Council Regulation (EU) 2025/1292 of 23 June 2025 amending Regulation (EU) 2021/2283 opening and providing for the management of autonomous tariff quotas of the Union for certain agricultural and industrial products

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 31 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) In order to ensure a sufficient supply of certain agricultural and industrial products which are produced in insufficient quantities in the Union and thereby avoid any disturbances on the market for those products, autonomous tariff quotas of the Union (‘quotas’) were opened by Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2283 (1). Within those quotas, products can be imported into the Union at reduced or zero duty rates.

(2) As it is in the Union’s interest to ensure an adequate supply of certain industrial products, and having regard to the fact that identical, equivalent or substitute products are not produced in sufficient quantities within the Union, it is necessary to open new quotas with order numbers 09.2010, 09.2017, 09.2024, 09.2025, 09.2027, 09.2029, 09.2031 at zero duty rates for appropriate quantities of those products, as of 1 July 2025.

(3) As the scope of the quota with order number 09.2585 has become inadequate to fulfil the needs of economic operators in the Union, TARIC codes 3907 61 00 20 and 3907 69 00 20 should be added to this quota as of 1 July 2025.

(4) As it is no longer in the Union’s interest to maintain the quotas with order numbers 09.2563, 09.2808, and 09.2925, those quotas should be closed with effect from 1 July 2025.

(5) In response to the Russian Federation’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and the continued involvement of the Republic of Belarus in actions undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Union has adopted restrictive measures aimed at limiting trade benefits granted to Russia and Belarus. Council Regulation (EU) 2022/2563 (2) introduced an exception to the application of customs duties under autonomous tariff quotas for certain products originating in Russia and Belarus, specifically for quotas with order numbers 09.2600, 09.2742, 09.2698, and 09.2835, covering products falling under TARIC codes ex 2712 90 39 10, ex 2926 10 00 10, ex 3204 17 00 30, and ex 7604 29 10 30, respectively. Given the persistence of the geopolitical situation and the need to reinforce the effectiveness of the Union’s response, it is appropriate to discontinue that exception and to reinstate the application of customs duties on imports originating in Russia and Belarus under those quotas. Taking that measure ensures consistency with the Union’s restrictive trade policy and prevents economic benefits from being conferred upon entities operating in or supporting actions contrary to international law.

(6) Taking into account the amendments to be made and for the sake of clarity, the Annex to Regulation (EU) 2021/2283 should be replaced.

(7) Regulation (EU) 2021/2283 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(8) In order to avoid any interruption in the application of the quota scheme and to comply with the guidelines set out in the communication from the Commission of 13 December 2011 concerning autonomous tariff suspensions and quotas, the changes provided for in this Regulation regarding the quotas for the products concerned should apply from 1 July 2025. This Regulation should therefore enter into force as a matter of urgency,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Regulation (EU) 2021/2283 is amended as follows:

(1) in Article 1, paragraph 4 is replaced by the following: ‘4.   The suspension laid down in paragraph 2 does not apply to products originating in Russia or in Belarus, including for quota order numbers 09.2600, 09.2742, 09.2698, and 09.2835. Consequently, imports of such products originating in Russia and Belarus shall be subject to the Common Customs Tariff duties as from 1 July 2025.’

(2) the Annex is replaced by the text set out in the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 1 July 2025.

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

Done at Luxembourg, 23 June 2025.

For the Council The President C. SIEKIERSKI

(1) Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2283 of 20 December 2021 opening and providing for the management of autonomous tariff quotas of the Union for certain agricultural and industrial products, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1388/2013 (OJ L 458, 22.12.2021, p. 33, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/2283/oj).

(2) Council Regulation (EU) 2022/2563 of 19 December 2022 amending Regulation (EU) 2021/2283 opening and providing for the management of autonomous tariff quotas of the Union for certain agricultural and industrial products (OJ L 330, 23.12.2022, p. 109, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2563/oj).