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8.6.2012 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
148/9
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 481/2012
of 7 June 2012
laying down rules for the management of a tariff quota for high-quality beef
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
cultural sectors. Therefore, in the interest of adminis
trative simplification and in order to avoid any specu
lative behaviour, the tariff quota concerning the import
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European
of high-quality beef originating in third countries should
Union,
be managed in accordance with Articles 308a and 308b
and Article 308c(1) of Commission Regulation (EEC) No
2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 of
implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92
22 October 2007 establishing a common organisation of agri
establishing the Community Customs Code ( 6 ), which
cultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agri
lays down rules for the management of tariff quotas
cultural products (Single CMO Regulation) (
designed to be used following the chronological order

1 ), and in particular
Article 144(1) and Article 148, in conjunction with Article 4
of dates of acceptance of customs declarations. Where
thereof,
imports are managed in accordance with those rules,
no import licences should be required any more.
Whereas:
(3) In
order
to
ensure
a
regular
flow
of
imports,
it
is
appro
priate to sub-divide the annual tariff quota into quarterly
sub-periods. Appropriate order numbers should be fixed
(1) Council
Regulation
(EC)
No
617/2009
( 2 ) opened on a
multiannual basis an autonomous import tariff quota for
in line with Article 308a(6) of Regulation (EEC) No
the import of 20 000 tonnes of high-quality beef. That
2454/93.
Regulation has been amended by Regulation (EU) No
464/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Coun
cil (
(4) Regulation
(EC)
No
617/2009
establishes
that
the
quota

3 ) which increases the import tariff quota to 21 500
tonnes from the first day of the month following its
year runs from 1 July to 30 June. In order to ensure a
publication, and to 48 200 tonnes as from 1 August
swift transfer from the current simultaneous examination
2012. Tariff quotas for agricultural products are to be
method to the first-come, first-served management
managed in conformity with Article 144(2) of Regulation
system the new management method should apply as
(EC) No 1234/2007. Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No
from 1 July 2012.
617/2009 as amended by Regulation (EU) No
464/2012 provides that the tariff quota is to be
managed by the Commission by means of implementing
(5) The
quantity
available
for
the
first
quarterly
sub-period
acts, to be adopted in accordance with the examination
(1 July to 30 September 2012) should be calculated on a
procedure provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EU)
pro-rata basis taking into account the volume of the
No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the
annual tariff quota applicable until 31 July 2012 and
Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules
the new increased volume of the annual tariff quota
and general principles concerning mechanisms for
applicable as of 1 August 2012.
control by Member States of the Commission’s exercise
of implementing powers ( 4 ).
(6) The
release
into
free
circulation
of
the
goods
imported
under the tariff quota opened by Regulation (EC) No
(2) Commission
Regulation
(EC)
No
620/2009
of
13
July
617/2009 should be subject to the presentation of a
2009 providing for the administration of an import
certificate of authenticity issued by the competent
tariff quota for high-quality beef ( 5 ) lays down rules for
authority of the exporting third country. The issue of
the administration of the tariff quota concerned by
such certificates of authenticity should guarantee that
applying the simultaneous examination method of
the imported goods qualify as high quality beef as
import licence applications, as referred to in
defined in this Regulation.
Article 144(2)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007.
Recent experience with the administration of the Union
tariff quota for high-quality beef has shown a need to
(7) For
reasons
of
clarity,
Regulation
(EC)
No
620/2009
improve the management of this tariff quota. Experience
should be repealed and replaced by a new implementing
in the use of the first-come, first-served management
regulation.
system referred to in Article 144(2)(a) of Regulation
(EC) No 1234/2007 has been positive in other agri
(8) Since
the
new
management
system
is
to
apply
as
from
( 1 ) OJ L 299, 16.11.2007, p. 1.
1 July 2012, licences applied for in June 2012 under
( 2 ) OJ L 182, 15.7.2009, p. 1.
Regulation (EC) No 620/2009 should not be issued.
( 3 ) OJ L 149, 8.6.2012, p 1.
( 4 ) OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13.
( 5 ) OJ L 182, 15.7.2009, p. 25.
( 6 ) OJ L 253, 11.10.1993, p. 1.

