G/LIC/N/3/EU/4  
 
12 October 2015  
(15-5312)  Page: 1/38  
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
  REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES 
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 7.3 OF THE AGREEMENT 
 ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES - 2015 
EUROPEAN UNION 
The following communication, dated 14 September 2015, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the European Union. 
 
_______________ 
 
 
Table of contents 
1   TEXT ILES .................................................................................................................. .. 2 
1.1   An autonomous regime govern ing imports from ot her countries ....................................... 3  
1.2   A specific "outward pr ocessing traffi c (OPT)" ................................................................. 3  
1.3   A surveill ance regime ................................................................................................. 3  
2   AGRICULTURE ............................................................................................................. 7  
2.1   Cereal s and ri ce ....................................................................................................... 11 
2.2   Sugar (cane or beet) ................................................................................................. 12 
2.3   Olive oil an d table olives ............................................................................................ 13 
2.4   Milk and milk products .............................................................................................. 13 
2.5   Beef and veal ........................................................................................................... 16 
2.6   Pigmeat ................................................................................................................. . 18 
2.7   Poultry meat ............................................................................................................ 18 
2.8   Eggs and products in th e egg sector and egg albumin .................................................... 19 
2.9   Garlic ...................................................................................................................... 20 
2.10   Preserve d mushr ooms ............................................................................................. 20 
2.11   Ethanol of agricultural obta ined from agricult ural prod ucts ............................................ 21 
2.12   Hemp .................................................................................................................... 21 
3   STEEL ..................................................................................................................... ... 22 
4   OZONE-DEPLETING SUBSTANCES – ODS- (CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES) ................... 22  
5   IMPORT OF RO UGH DIAMON DS ................................................................................. 28  
6   IMPORT OF WA STE SHIPMENT .................................................................................. 31  
7   IMPORT OF HA RVESTED TIMBER ............................................................................... 33  
8   IMPORT OF ENDANGERED SPECIES (CITES) .............................................................. 35  G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
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  Introduction 
The EU import licensing system is based on the premise that no import licences are required 
except where specific products are subject to  safeguard measures against injurious imports 
pursuant to either GATT Article XIX or international commitments. There are also a number of 
products subject to EU surveillance with the purpos e of improving transparency of import trends of 
the products concerned, but with no limits on access to the EU market. On this basis, statistical controls and further controls on the origin of the products may be performed.   
Outline of system 
Licences are issued by the competent authorities in the  EU M e mb e r States  of b y the  Europ e an 
Commission (for imports of ODS). Import licences are valid for a certain period which varies 
depending upon the different products.  In particular, for agricultural products, import licences are valid until the end of the relevant quota import period.   
Legislative basis 
 Council Regulation (EC) No 260/2009 of 26 Fe bruary 2009 (OJ L 84, 31.03.2009, p.1) on the 
common rules for imports as amended by Regu lation (EU) No 37/2014 of the European 
Parliament and of the Council of 15 Janua ry 2014 (O.J. L 18, 21.01.2014). A consolidated 
version of the Regulation can be consulted on the EUR-Lex web page at the following address: 
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1406129204510&uri=CELEX:02009R0260-20140220  
 
 Council Regulation (EC) No 625/2009 of 7 July 2009 (OJ L 185, 17.07.2009, p.1) established 
common rules for imports from certain third countries as amended by Regulation (EU) 
No 37/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2014 (O.J. L 18, 
21.01.2014).  
A consolidated version of the Regulation can be consulted on the EUR-Lex web page at the 
following address: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1406128882969&uri=CELEX:02009R0625-20140220  
 
Licensing is statutorily required for the products listed in the relevant legislative texts. The product coverage is defined in the legislation and is not subject to administrative discretion. Relevant 
regulations generally contain provisions relating to  the duration and expiry of the licensing regime 
and a licensing system can only be abolished by legislative act.  
Further detailed information as well as replies to the remaining questions have been organized by 
the different legislative instruments owing to the different procedures involved.  
1  TEXTILES 
Outline of the system 1. The following import regime systems are maintained: 
 
An autonomous regime governing imports from two non-WTO Members, namely Belarus and North 
Korea, with which no bilateral agreements, protocols, other arrangements or specific EU import rules exist. 
 
