5.1.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 2/3

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 4/2006

of 4 January 2006

laying down the reduction coefficient to be applied under tariff subquota III for common wheat of a quality other than high quality opened by Regulation (EC) No 2375/2002

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 of 29 September 2003 on the common organisation of the market in cereals (1),

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2375/2002 of 27 December 2002 opening and providing for the administration of Community tariff quotas for common wheat of a quality other than high quality from third countries and derogating from Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 (2), and in particular Article 5(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

Regulation (EC) No 2375/2002 opens an annual tariff quota of 2 981 600 tonnes of common wheat of a quality other than high quality. That quota is divided into three subquotas.

(2)

Article 3(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2375/2002 fixes a quantity of 592 900 tonnes for subquota III for the period 1 January to 31 March 2006.

(3)

The quantities applied for on 2 January 2006, in accordance with Article 5(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2375/2002, exceed the quantities available. The extent to which licences may be issued should therefore be determined and a reduction coefficient laid down to be applied to the quantities applied for,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Each application for an import licence for subquota III for common wheat of a quality other than high quality lodged and forwarded to the Commission on 2 January 2006 in accordance with Article 5(1) and (2) of Regulation (EC) No 2375/2002 shall be accepted at a rate of 5,60082 % of the quantity applied for.

This Regulation shall enter into force on 5 January 2006.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 4 January 2006.

For the Commission

J. L. DEMARTY

Director-General for Agriculture and Rural Development

(1) OJ L 270, 21.10.2003, p. 78. Regulation as amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1154/2005 (OJ L 187, 19.7.2005, p. 11).

(2) OJ L 358, 31.12.2002, p. 88. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 777/2004 (OJ L 123, 27.4.2004, p. 50).