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L 148/10
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
8.6.2012
(9) The
Management
Committee
for
the
Common
Organi
3.
On the reverse side of the certificate of authenticity it shall
sation of Agricultural Markets has not delivered an
be stated that the meat originating in the exporting country
opinion within the time limit set by its Chair,
fulfils the requirements laid down in Annex II.
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
4. A
certificate
of
authenticity
shall
be
valid
only
if
it
is
duly
completed and endorsed by the issuing authority.
Article 1
5. A
certificate
of
authenticity
shall
be
considered
to
have
Subject matter and scope
been duly endorsed if it states the date and place of issue and if
1. This
Regulation
lays
down
rules
for
the
management
of it bears the stamp of the issuing authority and the signature of
an annual Union tariff quota for high-quality beef provided for
the person or persons empowered to sign it.
in Regulation (EC) No 617/2009, hereinafter referred to as ‘the
tariff quota’. The tariff quota period, volume and duty shall be
6. The
stamp
may
be
replaced
by
a
printed
seal
on
the
as set out in Annex I to this Regulation.
original of the certificate of authenticity and any copies thereof.
2. This
Regulation
shall
apply
to
high-quality
fresh,
chilled
or 7. The validity of a certificate of authenticity shall expire at
frozen beef that fulfils the requirements laid down in Annex II.
the latest on 30 June following the date of its issue.
For the purposes of this Regulation, ‘frozen meat’ means meat
Article 4
with an internal temperature of – 12 °C or lower when it enters
Issuing authorities in third countries
the customs territory of the European Union.
1. The
issuing
authority
referred
to
in
Article
3
shall:
Article 2
(a) be recognised as such by the competent authority of the
Management of the tariff quota
exporting country;
1. The
tariff
quota
shall
be
managed
on
a
first-come,
first-
served basis in accordance with Articles 308a and 308b and
(b) undertake to verify entries in the certificates of authenticity.
Article 308c(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93. No import
licences shall be required.
2. The
following
information
shall
be
notified
to
the
Commission:
2. The tariff quota shall be managed as a parent tariff quota
under order number 09.2201 with four quarterly sub-tariff
(a) the name and address, if possible including e-mail and
quotas under order number 09.2202.
internet address, of the authority or authorities recognised
to issue the certificates of authenticity referred to in
The benefit from the tariff quota can be granted only by
Article 3;
applying for order number 09.2202 referring to the sub-tariff
quotas.
(b) specimen of the stamps used by the issuing authority or
authorities;
3. The
drawings
on
the
sub-tariff
quotas
until
30
September,
31 December and 31 March shall be stopped respectively on
(c) the procedures and criteria followed by the issuing authority
the fifth working day of the Commission in November,
or authorities in order to establish whether the requirements
February and May. Their unused balances shall be added to
laid down in Annex II are fulfilled.
the quantities for the quarterly sub-tariff quotas starting
respectively on 1 October, 1 January and 1 April. No unused
balance at the end of a quota year shall be transferred to
Article 5
another quota year.
Third country notifications
When the requirements laid down in Annex II are fulfilled, the
Article 3
Commission shall publish the name of the issuing authority or
Certificates of authenticity
authorities concerned in the C series of the Official Journal of the
European Union or by any other appropriate means.
1. In
order
to
benefit
from
the
tariff
quota,
a
certificate
of
authenticity issued in the third country concerned, together with
a customs declaration for release for free circulation for the
Article 6
goods concerned, shall be presented to the Union’s customs
On-the-spot checks in third countries
authorities.
The Commission may request the third country to authorise
representatives of the Commission to carry out, where
2. The
certificate
of
authenticity
referred
to
in
paragraph
1 required, on-the-spot checks in that third country. Those
shall be established in accordance with the model set out in
checks shall be performed jointly with the competent auth
Annex III.
orities of the third country concerned.