2.  A specific outward processing traffic (OPT).   
3.  A surveillance regime. 
 Purpose and coverage of licensing 
Replies to questions 2 to 5: G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
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  1.1  An autonomous regime governing imports from other countries   
The legal basis is Regulation (EU) of the European Parliament and of the Council  936/2015 (OJ L 160, 
15.6.2015, 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 EU import 
rules. This is the recast version of former Co uncil Regulation (EC) No 517/94 (OJ L 67, 10.3.94, 
p. 1) and, can be consulted on the EUR-Lex web page at the following address: 
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:2015:160:TOC   
 
The system establishes quantitative restrictions on imports of certain textile products originating in certain third countries, namely Belarus and North Korea, to be allocated on a first come, first 
served basis.   
 1.2  A specific "outward processing traffic (OPT)" 
It establishes the economic outward processing arrangements applicable to certain textiles and 
clothing products reimported into the European Union after working or processing in certain third countries. Under this scheme, raw materials for the manufacturing of textile products may be 
exported from the EU to another country for furt her processing. Re-imports of textile products 
after processing in countries other than Belarus and North Korea are not subject to quantitative 
limits. However, re-imports of products listed in Annex VI of Regulation (EU) of the European 
Parliament and of the Council No 936/2015 have to comply with the annual limits fixed in Annex VI 
and updated in the annual implementing Regulation, as well as Council Regulation (EC) 
No 3036/94 (OJ L 322, 15.12.1994, p. 1).  
 The latter Regulation is the legal basis establishing economic outward processing arrangements to 
products re-imported into the European Union af ter being processed in certain third countries 
(Corrigenda in OJ L 135, 6.6.96, p. 35), as lastly amended by Council Regulation (EC) 
No 806/2003 of 14 April 2003 that can be consulted on the EUR-Lex web page at the following address: 
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/E N/TXT/?qid=1406108706264&uri=CELEX:01994R3036-
20030605  
 
1.3  A surveillance regime   
A surveillance mechanism is in place in case textile imports from third countries threaten to cause 
damage to the EU production of like or directly competitive products. The Commission, at the 
request of a Member State or on its own initiative may decide to introduce retrospective 
surveillance or make certain imports subject to prior EU surveillance.   The legal basis is Regulation (EU) No 936/2015 (OJ L 160, 25.06.2015, 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 EU import rules, as last amended by Regulation (EU) No 38/2014 of the European Pa rliament and of the Council of 15 January 2014. 
This Regulation has been published on the EU O fficial Journal L 218 of 21.01.2014. A consolidated 
version of the Regulation, which is currently su bmitted to a recast procedure (see COM(2014) 345 
final), can be consulted on the EUR-Lex web page at the following address: 
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/E N/TXT/?qid=1406106807634&uri=CELEX:01994R0517-
20140220  
 
Procedures 
6.I. The system establishes quantitative restrictions on imports of certain textile products 
originating in certain third countries to be allocated on a first come, first served basis, without any derogation from the licensing requirement. 
 The distribution of quotas is set on a yearly  basis. For 2015, the legal basis is Commission 
Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1235/2014 of 18 November 2014 laying down rules for 
the management and the distribution of textile quotas established for the year 2015 under 
Council Regulation (EC) No 517/94 that can be consulted on the EUR-Lex web page at the 
following address: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32014R1235&rid=1   G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
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  The European Commission manages at EU level the issuance of import authorizations for 
textile products which are subject to quantitative restrictions (quotas) or to surveillance measures applicable for textile products with the help of an integrated electronic network known as "SIGL" (" Système Intégré de Gestion de Licenses " - Integrated system for the 
management of licences). SIGL is a computer system linking the European Commission with 
the licensing offices issuing import authorizations in the Member States. Licensing offices have exclusive access to SIGL. For more information on SIGL:   
http://trade.ec.europa.eu/sigl/info_textile.htm . 
 
