WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/LIC/N/3/EEC/4
17 October 2001
(01-5090)
Committee on Import Licensing Original:  English
REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES1
Notification under Article 7.3 of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures2
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
The following notification, dated 7 October 2001, has been received from the Permanent
Delegation of the European Communities.
_______________
Outline of system
1. The Community import licensing system is based on the premise that no import licences are
required except where specific products are subject to quantitative restrictions, safeguard measures or
import surveillance. The Community applies no quantitative restrictions to WTO Members in the
industrial sector except for certain textile products. There are also a number of products subject toCommunity surveillance with the purpose of improvin g transparency of import trends of the products
concerned, but with no intention of limiting market access. The coverage of products subject to
Community licensing systems appears in the annexes and regulations referred to in replies to
questions 2 and 3.  The relevant legislation is mentioned in reply to question 5.
The import licensing scheme for agricultural products serves statistical purposes and is an
automatic licensing system. The competent authorities in the Member States issue import licences toevery applicant. Import licences are subject to a security and are valid in all the Member States of the
Community. Import licences have to be submitted with the import declaration.
Furthermore, a licence is required in respect of a number of tariff quotas in the agricultural
sector.
Purpose and coverage of licensing
2. See reply 1.
                                                     
1  See document G/LIC/3, Annex, for the Questionnaire.
2 The notification relating to agricultural tariff rate quotas is contained in the Addendum to this document:
G/LIC/N/3/EEC/4/Add.1.G/LIC/N/3/EEC/4
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3. See the following table.
Licensing system Product coverage Country coverage
Quantitative quotas (other than
textiles)Certain steel products. None for WTO Members, only
for Russia, Ukraine and
Kazakhstan.
Community surveillance (other
than textiles)a. Certain ECSC and EC steel
products.
Council Regulations (EC) No.
239/2001 (Czech Republic, OJ L
35, 6.2.2001, p.3), 237/2001
(Romania OJ L 35, 6.2.2001,p.1), 238/2001 (Slovakia OJ L35, 6.2.2001, p.2), 335/2001(Poland OJ L 49, 20.2.2001, p.1),190/98 (FYROM, OJ L 20,
27.1.98, p.1), 793/2000 (Russia,
OJ L 96, 18.4.2000, p.1),501/2000 (Ukraine, OJ L 62,9.3.2000, p.1), 2743/1999(Kazakhstan, OJ L342,31.12.1999, p.1).Romania, Czech Republic,
Slovakia, Poland, FYROM,Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan.
b. Certain agricultural products.
See Annex I .All third countries.
c. Footwear products originating
in Vietnam
Council Regulation (EC) No
1/2000 of 17 December 1999, OJL001, 04.01.2000, p1.Vietnam.
Textiles: Quantitative limits or
surveillanceCouncil Regulation (EEC) No.
3030/93  (OJ No. L 275, 8.11.93,
p.1) - on common rules for
imports of certain textileproducts from third countries.[as last amended by CommissionRegulation (EC) No. 1809/2001(OJ No. L 252, 20.8.2001)]See text below.
I. TEXTILES
Under the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, the Community at present maintains
quantitative restrictions in the textile field against the following third countries, which are Members of
WTO: Argentina, Brazil, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines,Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka
3 and Thailand (Basic Regulation 3030/93). Consultation levels
were established with Egypt.
Furthermore, it should be noted that the Community maintains administrative arrangements
with Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and the United Arab Emirates, all WTO Members, under
                                                     
3 The application of quotas is suspended in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding
between the European Community and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on arrangements in thearea of market access for textile and clothing products, and authorising its provisional application (CouncilDecision 214/2001 of 26.2.2001, OJ L 80, 20.3.2001, p. 11).G/LIC/N/3/EEC/4
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which imports into the Community of products falling under a number of categories of textile
products are subject to a double-checking system without quantitative restrictions (surveillance
according to Annex III of Regulation 3030/93)4.
Moreover, the Community maintains bilateral agr eements on trade in textile products with the
following non-WTO Members: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Cambodia, China
(MFA-type Agreement and Agreement on silk, linen and ramie), Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Laos, Moldova, Nepal, Russian Federation, Ukraine, Uzbekistan,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam. It should be noted that of these countries only Belarus, China,
Uzbekistan and Vietnam are subject to quantita tive restrictions (Basic Regulation 3030/93).
In addition, the Community maintains autonomous quantitative restrictions on imports from a
number of non-WTO Members with which no bilateral agreements exist: Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia, North Korea and Taiwan.
II. AGRICULTURE
For agricultural tariff quotas subject to import licensing, see reply to question 6.
