CAPI12050 - Regulatory control procedures on importations of cereals: general

High quality wheat and flint maize have zero duty rates under Regulation 642/2010. For malting barley, there is an import tariff quota under Regulation 1064/2009, where the duty is 8%. Until recently this quota was managed by the issue of licences, but from January 2010 it has been managed under the first come first served system.

These commodities are subject to Regulatory examination and sampling to ensure the cereal is eligible for the reduced rates. Consignments may be accompanied by conformity certificates issued by recognised bodies in certain third countries, and in these cases the examination rates are reduced to 3% of imports through each port. Without these certificates the examination rate is 100%.

Where cereals are selected for examination and there is no conformity certificate, a security must be taken pending the results of analysis of the samples. When a certificate of conformity is presented, no security is required for wheat and flint maize. For malting barley the security is reduced to 10 Euros per tonne.

Detailed guidance on the examination and sampling of cereals may be found in the Controls for Imported Cereals and Examination and Sampling Good Practice Guides, accessed via the CAP UoE Intranet site. Full details of the procedure to be followed in each case are shown on CHIEF profiles.