11. 12. 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 306/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 3382/93 of 6 December 1993 opening and providing for the administration of a Community tariff quota for beer made from malt originating in Malta (1994) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 113 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas the Supplementary Protocol to the Agreement establishing an association between the European Economic Community and Malta(') provides, in an exchange of letters annexed to the said Protocol, that beer made from malt falling within CN code 2203 00, origina- ting in Malta, may be imported into the Community free of duty within the limits of an annual Community tariff quota of 5000 hectolitres; whereas the tariff quota in question should therefore be opened for the period from 1 January to 31 December 1994 ; Whereas equal and continuous access to the quota should be ensured for all Community importers and the rates laid down for the quota should be applied consistently to all imports of the product in question into all the Member States until the quota is exhausted ; Whereas, the decision for the opening of tariff quotas should be taken by the Community in the execution of its international obligations ; whereas, to ensure the effi- ciency of a common administration of these quotas, there is no reasonable obstacle to authorizing the Member States to draw from the quota-volumes the necessary quantities corresponding to actual imports; whereas, however, this method af administration requires close cooperation between the Member States and the Commis- sion and the latter must in particular be able to monitor the rate at which the quotas are used up and inform the Member States accordingly ; ’ Whereas since the Kingdom of Belgium, the Netherlands and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg are united within and jointly represented by the Benelux Economic Union, any operation concerning the administration of the quota may be carried out by any one of its members, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION : Article 1 From 1 January to 31 December 1994, the customs duty applicable to imports into the Community of beer made from malt originating in Malta shall be suspended at the levels indicated below and within the limits of Commu- nity tariff quotas as shown below : Amount Order No CN code Description of quota Quoﬁ,a} duty (hi) (%) 09.1451 2203 00 Beer made from malt 5000 . Exemption | Article 2 rential benefit for a product covered by this Regulation, The tariff quota referred to in Article 1 shall be adminis- tered by the Commission, which may take any appro- priate measure with a view to ensuring the efficient admi- nistration thereof. Article 3 If an importer presents, in a Member State, a declaration of entry into free circulation including a request for prefe- () OJ No L 81, 23. 3. 1989, p. 2. and if this declaration is accepted by the customs authori- ties, the Member State concerned shall draw, from the tariff quota, by means of notification to the Commission, a quantity corresponding to these needs. The requests for drawing, with the indication of the date of acceptance of the said declaration, must be communi- cated to the Commission without delay.