4. The Community applies no quantitative quotas to WTO Members in the industrial sector
except for certain products in the textile field where the licensing is intended to restrict the quantity of
imports.
The purpose of import licensing procedure for products under surveillance is for statistical
reasons and to strengthen control on imports originating from the country concerned and, more
specifically, to improve control on the origin of the products concerned.  It is intended to monitor
import trends and not to restrict the quantity of imports. The systems are based on an automaticlicensing.
In some cases a double-checking system is applied (certain textile and steel products) with an
export document issued by third country authori ties. The aim of the double-checking system is to
improve transparency and to avoid possible diversion of trade and custom fraud by rapid provision of
information on the trend of trade flows.
See also reply to question 1.
Legislative basis
5. Licensing is statutorily required for the products listed in the relevant legislative texts.
Product coverage is defined in the legislation and is not subject to administrative discretion. The
system cannot be abolished without legislative ap proval (regulations generally contain provisions
relating to the duration and expiry of the licensing regime).
5.1. General
Council Regulation (EC) 519/94 of 7 March 1994 (OJ L. 67, 10.03.94, p.89) established
common rules for imports from certain third countries5.
                                                     
4 Regulation 3030/93 also governs our textile trade with non-WTO members with which we have
bilateral agreements. These non-WTO countries are: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Cambodia, China, Croatia, Fyrom, Kazakhstan, Laos, Nepal, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine,Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
5 Under this regulation, the EC has also import licensing procedures with China.G/LIC/N/3/EEC/4
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[As amended by:
- Council Regulation (EC) N° 1921/94 (OJ L 198, 30.07.94, p.1)
- Council Regulation (EC) N° 538/95 (OJ L. 55, 11.03.95, p.1)
- Council Regulation (EC) N° 839/95 (OJ L. 85, 19.04.95, p.9)- Council Regulation (EC) N° 139/96 (OJ L 21, 27.01.96, p.7)
- Council Regulation (EC) N° 168/96 (OJ L. 25, 01.02.96, p.2)
- Council Regulation (EC) N° 752/96 (OJ L. 103, 26.04.96, p.1)
- Council Regulation (EC) N° 1897/96 (OJ L. 250, 02.10.96, p.1)
- Council Regulation (EC)N° 847/97 (OJ L. 122, 14.05.97, p.1)
- Council Regulation (EC) N° 1138/98 (OJ L. 159, 03.06.98, p.1).]
5.2. Textile products
5.2.1. Trade with WTO Member countries and countries with bilateral agreements:
5.2.1.1. Trade in products not subject to normal GATT rules ("products not integrated" in WTO):
5.2.1.1.1. Basic Regulation:
- Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3030/93 (OJ No. L 275, 8.11.93, p. 1) - on common rules for
imports of certain textile products from third countries.
[As amended by:
- Council Regulation (EC) No. 3289/94 (OJ No. L 349, 31.12.94, p. 85) – amends
Regulation 3030/93.
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1410/96 (OJ No. L 181, 20.7.96, p. 15) - concerning the
partial withdrawal of Regulation 3053/95.
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2231/96 (OJ No. L 307, 28.11.96, p. 1) - amends Annexes I,
II, III, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX and XI to Regulation 3030/93.
- Council Regulation (EC) No. 2315/96 (OJ No. L 314, 4.12.96, p.1) - list products to be
integrated into GATT 1994 on 1.1.98 - amends An nex X to Regulation 3030/93 and Annex II to
Regulation 3285/94.
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 447/97 (OJ No. L 68, 8.3.97, p. 16) - quantitative limits -
OPT - China.
- Council Regulation (EC) No. 824/97 (OJ No. L 119, 8.5.97, p. 1) - amends
Regulation 3030/93.
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 339/98 (OJ No. L 45, 16.2.98, p. 1) - amends Annexes I, II,
III, V, VI, VII, VIII and IX to Regulation 3030/93.
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 856/98 (OJ No. L 122, 24.4.98, p. 11) - amends Annexes I,
II, III, V, VII, VIII and IX to Regulation 3030/93.
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1053/98 (OJ N o. L 151, 21.5.98, p. 10)- amends Annexes II,
III and IX to Regulation 3030/93.G/LIC/N/3/EEC/4
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- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2798/98 (OJ No. L 353, 29.12.98, p. 1) - amends Annex I to
Regulation 3030/93.
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1072/99 (OJ No. L 134, 28.5.99, p. 1) - amends Annexes I,
II, III, V, VII, VIII and IX to Regulation 3030/93.
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1591/2000 (OJ No. L 186, 25.7.2000, p. 1) - amends
Annexes II, III, V, VII, VIII and IX to Regulation 3030/93.
