WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/LIC/N/3/EEC/2/Add.20
13 October 1999
(99-4362)
Committee on Import Licensing Original:  English
REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES1
Notification under Article 7.3 of the Agreement
on Import Licensing Procedures
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
Addendum
Import Licensing Procedures for WTO Tariff Quotas
Covering Certain Poultry and Turkey Products
Outline of system
1. The object of the import licensing system is to ensure a sound administration of the EC’s
WTO tariff rate quotas mentioned in reply 2. The relevant legislation related to the import licensing
system for these tariff quotas is mentioned in reply 5.  As regards the requirements for applicants for
import licences see reply 6.
Purpose and coverage of licensing
2. See reply 1. The products covered by the tariff quotas mentioned in reply 1 are as follows:
Description of products Tariff item number(s)
Chicken carcass, fresh, chilled or frozen 0207 11 and 0207 12
Chicken cuts, fresh, chilled or frozen ex 0207 11 and ex 0207 12
Of fowls of the species Gallus domesticus
-- Cuts and offal, frozen:
---Cuts
---- Boneless 0207 14 10
Turkey meat, fresh, chilled or frozen 0207 24, 0207 25, 0207 26 and 0207 27
3. The system applies in the European Community to the above-mentioned products originatingin third countries.
4. See reply 1. As referred to in reply 1, the licensing system covers the relevant WTO tariff
quotas. The EC considers the method adopted to be the most appropriate to administer these tariff rate
quotas.
5. The relevant legislation for the administration of import licences for the tariff quotas
mentioned in reply 1 is:
                                                     
1 See G/LIC/3, Annex, for the Questionnaire.G/LIC/N/3/EEC/2/Add.20
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Commission Regulation (EC) No 1251/96 of 28 June 1996 (OJ L 161), as last amended by
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1370/98 of 29 June 1998 (OJ L 185).
The licensing is statutorily required. The legislation does not leave designation of products to
be subjected to licensing to administrative discretion. The system cannot be abolished without
legislative approval.
Procedures
6. Answer to questions 6.I to VIII and to 6. XI. Questions 6.IX and X are not relevant.
The information related to the allocation of  the quotas and the formalities for licence
application is published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (see reply 5). There is
no derogation from the licensing requirement.
The tariff quotas are annual tariff quotas, opened on a quarterly basis.Applicants for import licences must be natural or legal persons, who at the time applications
are submitted, prove to the satisfaction of the competent authorities of the Member States that they
have imported not less than 50 tonnes of products falling within the scope of Regulation (EEC)
No. 2777/75 in each of the two calendar years preced ing the year in which the licence application is
lodged. Retail and catering establishments selling their products to the final consumer are excluded
from the benefits of this system. Imports are only known to the competent authority in the Member
States to which the import licence application has been submitted and to the Commission. Licence
applications must be submitted to the competent authority of the Member State in which the applicant
is established or has set up his registered office. Licence applications may be submitted during thefirst 10 days of the quarterly quota period (1 July, 1 October, 1 January and 1 April) to the competent
authorities in the Member States. The applicant for an import licence must approach only one
administrative organ. The competent authorities in the Member States have to notify to the
Commission, on the fifth working day following the end of the application submission period, of
applications submitted. Applications are examined simultaneously by the Commission. The
Commission decides as quickly as possible to what extent quantities may be awarded in respect of the
quantities requested in the import licence applications. If the quantities in respect of which licenceshave been applied for exceed the quantities available, the Commission fixes a single percentage of
acceptance for the quantities applied for. Where this percentage is less then 5%, it is possible that the
Commission will not award the quantities applied for and release the security. The Commission
calculates the quantities remaining which are added to the quantity available in respect of the
following period in the same year.
7. Question 7 is not relevant in the present case.8. The application for an import licence can only be refused if the relevant criteria are not
fulfilled. Applicants can appeal to courts in the Me mber States according to the legislation in force in
the respective Member States.
Eligibility of importers to apply for licence
9. See reply 6. There is no specific system of registration necessary for the application of an
import licence.G/LIC/N/3/EEC/2/Add.20
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Documentational and other requirements for application for licence
10. The application for an import licence has to be  submitted to the competent authorities in the
Member States conforming to the specimen set out at Annex XI to the Community’s general
Article 7.3 notification for 1999 (G/LIC/N/3/EEC /2). Regarding the information required in
applications, see the application form and Commi ssion Regulation (EC) No 1251/96 of 28 June 1996
(published in OJ L 161, page 136), as last am ended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1370/98 of
29 June 1998 (published in OJ L 185, page 15).
11. The import licence.12. No.13. The issuance of import licence is subject to a security in order to guarantee that the
undertaking to import will be fulfilled during the period of validity of the licence.  The security is
released when the obligation to import has been fulfilled.
Conditions of licensing
14. Import licences are valid 150 days, but not beyond each quota period.
15. In case of non-utilisation of an import licence, the security is not released. In the case of
partial use of the import licence, the security is partially released.
16. Import licences are not transferable.17. No.Other procedural requirements
18. No.19. Not relevant.
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