Directive 2005/93 - Amendment of Directive 69/169/EEC as regards the temporary quantitative restriction on beer imports into Finland

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1.

Current status

This directive was in effect from December 29, 2005 until November 30, 2008 and should have been implemented in national regulation on December 31, 2005 at the latest.

2.

Key information

official title

Council Directive 2005/93/EC of 21 December 2005 amending Directive 69/169/EEC as regards the temporary quantitative restriction on beer imports into Finland
 
Legal instrument Directive
Number legal act Directive 2005/93
Original proposal COM(2005)427 EN
CELEX number i 32005L0093

3.

Key dates

Document 21-12-2005
Publication in Official Journal 29-12-2005; Special edition in Bulgarian: Chapter 02 Volume 019,Special edition in Romanian: Chapter 02 Volume 019,OJ L 175M , 29.6.2006,OJ L 346, 29.12.2005
Effect 29-12-2005; Entry into force Date pub. See Art 3
End of validity 30-11-2008; Implicitly repealed by 32007L0074
Transposition 31-12-2005; At the latest See Art 2.1

4.

Legislative text

29.12.2005   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 346/16

 

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2005/93/EC

of 21 December 2005

amending Directive 69/169/EEC as regards the temporary quantitative restriction on beer imports into Finland

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 93 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (2),

Whereas:

 

(1)

Articles 4 and 5 of Council Directive 69/169/EEC of 28 May 1969 on the harmonisation of provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action relating to exemption from turnover tax and excise duty on imports in international travel (3) provide for allowances in respect of excisable goods contained in the luggage of travellers coming from third countries on condition that such imports have no commercial character.

 

(2)

Directive 69/169/EEC allows Finland until 31 December 2005 to restrict the import of beer by individuals to not less than 6 litres per person due to serious economic difficulties of Finnish retail traders in the border region as well as a considerable loss of revenue caused by the increased import of beer from third countries. Finland has applied the allowance only to a limited extent and restricted the import of beer to a maximum 16 litres per person.

 

(3)

The accession of new Member States has provided new opportunities for people travelling from one of the Member States, especially from Estonia, who wish to bring beer into Finland. Finland reacted to this situation by reducing tax rates on alcoholic beverages across the board by, on average, 33 %, which is by far the most significant change for 40 years.

 

(4)

The reduction in alcohol tax rates has led not only to significant losses of excise duty revenue but also to increased problems in relation to alcohol policy and to social and health policy. Furthermore, problems in public order and an increase in alcohol-related crime have arisen.

 

(5)

Finland has requested a derogation from Article 4(1) of Directive 69/169/EEC to apply a maximum limit for beer imports by travellers from third countries of not less than 16 litres per person.

 

(6)

Account should be taken of the geographical situation of Finland, the economic difficulties of the Finnish retail traders located in the border regions and the considerable loss of revenue caused by the increased imports of beer from third countries.

 

(7)

For those reasons and in the light of the current reflections on a general revision of the values and quantities of goods set out in Directive 69/169/EEC, it is appropriate to authorise Finland to apply the requested derogation for a further period until 31 December 2007,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Article 1

Article 5(9) of Directive 69/169/EEC shall be replaced by the following:

‘9.   By way of derogation from Article 4(1), Finland shall be authorised, until 31 December 2007, to apply a maximum quantitative limit of not less than 16 litres for the importation of beer from third countries.’

Article 2

  • 1. 
    Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 31 December 2005. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of such laws, regulations or administrative provisions, together with a table showing the correlation between them and this Directive.

When they are adopted by Member States, those measures shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such reference shall...


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This text has been adopted from EUR-Lex.

5.

Original proposal

 

6.

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