WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/LIC/N/3/EEC/2/Add.11
13 October 1999
(99-4341)
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
for Broken Rice
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 1,000 tonnes of broken rice of tariff heading 1006 40 00, intended for the
production of foodstuffs of tariff heading 1901 10. 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 1.3. The system applies in the European Community to the product mentioned in reply 1
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 2058/ 96 of 28 October 1996 (OJ L 276).
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.
                                                     
1 See G/LIC/3, Annex, for the Questionnaire.G/LIC/N/3/EEC/2/Add.11
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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 quota 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.Applications for import licences have to be accompanied by the proof that the applicant is a
natural or legal person who has carried out a commercial activity in the rice sector for at least 12months and who is registered in the Member State in which the application is submitted. On the day
on which licence applications are lodged, the competent authorities in the Member States have to
inform the Commission on the applications submitted. Import licences are issued on the 11 th working
day following that on which the application was lodged  provided that the quantities applied for do not
exceed the tariff quota volume. If the quantities in respect of which licences have been applied forexceed the quantities available, the Commission shall fix a single percentage of acceptance for the
quantities applied for and notify this to the competent authorities in the Member States.
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.
The applicant for an import licence must approach only one administrative organ.
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. Applicant must be entered in a VAT register and there is no registration fee.Documentational and other requirements for application for licence
10. A specimen of the import licence is set out at 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  2058/96 of 28.10.96 (published in OJ L 276,
page 7).
11. The import licence, and on entry into free circulation, a written undertaking that all the goods
entered will be processed within six months of the date of acceptance of the entry for free circulation.
12. No.13. The issuance of import licence is subject to a security in order to guarantee that the imported
broken rice will be processed into the product indicated in the import licence. Where rice entered forfree circulation has not been processed within the specified time limit the security released is reduced
by two per cent for each of the days by which the time limit is exceeded.G/LIC/N/3/EEC/2/Add.11
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Conditions of licensing
14. Import licences are valid until the end of the third months following that of issue and the
period of validity cannot be extended.
15. See reply 13.
16. Import licences are not transferable.17. No.Other procedural requirements
18. No.19. Not relevant.
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