WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/LIC/N/3/EEC/2/Add.4
13 October 1999
(99-4330)
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 Frozen Meat of Bovine Animals
Outline of system
1. The object of the import licensing system is to ensure a sound administration of the EC’s
WTO tariff rate quota for 53,000 tonnes of frozen meat of bovine animals. The relevant legislation
related to the import licensing system for this tariff quota 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 quota mentioned in reply 1 are as follows:
Description of products Tariff item number(s)
Meat of bovine animals, frozen
Edible offal
- Of bovine animals, frozen
-- Thick skirt and thin skirt0202
0206 29 91
3. The system applies in the European Community to the above-mentioned products originating
in third countries.
4. See reply 1. As referred to in reply 1, the licensing system covers the relevant WTO tariff
quota. The EC considers the method adopted to be the most appropriate to administer this tariff rate
quota.
5. The relevant legislation for the administration of import licences for the tariff quota
mentioned in reply 1 is:
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1142/98 of 2 June 1998 (OJ L 159).
                                                     
1 See G/LIC/3, Annex, for the Questionnaire.G/LIC/N/3/EEC/2/Add.4
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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 quota is an annual tariff quota, opened on 1 July of each year. The tariff quota is
divided into two parts. The first, equalling to 80% or 42.400 tonnes is apportioned among Community
importers in proportion to the quantities imported by them under the same type of quota during the
most recent reference period (traditional importers). The second, equalling 20 per cent or 10,600
tonnes is apportioned among traders who can prove that they have been engaged for a certain periodin trade in beef and veal (newcomers). This quantit y is allocated in proportion to the quantities applied
for by eligible traders
Applications for import rights have to be submitted before 12 June 1998 to the competent
authority in the Member State where the applicant is entered in a VAT register. After the documentssubmitted have been verified, the competent authority in the Member States has to forward to the
Commission before 25 June 1998 the list of traditional importers and the information related to the
quantities of eligible meat they have imported during the reference period as well as the list of
newcomer applicants and the quantities applied for. The Commission decides as soon as possible to
what extent applications can be accepted. If the quantities in respect of which applications are madeexceed the quantities available, the Commission applies a fixed reduction coefficient. After the
notification of allocations from the Commission, import licences are issued as soon as possible by the
competent authority in the Member States. Licence applications can be lodged solely in the Member
State where the applicant has applied for import rights. Applicants have to approach only one
administrative organ. Imports are only known to the competent authority in the Member States and to
the Commission.
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. Importers must be registered in a national VAT register and there are no
registration fees.
Documentational and other requirements for application for licence
10. A specimen of the import licence is set out at the Annex XI to the Community’s general
Article 7.3 notification for 1999 (G/L IC/N/3/EEC/2). Regarding the information required, see the
import licence and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1142/98 of 2.6.98 (published in OJ L 159,
page 11).
11. The import licence.G/LIC/N/3/EEC/2/Add.4
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12. No.
13. The issuance of the 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 90 days from their date of issue. However, no licence is valid after
30 June 1999 and the period of validity cannot be extended.
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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