 The information provided on the website is base d on the use of the quantitative restrictions 
(quotas) and on quantities of products imported under specific regime measures per textile 
category and is updated twice a day. The extent to which a textiles quota is used is based 
on the quantity of the goods of a certain category of textile products for which the licensing authorities in the Member States have issued import authorisations and which have been set 
off against the quantitative limit in question. SIGL is following the relevant legislation. 
 
II. There are no cases where the size of the qu ota is determined on a yearly basis and where 
import authorisations would be issued for imports on a six-monthly or quarterly basis.  
 
III. Import authorisations are issued for imports of textiles from third countries. The competent 
licensing offices notify the European Commission immediately after having been informed of 
any quantity that is not used during the duration of validity of the import authorisation. Such 
unused quantities are automatically transferred into the remaining quantities of the total of the EU quantitative limit for each category products and each third country concerned. 
According to Article 23 of Regulation (EU) 936/2015 the validity of wholly or partly unused 
import authorisations may be extended. 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 
issued, if the importer proves the existence of  a contract related to the provision of the 
goods and certifies in writing that he has not already been allocated an authorisation or has already used up at least 50 per cent of an already allocated authorisation.  
 
V. The licensing offices have to issue an import authorisation within five working days of 
notification of the European Commission decision or within the time limit set by the 
European Commission. 
 VI. Import authorisations are valid for a period of nine 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 "fir st-come, first-served" basis. For the autonomous 
regime the European Commission may divide the quantitative limits into tranches or fix maximum amounts per allocation. In accordance with the examination procedure referred to 
in Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 the European Commission may reserve a 
proportion of a specific quantitative limit for requests supported by evidence of past import 
performance. As regards OPT, 90% of the 2014 quota level was reserved for traditional operators, whilst 10% was kept for newcomers.  The percentage depends on the legislation 
in force. Applications are examined on receipt. 
 
IX. As regards the autonomous regime and OP T subject to quantitative limits import 
authorisations are not issued automatically but only after the European 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. 
 G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
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  For textile products subject to EU surveillance the following applies: 
 (a) The licensing authorities have to issue a su rveillance document within a maximum of five 
working days following the request submitted by the importer.    
 
(b) Surveillance documents are issued on the basis of "first-come, first-served". 
 
(c) The Commission services collect statistical information on products (SIGL electronic system). 
 (d) The list of the competent authorities in the Member States delivering import licences is 
published in the "C" series of the Official Jour nal.  The application must not be passed on to 
other bodies for approval and the importer has to approach only one administrative organ. 
 7.  N.A. 
 
8.  None. Yes, the SIGL team is in regular contact with the applicants. SIGL has not 
encountered any appeal so far. In the end, the Textile Committee (Article 25 
Regulation 517/94 and Article 30 of Regulation 2015/936) is the responsible entity "for any 
matter relating to the application of this Regulation" (Article 5 Regulation 517/94 and Article 5 Regulation 2015/936). 
 
Eligibility of importers to apply for licence 
9. Import licences are issued without discriminatio n to any importer in the EU wherever the place 
of his establishment may be in the EU, 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 
Replies to questions 10 to 13: 
 For textile products subjec t to quantitative limits : The sample form is contained in 
Commission Regulation (EC) 3168/94 (OJ L 335, 23.12.1994, p. 23) establishing in the field of 
application of Council Regulation (EC) No 517/94 on common rules for imports of textile products 
from third countries not covered by bilateral agreements, protocols or other arrangements or by other specific EU import rules as last amende d by Commission Regulation (EU) No 519/2013 of 
21 February 2013. This Regulation has been pu blished on the EU Official Journal L 158 of 
10.06.2013. The following information is required in applications for import authorisations:   
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 applicant and full address (i ncluding 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 probable 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 products;   G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
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  (h) Any internal code used for administrative purposes, such as the Taric code; 
 (i) Date and signature of the applicant.  
For textile products subject to  outward processing traffic:  an application for the issue of a 
prior authorization shall be submitted to the competent authorities of the Member States using Annex I of Commission Regulation (EC) No 3017/95 of 20 December 1995. This Regulation has 
been published in the EU Official Journal L 314/ 40 of 28.12.1995 and can be consulted on EUR-Lex 
web page at the following address:  http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/E N/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:31995R3017&rid=1   
 
