
Article 1 

1. The release into free circulation of bananas falling within CN code 0803 00 19 at the common customs tariff rate of duty shall be subject to the presentation of an import licence issued by the Member States to any party applying therefor, irrespective of their place of establishment in the Community.
2. The issue of import licences shall be subject to the provision of a security in accordance with Title III of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2220/85 guaranteeing compliance with the commitment to import during the period of validity of the licence. The security shall be EUR 15 per tonne.Save in the case of force majeure, the security shall be forfeit in whole or in part if the operation has not been performed or has been performed only partially during that period.
3. Import licence applications shall be lodged in any Member State.
4. Licences shall be issued without delay, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000.
5. Import licences shall be valid for three months.
Article 2 
Member States shall report to the Commission each month, not later than the 10th day, the quantities for which import licences have been issued during the previous month.
Article 3 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
It shall apply from 1 January 2006.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.Done at Brussels, 9 December 2005.
For the Commission
Mariann FISCHER BOEL
Member of the Commission