- Council Regulation (EC) No. 391/2001 (OJ No. L 58, 28.2.2001, P.3) – amends Regulation
3030/93.
- Council Regulation (EC) No. 1809/2001 (OJ No. L 252, 20.8.2001) – amends Regulation
3030/93.]
5.2.1.1.2. Derogation from Basic Regulation:
- Council Regulation (EC) No. 1087/97 (OJ L 158, 17.6.97, p1) - authorizing imports into
Canary Islands and certain quota products originating in China without quantitative restrictions.
5.2.1.1.3. Regulations granting additional limits for European fairs:
- 1998: Commission Regulation (EC) No. 283/98 (OJ No. L 28, 4.2.98, p. 9)
- 1999: Commission Regulation (EC) No. 36/1999 (OJ No. L 5, 9.1.99, p. 57)
- 2000: Commission Regulation (EC) No. 297/2000 (OJ No. L 34, 9.2.2000, p. 12
- November 2000: Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1658/2000 (OJ No. L 192, 28.7.2000,
p. 15)
- November 2001: Commission Regulation (EC) No 1850/2001 (OJ No. L 253, 21.9.2001,
p. 12)
5.2.1.2. Trade in products subject to normal GATT rules "products integrated" in WTO:
- Council Regulation (EC) No. 3285/94 (OJ No. L 349, 31.12.94, p. 53) – repeals
Regulation 518/94.
[As amended by:
- Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/96 (OJ No. L 21, 27.1.96, p. 7) - amends
Regulation 3285/94 and Regulation 519/94 with respect to the uniform Community surveillance
document.
- Council Regulation (EC) No. 2315/96 (OJ No. L 314, 4.12.96, p.1) - list of products to be
integrated into GATT 1994 on 1.1.98 and amends An nex X to Regulation 3030/93 and Annex II to
Regulation 3285/94.
- Council Regulation (EC) No. 2474/2000 (OJ No. L 286, 11.11.2000, p.1) - list of products to
be integrated into GATT 1994 on 1.1.2002 and amends Annex X to Regulation 3030/93 and Annex II
to Regulation 3285/94.]
5.2.2. Imports from other countries ("autonomous regime"):5.2.2.1. Basic Regulation:
- Council Regulation (EC) No. 517/94 (OJ No. L 67, 10.3.94, p. 1) - on common rules for
imports of textile products from certain third countries not covered by bilateral agreements, protocols
or other arrangements, or by other specific Community import rulesG/LIC/N/3/EEC/4
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[As amended by:
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1470/94 (OJ No. L 159, 28.6.94, p. 14) - opens quantitative
import quotas for products (cat. 160) from  China and amends Annexes IV and V to
Regulation 517/94.
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1756/94 (OJ No. L 183, 19.7.94, p. 9) - opens quantitative
import quotas (cat. 122, 123, 124, 125 B, 140 and 146 C) from China and amends Annexes IV and V
of Regulation 517/94.
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2612/94 (OJ No. L 279, 28.10.94, p. 7) - opens quantitative
import quotas (cat. 127 B and 145) from China and amends Annexes IV and V to Regulation 517/94.
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2980/94 (OJ No. L 315, 8.12.94, p. 2) - opens quantitative
import quotas (cat. 146A and 146B) from China and am ends Annexes IV and V to Regulation 517/94.
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 3168/94 (OJ No. L 335, 23.12.94, p. 23) - establishes in the
field of application of Regulation 517/94 a Community import licence and amending certain
provisions of the Regulation.
- Council Regulation (EC) No. 1325/95 (OJ No. L 128, 13.6.95, p. 1) - amends
Regulation 517/94.
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1627/95: (OJ No. L 155, 6.7.95, p. 8) - amends
Regulation 3168/94, establishes in the field of  517/94 a Community import licence and amends
certain provisions of the Regulation.
- Council Regulation (EC) No. 538/96 (OJ No. L 79, 29.3.96, p.1) - amends Regulation 517/94
concerning imports of products - Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro).
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1476/96 (OJ No. L 188, 27.7.96, p. 4) - opens quotas for
imports of products falling within cat. 87 and 109 originating in North Korea and amends Annexes IV
and V to Regulation 517/94.
(Corrigendum in OJ No. L 225, 6.9.96, p. 11)
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1937/96 (OJ No. L 255, 9.10.96, p. 4) - amends Annexes III
B and VI to Regulation 517/94.
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1457/97 (OJ No. L 199, 26.7.97, p. 6) – amends annexes
IIIB, IV and VI to Regulation 517/94.
