of maize and sorghum into Spain in the years 1987 to 1992; whereas by Regulation (EEC} No 991/93 () extending the measures taken under the above- mentioned agreement, the Council approved the exten- - sion of that agreement to 1993, that extension being without prejudice to the rights and obligations arising from the original agreement; Whereas, pursuant to Article 3 (3) of Regulation (EC) No 3640/93, the levy reduction is to be applied to maize imported into Spain under cover of a licence valid in that Member State alone; Whereas the specific additional rules required for admi- nistrating the invitation to tender should be laid down, including in particular rules on the lodging by operators and the release of securities against fulfilment of their obligations, and in particular the obligation to process or use the imported product in Spain; Whereas it is impossible for all the quantities of maize and grain sorghum concerned to be imported into Spain by 28 February 1994 as provided for in the Agreement; whereas Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 3640/93 should therefore be applied and the quantities for 1993 should be imported during the period 1 January to 30 April 1994 ; Whereas, with a view to avoiding any disturbances on the Spanish market, the staggering of imports until the month of April should be facilitated ; whereas the reduc- tion in the levy should, for that purpose, be increased by the amount of the monthly increases ; Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals, () OJ No L 333, 31. 12. 1993, p. 13. () OJ No L 104, 29. 4. 1993, p. 1. HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION : Article 1 1. An invitation to tender is hereby opened for the reduction in the import levy referred to in Article 10 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 (%) on maijze to be imported into Spain. 2. The invitation to tender shall be open until 7 April 1994. During that period, weekly invitations shall be issued with quantities and closing dates as shown in the notice of invitation to tender. Article 2 1. Tenders shall be lodged in 'writing with the compe- tent Spanish authority against a receipt or forwarded to that authority by telex, telegram or telefax. 2. Tenders shall indicate : — the weekly invitation in response to which they are made, — the name and exact address of the tenderer, with telex or telefax number, — the type and quantity of the product to be imported, — the reduction in the import levy proposed, in ecus per tonne, — the origin of the maize to be imported. 3. Tenders shall be valid only if: (a) they do not exceed the maximum quantity available for each closing date for the submission of applica- tions ; (b) evidence is provided before expiry of the time limit . for submission that the tenderer has lodged a security for an amount per tonne equal to that of. the reduc- tion proposed in the tender; (c) they are accompanied by a written undertaking to lodge with the competent Spanish authority within two days of receipt of notification of award as mentioned in Article 4 (3) an application for an import licence for the quantities awarded together with an application for advance fixing of the levy at the reduced rate proposed in the tender; (d) they are for at least 1 000 tonneé. () OJ No L 181, 1. 7. 1992, p. 21.