The application shall contain the following information: 
 (a) Identity of the applicant; 
 
(b)  Requested customs supervising office;  
(c)  Last day of authorized exportation; 
 (d) Period for re-importation;  
(e) Rate of yield/method of calculation; 
 (f)  Origin of compensating products; 
 
(g) Country of processing;  
(h) Description of reimport compensating products indicating Category no, CN code, quantity 
and value; 
 (i) Description of temporary export goods the orig in of the goods, CN code, quantity and value; 
 
(j) Nature of processing operations.  
An application shall be accompanied by all documents or evidence, in particular the underlying 
contract.  
For textile products subject to EU surveillance:  The sample form is contained in Regulation 
(EU) No 936/2015 (OJ L 160, 25.06.2015, 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 EU import rules as last am ended by Commission Implem enting Regulation (EU) 
No 1235/2014 of 18 November 2014.  
 The declaration or request made by the importer to the licensing offices in order to obtain the 
import authorisation needs to contain: 
 (a)  Consignee (name, full address, country VAT number); 
 
(b) Issue No;  (c) Proposed place and date of import; 
 
(d) Authority responsible for the issue (name, address and telephone number); 
 
(e) Declarant/representative as applicable (name and full address); 
 (f) Country of origin/country code; 
 
(g) Country of consignment/country code;  (h)  Last day of validity; 
 G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
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  (i) Description of goods; 
 (j) CN code and textile category;  
(k) Quantity of kilograms (net mass) or in additional units; 
 (l) Customs value in EUR, cif at Union frontier; 
 
(m) Competent authority's endorsement.  Conditions of licensing 
14. Surveillance documents may not be used beyond  the expiry of the period which will be laid 
down at the same time and by means of the same procedure as the imposition of surveillance or 
safeguard measures and which will take account of the nature of the products and other special 
features of the transactions. 
 15. No. 
 
16. No, see Article 22 of Regulation 517/94 and Regulation 2015/936.  17. No. 
 
18. No.  
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. 
 
2  AGRICULTURE 
Outline of system 1. The import licensing scheme for agricultural products serves statistical purposes and is an 
automatic licensing system. As a general rule, the competent authorities in the Member States 
issue import licences to any applicant irrespective of their place of establishment in the EU. Import 
licences are subject to lodging a security and are valid in all the Member States of the EU. Import 
licences have to be submitted with the import declaration. 
 A general import licence obligation is applicable for a couple of products as laid down in 
Article 1(2)(a)(i) of Regulation (EC) No 376/2008 together with Annex II, Part I of the same 
Regulation. In addition, a licence is required in respect of a number of tariff rate quotas in the agricultural sector administered with agricultural licences.   
Purpose and coverage of licensing 
Replies to questions 2 to 5: 
 
The system applies in the EU to the products described below originating in third countries and it 
covers a couple of products with general import licence obligation (as mentioned above) and the relevant WTO tariff rate quotas. The EU considers the method adopted to be the most appropriate 
to administer these tariff rate quotas. 
 When agricultural tariff quotas are managed by import licenses, the European Commission's 
Directorate-General responsible for Agriculture and Rural Development shares its management 
with Member States' licence authorities.   
 These licences allow the EU authorities to monitor tr ade flows and administer tariff rate quotas. To 
obtain a licence, importers must apply to the competent authorities of an EU Member State of 
import and lodge a security (returnable on giving proof of import).  G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
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  The Common Market Organisation (CMO) Regulation  of the European Parliament and the Council 
(cited below) and various EU Regulations contain the specific provisions for the management of these tariff quotas; some of them are general and other ones are specific to certain products.   
The legal basis governing the import licences procedures in the agriculture sector is: 
 
   Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the Eu ropean Parliament and of the Council of 
17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural 
products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 671–854), the so-called CMO Regulation. 
 