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2542/99 (OJ No. L 307, 2.12.99, p. 14) – amends Annex I to
Regulation 517/94.
- Council Regulation (EC) No. 7/2000 (OJ No. L 2, 5.1.2000, p. 51) - amends
Regulation 517/94.
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2878/2000 (OJ L 333, 29.12.2000, p. 60) – amends Annex
IV to Regulation 517/94.]
5.2.2.2. Regulations concerning the import licence:
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 3168/94 (OJ No. L 335, 23.12.94, p. 23) - establishes in the
field of application of Regulation 517/94 a Community import licence and amending certain
provisions of the Regulation .
[As amended by:
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1627/95 (OJ No. L 155, 6.7.95, p. 8) - amends
Regulation 3168/94, establishes in the field of app lication of Regulation 517/94 a Community import
licence and amends certain provisions of the Regulation.]G/LIC/N/3/EEC/4
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5.2.2.3. Regulations concerning the distribution of quotas:
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2458/97 (OJ No. L 340, 11.12.97, p. 31) – (end 31.12.98) -
distribution of quotas for 1998 pursuant to Regulation 517/94.- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2650/98 (OJ No. L 335, 10.12.98, p. 43) – distribution of
quotas for 1999 pursuant to Regulation 517/94
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2629/99 (OJ No. L 321, 14.12.99, p. 8) – distribution of
quotas for 2000 pursuant to Regulation 517/94
[As amended by:
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 394/2000 (OJ No. L 49, 22.2.2000, p. 33) – amends
Regulation 2629/99.
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2833/2000 (OJ No. L 328, 23.12.200, p. 20) – distribution
of quotas for 2001 pursuant to Regulation 517/94.]
5.2.2.4. Imports from some non-WTO Members:
- Council Regulation (EC) No. 47/1999 (OJ No. L 12, 16.1.99, p. 1) – arrangements for imports
– Taiwan
[As amended by:
- Council Regulation (EC) No. 1556/1999 (OJ No. L 184, 17.7.99, p. 1 – amends Regulation
(EC) No. 47/1999).]
- Commission Regulation (EC) No 956/2 001 of 16 May (OJ L 134/31 of 17.5.2001) on
surveillance measures regarding imports of certain textile products originating in the Syrian ArabRepublic (cotton yarn).
5.2.3. Outward processing traffic (OPT):5.2.3.1. Basic Regulation:- Council Regulation (EC) No. 30 36/94 (OJ No. L 322, 15.12.94, p. 1) - establishes economic
outward processing arrangements to products reimported into the Community after working in certain
third countries. (Corrigenda in OJ No. L 135, 6.6.96, p. 35)
5.2.3.2. Implementing Regulation:
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 3017/95 (OJ No. L 314, 28.12.95, p. 40) - repeals
Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1816/95 (OJ No. L 175, 27.7.95, p.21)
5.2.4. Other communications and information:
- OJ No. C 52, 19.2.98, p.3: List of national competent authorities.
- OJ No. C 71, 7.3.98, p.2: List of Memb ers of the World Trade Organization.
- OJ No. C 321, 20.10.98, p. 27: Notice on SIGL Website (information on quota levels for
textile products – http://sigl.europe.eu.int ).G/LIC/N/3/EEC/4
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- OJ No. C 46, 19.2.2000, p. 20: Notification on provisional application of certain textile
Agreements
- OJ No. C 88, 25.3.2000, p. 18: Preparation of decision on third stage of ATC integration –
Request for comments
5.3. Steel productsDouble-checking systems without quantitative limits:- Council Regulations (EC) No. 239/2001 (Czech Republic, OJ L 35 of 6.2.2001, p.3),
237/2001 (Romania OJ L 35 of 6.2.2001, p.1),  238/2001 (Slovakia OJ L 35 of 6.2.2001, p.2),335/2001 (Poland OJ L 49 of 20.2.2001, p.1), 190/98 (FYROM, OJ L 20 of 27.1.98, p. 20), 793/2000
(Russia, OJ L 96 of 18.4.2000, p.1), 501/2000 (Ukraine, OJ L 62 of 9.3.2000, p.1), 2743/1999
(Kazakhstan, OJ L342, 31.12.1999, p.1).
In addition, the EC maintains quantitative restrictions on imports from three countries non-WTO
Members: Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.
5.4. Agricultural products
In the agricultural sector, the following legislation includes provisions related to import
licensing:
5.4.1. General:- Commission Regulation (EEC) No. 1291/2000 of 9 June 2000 laying down common detailed
rules for the application of the system of import and export licences and advance fixing certificates for
agricultural products .