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EN
8.6.2012 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
148/11
Article 7
Article 9
Repeal
Entry into force and application
Regulation (EC) No 620/2009 is repealed.
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following
that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European
Union.
Article 8
Transitional measures
Licence applications submitted in accordance with Article 3 of
It shall apply from 1 July 2012.
Regulation (EC) No 620/2009 during the first seven days of
June 2012 shall be rejected on the date of entry into force of
this Regulation. The securities lodged in relation with those
However, Article 8 shall apply from the date of entry into force
applications shall be released.
of this Regulation.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 7 June 2012.
For the Commission
The President
José Manuel BARROSO

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L 148/12
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
8.6.2012
ANNEX I
Tariff quota for high-quality fresh, chilled or frozen beef
Tariff quota
Tariff
Order No CN
code Description
of
goods Tariff
quota
period
volume
(in tonnes net
quota
weight)
duty
Period from 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013
09.2201 ( 1 ) ex
0201 Meat
of
bovine
animals,
fresh,
From 1 July to 30
45 975 Zero
chilled or frozen, that fulfils
June
ex 0202
the requirements laid down in
Annex II
ex 0206 10 95
ex 0206 29 91
of which:
09.2202 from
1
July
to
30
9 825
September
09.2202 from
1
October
to
12 050
31 December
09.2202 from
1
January
to
12 050
31 March
09.2202 from
1
April
to
30
12 050
June
Periods from 1 July 2013
09.2201 ( 1 ) ex
0201 Meat
of
bovine
animals,
fresh,
From 1 July to 30
48 200 Zero
chilled or frozen, that fulfils
June
ex 0202
the requirements laid down in
Annex II
ex 0206 10 95
ex 0206 29 91
of which
09.2202 from
1
July
to
30
12 050
September
09.2202 from
1
October
to
12 050
31 December
09.2202 from
1
January
to
12 050
31 March
09.2202 from
1
April
to
30
12 050
June
( 1 ) In accordance with Article 2(2), the benefit from the tariff quota can be granted only by applying for order number 09.2202 referring
to the sub-tariff quotas.

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EN
8.6.2012 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
148/13
ANNEX II
Requirements for goods under the tariff quota referred to in Article 1
1. Beef cuts are obtained from carcasses of heifers and steers ( 1 ) less than 30 months of age which have only been fed a
diet, for at least the last 100 days before slaughter, containing not less than 62 % of concentrates and/or feed grain co-
products on a dietary dry matter basis, that meets or exceeds a metabolisable energy content greater than 12,26 mega
joules per one kilogram of dry matter.
2. The heifers and steers that are fed the diet described in point 1 shall be fed, on average, no less than 1,4 % of live body
weight per day on a dry matter basis.
3. The carcass from which beef cuts are derived are evaluated by an evaluator employed by the national government who
bases the evaluation, and a resulting classification of the carcass, on a method approved by the national government.
The national government evaluation method, and its classifications, must evaluate expected carcass quality using a
combination of carcass maturity and palatability traits of the beef cuts. Such an evaluation method of the carcass shall
include, but not be limited to, an evaluation of the maturity characteristics of colour and texture of the longissimus
dorsi muscle and bone and cartilage ossification, as well as an evaluation of expected palatability traits including a
combination of the discrete specifications of intramuscular fat and firmness of the longissimus dorsi muscle.
4. The cuts shall be labelled in accordance with Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of the European Parliament
and of the Council ( 2 ).
5. The indication ‘High Quality Beef’ may be added to the information on the label.
( 1 ) For the purposes of these requirements, heifers and steers refer, respectively, to categories E and C as defined in Part A of Annex V to
Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007.
( 2 ) OJ L 204, 11.8.2000, p. 1.

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L 148/14
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
8.6.2012
ANNEX III

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Document Outline

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