Import rules for rice, cereals, sugar, and hops

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2835 of 10 October 2023 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rules on import in the sectors of rice, cereals, sugar and hops, and repealing Commission Regulations (EC) No 3330/94, (EC) No 2810/95, (EC) No 951/2006, (EC) No 972/2006, (EC) No 504/2007, (EC) No 1375/2007, (EC) No 402/2008, (EC) No 1295/2008, (EC) No 1312/2008 and (EU) No 642/2010, et al. […]

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2834 of 10 October 2023 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards imports in the sectors of rice, cereals, sugar and hops

Update

The European Commission has published revised rules on the import of rice, cereals, sugar, and hops, with changes relevant to Basmati rice, flint maize, common wheat and durum wheat, molasses, and hops. These Regulations aim to consolidate existing rules and prepare for the transition to digital customs documents and other formalities relating to imports. The new rules do not affect the current trading conditions or requirements for lower- and middle-income countries exporting these products to the EU.

Impacted Products

Cereals, barley, maize, oats, rye, sorghum, triticale, wheat, grains, hops, rice, sorghum, sugar

What is changing?

These Regulations consolidate rules currently spread over 30 different pieces of legislation on the conditions for importing rice, cereals, sugar, and hops. The changes update and harmonise the EU legislation. They do not change the basic requirements or conditions for importing these products into the EU.

The new Regulations are also updated to reflect the ongoing digitalisation of customs procedures and other formalities for non-EU countries. The European Commission intends to set up an electronic system for agricultural non-customs formalities (“ELAN”). This will be linked to the digital tools being established for customs procedures. See European Commission webpage: The EU Single Window Environment for Customs.

For example, imports into the EU of Basmati rice must be accompanied by authenticity certificates issued by a competent body in India or Pakistan. In the future, these certificates may be made available through the new ELAN system. These new Regulations anticipate these developments by making it possible for operators to use these digital systems instead of the current paper formats.

There is one other change related to Basmati rice. Under the previous Regulation 972/2006, an applicant for an important licence had to prove that, for at least 12 months, they had been commercially active in the rice sector and registered in the EU Member State where the application was made. Under the new Regulation 2023/2835, the applicant must prove that they have exported from the EU, or placed on the EU market, at least 25 tons of Basmati rice during the previous two calendar years.

Why?

Since the Lisbon Treaty entered into force in December 2009, the EU has been systematically reviewing legislation to bring it into line with that Treaty. These import rules are the latest to undergo this process.

Timeline

The new Regulations apply from 28 December 2023.

What are the major implications for exporting countries?

These new rules have no major implications for exporting countries.

Sources