5.4.2. Cereals and rice:- Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1766/92 of 30 June 1992 on the common market organization
for cereals as amended (Article 9).
- Council Regulation (EC) No. 3072/95 of 22 December 1995 on the common organization of
the market in rice as amended (Article 9).
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1162/95 of 23 May 1995 laying down special detailed rules
for the application of the system of import and export licences for cereals and rice.
5.4.3. Beef and veal:
- Council Regulation (EC) No. 1254/99 of 17 May 1999 on the common market organization in
the beef sector as amended (Article 29).
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1445/95 of 26 June 1995 on rules of application for import
and export licences in the beef and veal sector and repealing Regulation (EEC) No. 2377/80 as
amended.
5.4.4. Sheepmeat and goatmeat:G/LIC/N/3/EEC/4
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- Council Regulation (EC) No. 2467/98 of 3 November 1998 on the common organization of
the market in sheepmeat and goatmeat as amended (Article 14).
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1439/95 of 26 June 1995 laying down detailed rules for the
application of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3013/89 as regards the import and export of products inthe sheepmeat and goatmeat sector as amended .
5.4.5. Milk and milk products:
- Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1255/99 of 17 May 1999 on the common market organization
in the milk and milk product sector as amended (Article 13).
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1374/98 of 29 June 1998 laying down detailed rules for the
application of the import arrangements and opening tariff quotas for milk and milk products as
amended.
5.4.6. Sugar:
- Council Regulation (EEC) No.  1260/2001 of  19 June 2001 on the common organization of
the markets in the sugar sector  (Article 22).
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1464/95 of 27 June 1995 on special detailed rules for the
application of the system of import and export licences in the sugar sector as amended.
.5.4.7. Fruit and vegetables, processed:
- Council Regulation (EC) No. 2201/96 of 28 October 1996 on the establishment of a common
organization of the market of products processed from fruit and vegetables (Article 11).
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1921/95 of 3 August 1995 laying down detailed rules for
the application of the system of import licences for products processed from fruit and vegetables as
amended.
5.4.8. Bananas:
- Council Regulation (EEC) No. 404/93 of 13 February 1993 on the common organization of
the market of bananas as amended (Article 17) by Council Regulation (EC) 216/2001 of 29 January
2001.
- Commission Regulation (EEC) No. 896/2001 of 7 May 2001, laying down detailed rules for
the application of the arrangement for importing bananas into the Community.
5.4.9. Oil and fats:
- Council Regulation (EEC) No. 136/66 of 22 September 1966 on the establishment of a
common organization of the market in oils and fats as amended (Article 2).
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1476/95 laying down special detailed rules for the
application of the system of import licences in the olive oil sector as amended.
5.4.10. Seeds:
- Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2358/71 of 26 October 1971 on the common organization of
the market in seeds as amended (Article 4).G/LIC/N/3/EEC/4
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- Commission Regulation (EEC) No. 1117/79 of 6 June 1979 specifying the products in the
seed sector to be subject to the system of import licences as amended.
5.4.11. Wine:
- Council Regulation (EC) No. 1493/99 of 17 May 1999 on the Common organization on the
market in wine as amended (Article 59).
- Commission Regulation (EEC) No. 883/2001 of 24 April 2001 laying down special detailed
rules in respect of import and export licences in the wine sector (Articles 1 to 5).
Procedures
6. The answers provided to question 6, I-XI, relate exclusively to textiles, with the exception of
the reference to agricultural tariff quotas).
I. Information related to the allocation of the quotas, the formalities for licence applications and
the amount of goods allocated to each country is published in the Official Journal of the European
Communities (see reply 5). There is no derogation from the licensing requirement.
II. The size of textile quotas is determined on a yearly basis. There are no cases where the size of
the quota is determined on a yearly basis and where import authorisations would be issued for importson a six-monthly or quarterly basis.
III. The issuing of import authorisations is not limited to domestic producers of like goods. The
competent licensing authorities notify the Commission immediately after having been informed of
any quantity that is not used during the duration of validity of the import authorisation. Such unusedquantities are automatically transferred into the remaining quantities of the total of the Community
quantitative limit for each category products and each third country concerned. Names of importers to
whom import authorisations have been allocated are not made known to governments and exporting
countries for privacy protection reasons.
IV. The authorised imports are charged against the quantitative limits laid down for the year in
which the products are shipped in the supplier country concerned. An import authorisation is issuedupon presentation of an export licence issued by the exporting country. This presentation must be
effected not later than 31 March of the year follow ing that in which the goods covered by the licence
have been shipped. In exceptional circumstances, a Member State may put the deadline for
presentation of the export licence back to 30 June on a duly motivated request.
