Ref. Ares(2015)5173725 - 18/11/2015
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Deputy Director-General for Directions C, D and E
Brussels,
JOV/fvn agri.ddg2.c.3(2015)5587893
NOTE TO THE ATTENTION OF MEMBER STATES' DELEGATIONS TO THE COMMITTEE
FOR THE COMMON ORGANISATION OF THE AGRICULTURAL MARKETS (SECTOR
ANIMAL PRODUCTS)
Subject:
Eligibility of bison meat under the provisions of Commission
Implementing Regulation (EU) No 593/2013 ("Hilton Quota")
In order to clarify the eligibility of Bison meat under the provisions of Regulation (EU)
No 593/2013 of 21 June 2013 opening and providing for the administration of tariff
quotas for high-quality fresh, chilled and frozen beef and for frozen buffalo meat1 ("the
Hilton quota"), the following is to be considered:
1. The Regulation at stake provides for tariff quotas for:
 High quality fresh, chilled or frozen meat of bovine animals covered by the
Combined Nomenclature (CN) codes 0201 and 0202 and for products covered by
CN codes 0206 10 95 and 0206 29 91 originating in Argentina, Australia, Brazil,
Canada, New Zealand, Paraguay, Uruguay and the United States (quota numbers
09.4002, 09.4450, 09.4451, 09.4452, 09.4453, 09.4454, 09.4455), and
 frozen boneless buffalo meat covered by CN code 0202 30 90 originating in
Australia (quota number 09.4001), and
 boneless buffalo meat, fresh, chilled or frozen’ covered by CN code 0201 30 00
and CN code 0202 30 90 originating in Argentina (quota number 09.4004)
2. Tariff quotas 09.4002, 09.4450, 09.4451, 09.4452, 09.4453, 09.4454, 09.4455 have
specific definitions for each origin
3. According to explanatory notes of both the CN2 and HS3 systems, bison meat falls
under the general definition of "meat of bovine animals" (Chapters 0201 and 0202
and 0206 10 95 and 0206 29 91) and, in particular, under the specific definition of
"buffalo meat".
4. The allocations and definitions of the Hilton Quota derive from the implementation
of the EU concessions set out in Schedule CXL drawn up in the wake of the
conclusion of the GATT XXIV.6 negotiations and the successive agreements reached
with the various trade partners. Such negotiations resulted in specific quotas for
1
2
3
OJ L 170, 22.6.2013, p. 32
Explanatory notes to the Combined Nomenclature of the European Union (OJ C 76, 4.3.2015, p. 1)
World Customs Organisation Harmonized System
Commission européenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË - Tel. +32 22991111
buffalo meat for Argentina and Australia in addition to the quotas for meat of bovine
animals.
5. In consequence, while quotas 09.4002, 09.4450, 09.4451, 09.4452, 09.4453, 09.4454,
09.4455 cover imports of meat of bovine animals, including buffalo meat, quotas
09.4001 and 09.4004 cover only buffalo meat.
Therefore, the import of bison meat should be allowed under the provisions of
Regulation (EU) No 593/2013 also for the quotas 09.4002, 09.4450, 09.4451, 09.4452,
09.4453, 09.4454, 09.4455 provided that the specific definitions for each quota, as laid
down in the Regulation, are met.
2
Electronically signed on 17/11/2015 17:27 (UTC+01) in accordance with article 4.2 (Validity of electronic documents) of Commission Decision 2004/563