The European Commission is to open infringement proceedings against France in connection with importers' access to tariff quotas for bananas, the first stage in a procedure, which could end up going to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. France has allowed in excess of 50,000 tonnes of bananas to be imported at a reduced rate of customs duty, whereas the Commission argues that Article 4 of the regulation giving effect to the new arrangements for banana imports (Regulation 896/2001), entitles French importers to around 4 000 tonnes a year. The Commission wants to clear up any doubts about the implementation of these rules, to ensure that they are applied uniformly to traders throughout the EU, and to see that no similar problems recur. It is also keen to ensure that the market is not disrupted, and to protect its own revenue.