V. The licensing authorities have to issue an import authorisation within a maximum of five
working days of the presentation by the importer of the original of the corresponding export licence.
VI. Import authorisations are valid for a period of six months from the date of their issue.
VII. Each Member State has only one national competent authority for the issuing of import
authorisations.
VIII. Import authorisations are issued on a "first-come, first-served" basis. There are no special
provisions for new importers. Applications are examined on receipt.
IX. Concerning trade with WTO Members and with countries with bilateral agreements, the so-
called double-checking system applies. The competent authorities of the supplier countries issue an
export licence in respect of all consignments of textile products subject to quantitative limits, up to theG/LIC/N/3/EEC/4
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level of those limits. The importer shall present the original of the export licences for the purposes of
the issue of the import authorisation. An import authorisation is not issued automatically but only
after the Commission has confirmed that the amount requested is available within the quantitative
limit in question.
X. There are no cases where imports are allowed on the basis of export permits only.
XI. There are no products for which licences are issued on condition that goods should be
exported and not sold in the domestic market.
Agricultural tariff quotas subject to import licensing:
Some of the Community's agricultural tariff quotas are subject to import licensing. Licences
may be issued on a pro-rata or an historical basis, or related to quotas administrated by exporting
countries. Details are being notified in parallel to this general notification.6
7.1. For products subject to Community surveillance (other than textiles):
(a)-(b) It is up to the applicant to decide when to  apply for a licence, knowing that the document will
be issued within a maximum of five working days of receipt of the application. Normally an import
licence is presented at the moment of the import declaration and licences are granted immediately
(except for sheepmeat and goatmeat and milk products).
(c) There are no limitations as to the time of year during which applications may be made.(d) Several administrative organs can deliver import licences. The list of the competent
authorities in the Member States delivering import licences is published in the "C" series of theOfficial Journal. The application must not be passed on to other organs for approval and the importer
has to approach only one administrative organ.
7.2. For textile products subject to Community surveillance the following applies:(a) The licensing authorities have to issue a surveillance document within a maximum of five
working days:
- of the presentation by the importer of the original of the corresponding export licence (in the
case of a double-checking system);
- of a request being submitted by the importer (in the case of a single-checking system).(b) Surveillance documents are issued on the basis of "first-come, first-served".(c) There are limitations as to the time of year during which applications may be made.
(d) A single administrative organ effects consideration of licence applications. The Commission
services collect statistical information on products subject to simple or double-checking surveillance
(SIGL electronic system).
7.3. For agricultural products the rules are as follows:
                                                     
6 The notification relating to agricultural tariff rate quotas is contained in the Addendum to this
document, G/LIC/N/3/EEC/4/Add.1.G/LIC/N/3/EEC/4
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(a)-(b) Import licences must be presented to the customs authorities at the moment of acceptance of
the import declaration.  Import licences can be granted immediately, except for some products
(sheepmeat and goatmeat and milk and milk products).
(c) No.(d) Several administrative organs can deliver import licences. The list of the competent
authorities in the Member States delivering import licences is published in the "C" series of the
Official Journal. The application must not be passed on to other organs for approval and the importer
has to approach only one administrative organ.
8. Failure to meet the ordinary criteria is the only circumstance in which licence applications
may be refused.
Eligibility of importers to apply for licence
9. Import licences are issued without discrimination to any importer in the Community wherever
the place of his establishment may be in the Community, without prejudice to compliance with the
other conditions required under current rules. All persons are eligible to become importers.
Documentational and other requirements for application for licence
10. For certain EC and ECSC steel products the Co mmunity applies a dual licensing arrangement.
In addition to the presentation of an import document issued by the competent authorities of the
Member states, imports are subject to the issue of an export document issued by the competent
authorities of the exporting country. (See questions 2 and 3.)
For textile products subject to quantitative limits : For information required in application see
Annex II. Sample form is contained in Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3030/93 (OJ No. L 275,
8.11.93, p.1) - on common rules for imports of certain textile products from third countries, as last
amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1591/2000 (OJ No. L 186, 25.7.2000, p. 1).
The applicant is required to supply a copy of the bill of lading and of the purchase contract.
For textile products subject to Community surveillance: For information required in
application see Annex III. Sample form is contained in Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3030/93 (OJ
No. L 275, 8.11.93, p.1) - on common rules for imports of certain textile products from third
countries, as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1591/2000 (OJ No. L 186, 25.7.2000,
p. 1).
