23.12.2006 Official Journal of the European Union L 368/91 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1979/2006 of 22 December 2006 opening and providing for the administration of tariff quotas for preserved mushrooms imported from third countries THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to the Treaty of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania, and in particular its Article 4(3), Having regard to the Act of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania, and in particular its Article 41, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2201/96 of 28 October 1996 on the common organisation of the markets in processed fruit and vegetable products (!), and in particular Article 15(1) thereof, Whereas: (1)  Following the Agreement on Agriculture (3) concluded during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade nego- tiations, the Community undertook to open from 1 July 1995, under certain conditions, Community tariff quotas for certain preserved mushrooms of the genus Agaricus spp. (2)  The conditions for the administration of those quotas have been established by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1864/2004 of 26 October 2004 opening and providing for the administration of tariff quotas for preserved mushrooms imported from third countries (?). For the sake of clarity, that Regulation should be repealed and replaced by a new Regulation as from 1 January 2007. (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, approved by Council Decision 2006/398/EC (*), provides for an increase by 5 200 tonnes of the tariff quota of preserved mushrooms of the genus Agaricus falling within CN codes 0711 51 00, 2003 10 20 and 2003 10 30 originating in China. () O) L 297, 21.11.1996, p. 29. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 386/2004 (O] L 64, 2.3.2004, . 25). ) %} L 336, 23.12.1994, p. 22. (®) OJ L 325, 28.10.2004, p. 30. Regulation as last amended by Regu- lation (EC) No 1995/2005 (O] L 320, 8.12.2005, p. 34). () O] L 154, 8.6.2006, p. 22. (49 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 licences issued pursuant to this Regulation, without prejudice to addi- tional conditions and derogations concerning the applicants laid down in this Regulation. (5)  Detailed arrangements should be laid down to ensure that the quantities in excess of the tariff quotas are subjected to the levying of the full duty provided for in the Common Customs Tariff. Licences should therefore be issued at the end of a period in which the quantities are checked and the necessary notifications are made by the Member States. These provisions are either supple- mentary to or derogate from the provisions of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 of 9 June 2000 laying down common detailed rules for the appli- cation of the system of import and export licences and advance fixing certificates for agricultural products (%). (6)  There should continue to be an adequate supply of the products concerned on the Community market at stable prices whilst avoiding unnecessary market disruptions in the form of severe price fluctuations and negative effects on the Community producers. To this end, competition amongst importers should be encouraged to an increasing degree and administrative burdens on importers reduced. (7)  In the interest of existing importers, who normally import substantial quantities of the products concerned, and also in the interest of new importers who join the market and should also have a fair opportunity to apply for licences for a quantity of preserved mushrooms under tariff quotas, a distinction should be drawn between traditional importers and new importers. A clear defi- nition of these two categories of importers should be provided, and certain criteria relating to the status of the applicants and the use of the licences allocated should be laid down. () O] L 238, 1.9.2006, p. 13. (6 OJ L 152, 24.6.2000, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regu- lation (EC) No 1713/2006 (O] L 321, 21.11.2006, p. 11).