Article 176 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 lists the agricultural sectors that may be subject to the presentation of a licence. A co nsolidated version of the Regulation can be 
consulted on the EUR-Lex web page at the following address:  
http://eur-
lex.europa.eu/search.html?instInvS tatus=ALL&DTN=1308&DTA=2013&qid=14077450633
90&DTS_DOM=EU_LAW&type=advanced&lang=en&SUBDOM_INIT=LEGISLATION&DTS_S
UBDOM=LEGISLATION  
 
 Commission Regulation (EC) No 376/2008 of 23 April 2008 laying down common detailed 
rules for the application of the system of im port and export licences and advance fixing 
certificates for agricultural products and its subsequent amendments. It has been lastly amended by the Commission Regulation (E U) No 519/2013 of 21 February 2013 (O.J. L 
158, 10.06.2013). Coverage: Annex II Part I of Regulation No 376/2008 lists the products 
concerned.  
A consolidated version of the Regulation can be consulted on the EUR-Lex web page at the 
following address:  
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1406118119153&uri=CELEX:02008R0376-20130701 
 Coverage (specific prod ucts as laid down in Annex II, Part I): 
 
A. Cereals 
B. Rice C. Sugar 
D.- F. and K. Hemp 
E. Olive oil and table olives G. and H. fresh and processed garlic I. Beef and veal 
J. Milk and milk products 
L. Ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin 
 
For detailed CN codes concerned, please refer to the Annex II, Part I of Commission 
Regulation (EC) No 376/2008. 
 
 Commission Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 of 31 August 2006 laying down common rules 
for the administration of import tariff quotas for agricultural products managed by a system of import licences and its subsequent amendments. It has been lastly amended by 
Commission Regulation (EC) No 289/2007 of 16 March 2007 (O.J. L 78, 17.03.2007). A 
consolidated version of the Regulation can be consulted on the EUR-Lex web page at the 
following address:  http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1406217871062&uri=CELEX:02006R1301-20070101  
 
Procedures  
6. The EU does not apply restrictions on the imports of agricultural products. However, imports of 
agricultural products at a lower duty rate than the EU bound rate is possible under tariff rate quotas. Imports under tariff rate quotas might be subject to an import license.  G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
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  I. Article 184 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 (the CMO Regulation) lists the 3 main 
management methods for tariff quotas: 
 
a. Fist come first served 
b. Simultaneous examination method (licences) 
c. Traditional/newcomer method (licences)  
 The above mentioned Regulations, governin g the import licences procedures in the 
agriculture sector as well as the sector-specific Regulations, bear information on formalities and filing applications for licences; they are all published in the Official Journal. Information concerning allocation on the basis of licence applications is published in aggregated format 
on the official website CIRCABC
1 and on the website of the Directorate General for 
Agriculture and Rural Development, under the Market sectors section pages, which is publicly accessible for any interested party. Amounts allocated to each importer are not 
published or communicated to external parties, as this concerns commercial confidentiality. 
Exceptions or derogations from the licencing re quirement are not systematic, and if required 
they could be arranged by Regulation through the Committee procedure (Article 187 of 
Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013).  
 
II. The tariff quotas are opened on a yearly basis and their administration may differ, 
depending upon the product. For details, please refer to the specific products below. There 
are cases where the total quantity of the quota is divided in sub-periods, and where import 
licenses would be issued for imports on a six-monthly or quarterly basis In addition to quarterly basis there are licences issued on a monthly or weekly basis.  
 
III. Licences are allotted to any applicant irrespec tive of their place of establishment in the EU. 
To ensure that allocated licences are actually us ed, a system of securities applies. If imports 
are not or partially not realised, the licence holder's  security is forfeited or partially forfeited.  
 IV. The minimum time for applying for an import licence for a certain quota is usually one week 
after publication of the opening of the quota.  
 
V. After the closing hour for application for an import licence for a quota, the licensing 
authorities issue an import authorisation usually within two weeks (see reply VIII). 
 
VI. The time between granting a licence and the da te of opening of the period of importation is 
usually one week. 
 
VII. Licence applications are effected by a sing le competent authority without passing via other 
organs. However, some Member States have  different competent licence authorities 
depending on their sectoral or regional organisation. The addresses and competences of the 
competent authorities issuing import licences are notified by the Member States and then 
published in the Official Journal, C series.   
 