Concerning the application for the import authorisation in the case of a double-checking
system for textiles, the applicant is required to supply a copy of the bill of lading and of the purchase
contract.  Concerning the application for the import authorisation in the case of a single-checking
system the applicant is required to supply a certified copy of the bill of lading, letter of credit,contract, or any other commercial document indica ting a firm intention to carry out the importation.
Applications for surveillance document (other than textile) shall be sent to or lodged with the
competent administrative authorities in the Member  States. Regarding the information required in
applications, see Council Regulation N° 519/94 (OJ L. 67, 10.03.94, p.89), as amended by CouncilRegulation N° 139/96 (OJ L. 21, 27.01.96, p.7).  A surveillance document sample form is contained
in Regulation N° 139/96.G/LIC/N/3/EEC/4
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In the agricultural field the application for an import licence has to be forwarded to or lodged
with the competent authorities in the Member States  conforming to the specimen set out in Annex I of
Commission Regulation (EC) 1291/2000 (OJ L 152, 24 June 2000, p. 25).
11. The licence/surveillance document itself or an extract is required upon importation.  For
textile products subject to quantitative limits/surveillance there is also, if needed, a requirement for a
certificate of origin upon actual importation.
12. There is no licensing fee or administrative charge.13. In general, there is no deposit or advance payment required associated with the issue of
import authorisations. However, in the agricultural field the issuance of import licence is subject to asecurity in order to guarantee that the undertakin g to import will be fulf illed during the period of
validity of the licence. The amount of the security depending on the products is laid down in the
specific Community provisions applicable to the relevant product sector. The security is released
when the obligation to import is considered to have  been fulfilled and the right to import under the
licence is considered to have been exercised namely on the day the import declaration is accepted andthe product concerned put into free circulation.
Conditions of licensing
14. For textile products subject to quantitative limits/surveillance, import authorisations/
surveillance documents are valid for a period of six months from the date of their issue. Upon a duly
motivated request by an importer, the competent authorities of a Member State may extend the
duration of validity for a two further periods of thr ee months. Such extensions shall be notified to the
Commission. In exceptional circumstances, an impor ter may request a third period of extension.
These exceptional requests may only be granted by a decision of the textile committee, composed ofrepresentatives of the Member States and chaired by a Commission. The period of validity of the
import licences depends on the products, please refer to Annex IV.  The validity of a licence can only
be extended in case of  "force majeure".
For agricultural products the period of validity of the import licences depends on the product
subject to licensing. General periods of validity are set in the relevant regulations mentioned per
product in points 5.4.2 to 5.4.11 of this notification7. Information concerning periods of validity of
import licences allocated in the context of tariff rate quotas is included in replies to question 14 in the
Addendum. The validity of a licence can only be extended in case of " force majeure ".
For steel products subject to double-checking without quantitative limits, the period of
validity of a surveillance document is four mont hs and it could be renewed for four months.
15. There is no penalty for the non-utilisation of an import authorisation/surveillance document or
a portion of it. However, for a licence in the agricultural field, the security is forfeit in whole or in part
if import is not carried out, or only partly carried out during the period of validity of the licence.
                                                     
7 For ease of reference, the following is an indicative résumé of the various durations: Cereals and rice:
a range of validity between 45 days from the date of issue until the end of the fourth month following the issue;
beef and veal: 90 days from the date of issue; sheepmeat and goatmeat : 3 months from the date of issue; sugar:
from the day of issue until the end of the month following; milk and milk products: from the date of issue until
the end of the third month following; processed fruits and vegetables: 3 months from the date of issue; bananas :
three months from the date of issue; oils and fats: 60 days from the date of issue; wine : until the end of the
fourth month following the date of issue.G/LIC/N/3/EEC/4
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16. Import authorisations are not transferable between importers. Import licences constitute an
authorisation and give rise to an obligation to import under the licence during its period of validity.
Obligations deriving from licences are not transferable but the rights deriving are transferable by the
titular holder of the licence during its period of validity.
17. No other conditions are attached to the issue of an import authorisation for products subject to
or not subject to quantitative restrictions.
Other procedural requirements
18. No other administrative procedures, apart from import licensing and similar administrative
procedures are required prior to importation.
19. The banking authorities automatically provide foreign exchange for goods to be imported as
well as to cover import licences.  A licence is not required as a condition to obtaining foreign
exchange.G/LIC/N/3/EEC/4
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ANNEX I
Agricultural products subject to import licensing
CEREALS: Grain: common wheat, durum wheat, barley, rye, oats, maize, buckwheat, canary seed,
millet, other grain.
Processed products: flour, wheat groats and meal, malt, starches, glucose, cereal products, brans, wheat
gluten, manioc roots.