VIII. Within the tariff rate quotas with agricultural licences, the allocation to applicants is normally 
made by simultaneous examination. The Member States communicate a few days after the application closing date on aggregate basis to the Commission the total quantity under 
licence applications received. If the demand for licences cannot be fully satisfied, the 
Commission calculates to what extend the total quantity can be allocated, and fixes a uniform allocation coefficient valid for each  licence (Article 188 of Regulation (EU) 
No 1308/2013).  If applicants are new importers and the tariff rate quota is subject to the 
traditional/newcomer management method (Article 184(2)(c) of Regulation (EU) 
No 1308/2013) the eligibility for the tariff quotas is fixed in advance for a percentage to newcomers and for a percentage to traditional importers. Consequently, the newcomer and 
traditional part of the tariff rate quotas application is subject to its own allocation coefficient.  
 
IX. When export permits are issued by exportin g countries, the tariff rate quotas is primarily 
managed by the exporting country. In the conc rete case the competent EU authority needs 
proof of the products being subject to the i ssuing of export licence or document by the 
exporting country authority. Therefore the impo rter when applying for the import licence 
                                               
1 https://circabc.europa.eu/faces/jsp/extension/wai/navigation/container.jsp .  G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
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  must submit the respective export license or  document to the competent authority as a 
condition for issuing the EU import licence. Th e import licences are issued automatically.  
 
X. There are no cases where imports are allo wed 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. 
 
7.  N.A.  8. The legislation does not give arguments for refusal of an application for a licence other than 
failure to meet the ordinary criteria. 
 Eligibility of importers to apply for licence 
9. Import licences are issued without discriminatio n to any importer in the EU wherever the place 
of his establishment may be in the EU, 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 
Replies to questions 10 to 13: 
 
In the agricultural field the application for an impo rt 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) No 376/2008 (OJ L 114, 26 April 2008, p. 3). There is no licensing fee 
or administrative charge. 
 In general, there is no deposit or advance paymen t required associated with the issue of import 
authorisations. However, in the agricultural field 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, in case of tariff quotas also contributing to the enforcement of the quota fill in the interest of the exporting country.  The amou nt of the security depends on the products and 
is laid down in the specific EU 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 and the product concerned put into free circulation. 
 Conditions of licensing 
14. For agricultural products the period of validi ty of the import licences depends on the product 
subject to licensing. General periods of validity are set in Commission Regulation (EC) No 376/2008.  The validity of a licence can only be extended in case of " force majeure ". 
 
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 forfeited in whole or in part if import is not carried out, or only partly carried out during the period of validity of the 
licence. 
 16. Import authorisations are only once transf erable between importers.  Import licences 
constitute a right and give rise to an obligation to import under the licence during its period of 
validity. As a general rule, rights deriving from li cences are transferable once by the titular holder 
of the licence during the period of its validity
2, but 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. 
                                               
2 For ease of reference, the following is an indica tive summary of the various durations:  Cereals and 
rice: until the end of the second mont h following the month of the actual da y of issue of the licence; beef and 
veal:  until the end of the third month following the mont h of the day of issue of the licence; milk and milk 
products:  until the end of the third month following the mo nth of the day of issue of the licence;  olive oil:  
60 days from the actual date of issue.  
 
 G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
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  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.  
Legal basis, coverage and specific  procedures product by product 
Remark on coverage: products listed hereafter are related to the specific sectorial Regulations 
mentioned for each product. For the overall list of  products concerned by the EU licensing system, 
please refer to the Commission Regulation (E C) No 376/2008 mentioned in the section above 
"Purpose and coverage of licensing in Agriculture".  
2.1  Cereals and rice 
Legal basis: 
 
 European Commission Regulation (EC) No 1342/2003 of 28 July 2003 laying down special 
detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences for cereals 
and rice and its subsequent amendments. A cons olidated version of the Regulation can be 
consulted on the EUR-Lex web page at the following address:  
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-conte nt/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:02003R1342-
20130701&qid=1406117801728&from=EN   
 
Coverage: 
 