RICE:  Paddy rice, husked rice, semi-milled or wholly millet rice, broken rice, rice flour, groats and meal
of rice, pellets of rice, flaked rice, rice starch.
SUGAR:  Beet sugar and cane sugar, in solid form, sugar beet, whole or sliced, fresh, dried or powdered,
sugar cane, molasses, maple sugar and syrup, other sugars and syrups (but not including lactose, glucose,
malto-dextrine and isoglucose), artificial honey, whether or not mixed with natural honey, caramelcontaining in the natural state 50% or more by weight of sucrose, flavoured or coloured sugar syrups,
beet-pulp, bagasse and other waste of sugar manufacture, isoglucose, flavoured or coloured isoglucose
syrups.
OILS AND FATS: Olive oil and its fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified; other
oil and their fractions, obtained solely from olives, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified,
including blends of these oils or fractions with oils or fractions of heading No 1509, olives, fresh or
chilled or provisionally preserved, for the production of oil, oil-cake and other solid residues containing
more than 3% by weight of olive oil, soapstocks containing oil having the characteristic of olive oil.
MILK PRODUCTS: Milk and cream, not concentrated nor containing added sugar or other sweetening
matter milk or cream, concentrated or containing added sugar or other sweetening matter, buttermilk,
curdled milk and cream, yoghurt, kephir and other fermented or acidified milk and cream whether or not
concentrated or containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or flavoured or containing added fruit,
nuts or cocoa, whey, whether or not concentrated or containing added sugar or other sweetening matter,
products consisting of natural milk constituents, whether or not containing added sugar or other
sweetening matter, not elsewhere specified or included; butter and other fats and oils derived from milk;dairy spreads; cheese and curd; lactose and lactose syrup, not containing added flavouring or colouring
matter and containing by weight 99% of pure product; flavoured or coloured lactose syrup; preparations
of a kind used in animal feeding.
BEEF AND VEAL: Live bovine animals, except pure-bred breeding animals.SHEEP AND GOATS MEAT: Lambs (up to a year old); sheep and goats, other than pure-bred breeding
animals; meat of sheep or goats, fresh, chilled or frozen; meat of sheep or goats, with bone in or boneless,
salted, in brine, smoked or dried.
PROCESSED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES: See Commission Regulation (EC) 12/99 (OJ L 4, 7
January 1999, p. 1).
BANANAS:  Bananas, excluding plantains, fresh.
WINE:  Grape juice (incl. grape must); other than in fermentation or with fermentation arrested otherwise
than by addition of alcohol; sparkling wine; other wine than sparkling wine; grape must with
fermentation prevented or arrested by the addition of alcohol.G/LIC/N/3/EEC/4
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ANNEX II
Textiles
Information required in application for import authorisation
under double-checking system for administering quantitative limits
The declaration or request made by the importer to the competent authorities in order to obtain the
import authorisation needs to contain:
(a) the name of the importer and full address (including if any, telephone and fax number, and
identification number registered with the competent national authorities), and VAT registration
number, if it is a VAT payer;
(b) name and full address of declarant;
(c) name and full address of exporter;
(d) the country of origin of the products and the country of consignment;(e) a description of the products including:
- their commercial designation;
- description of the products and Combined Nomenclature (CN) code;
(f) the appropriate category and the quantity in the appropriate unit as indicated in Regulation
concerned for the products in question;
(g) the value of the products, as indicated in box 12 of the export licence;(h) where appropriate, dates of payment and delivery and a copy of the bill of lading and of the
purchase contract;
(i) date and number of export licence;
(j) any internal code used for administrative purposes, such as Taric code;(k) date and signature of importer.G/LIC/N/3/EEC/4
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ANNEX III
Textiles
Information required in application for import authorisation
under double-checking system for products subject to surveillance
The declaration or request made by the importer to the competent authorities in order typo
obtain the import authorisation needs to contain:
(a) the name of the importer and full address (including if any, telephone and fax number, and
identification number registered with the competent national authorities), and VAT registration
number, if it is a VAT payer;
(b) name and full address of declarant;(c) name and full address of exporter;(d) the country of origin of the products and the country of consignment;
(e) a description of the products including
- their commercial designation;
- description of the products and Combined Nomenclature (CN) code;
(f) the appropriate category and the quantity in the appropriate unit as indicated in Regulation
concerned for the products in question;
(g) the value of the products, as indicated in box 12 of the export licence;(h) where appropriate, dates of payment and delivery and a copy of the bill of lading and of the
purchase contract;
(i) date and number of export licence;(j) any internal code used for administrative purposes, such as Taric code;
(k) date and signature of importer.
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