Product CN codes 
Durum wheat, other than seed 1001 19 00 
Spelt, common wheat and meslin other than seed, 
including products imported under tariff quotas ex 1001 99 00 
Barley, other than seed 1003  
Maize other than seed 1005 90 00; 1005 10 90 
Grain sorghum, other than seed 1007 90 00 
Flour of common wheat and spelt 1101 00 15 
Husked (brown) rice 1006 20 
Semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not 
polished or glazed 1006 30 
Broken rice  1006 40 00 
Certain varieties of basmati rice in husked form Certain products falling under 1006 20 17; 1006 17 98 
 
 Commission Regulation (EC) No 1067/2008 of 30 October 2008 opening and providing for 
the administration of Community tariff quotas for common wheat of a quality other than 
high quality from third countries and derogating from Council Regulation (EC) 
No 1234/2007 and its subsequent amendments. A consolidated version of the Regulation can be consulted on the EUR-Lex web page at the following address: 
http://old.eur-
lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:2008R1067:20120101:EN:PDF   
 
 Commission Regulation (EC) No 2305/2003 of 29 December 2003 opening and providing 
for the administration of a Community tariff quota for imports of barley from third G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
- 12 - 
 
  countries and its subsequent amendments. A cons olidated version of the Regulation can be 
consulted on the EUR-Lex web page at the following address: http://old.eur-
lex.europa .eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:2003R2305:20120101:EN:PDF  
 
 Commission Regulation (EC) No 969/2006 of 29  June 2006 opening and providing for the 
administration of a Community tariff quota for imports of maize from third countries and 
its subsequent amendments. A consolidated version of the Regulation can be consulted on 
the EUR-Lex web page at the following address: http://old.eur-
lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:2006R0969:20120101:EN:PDF 
 
 Commission Regulation (EC) n° 1296/2008 of 18 December 2008 laying down detailed 
rules for the application of tariff quotas for imports of maize and sorghum into Spain and 
imports of maize into Portugal and its subsequent amendments. A consolidated version of 
the Regulation can be consulted on the EUR-Lex web page at the following address: 
http://old.eur-
lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:2008R1296:20140401:EN:PDF 
 
  Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1273/2011 of 7 December 2011 opening 
and providing for the administration of certain tariff quotas for imports of rice and broken 
rice (codification) as amended by Commission regulation (EU) No 519/2013 of 
21 February 2013 (O.J. L 74 of 10.06.2013): http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1406205020101&uri=CELEX:02011R1273-20130701 
 
  Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 480/2012 of 7 June 2012 opening and 
providing for the management of a tariff quot a for broken rice of CN code 10064000 for 
production of food preparations of CN code 19011000 (codification) as amended by Commission regulation (EU) No 519/2013 of 21 February 2013 (O.J. L 74 of 10.06.2013): http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1406204878944&uri=CELEX:02012R0480-20130701  
 
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 972/2006 of 26 June 2006 laying down special rules for 
imports of Basmati rice and a transitional control system for determining their origin (O.J. 
L 176, 30.06.2006, p. 53) and its subsequent amendments. A consolidated version of the Regulation can be consulted on the EUR-Lex web page at the following address:  
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1406117917715&uri=CELEX:02006R0972-20130701 
 
Procedures: 
 
Please refer to the above mentioned regulation for details on the procedures to be followed. 
 
2.2  Sugar (cane or beet) 
Legal basis: 
 
 Commission Regulation (EC) N° 891/2009 of 25 September 2009 opening and providing 
for the administration of certain Community tariff quota in the sugar sector (OJ L 254 
26.09.2009); and its subsequent amendments.  A consolidated version of the Regulation can be consulted on the EUR-Lex web page at the following address:  
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-conte nt/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:02009R0891-
20130701&qid=1406216566750&from=EN 
 
 Commission Regulation (EC) 828/2009 of 10 September 2009 laying down detailed rules of 
application for the marketing years 2009/2010 to 2014/2015 for the import and refining of sugar products of tariff heading 1701 und er preferential agreements (OJ L 240, 
11.09.2009) and its subsequent amendments. It has been lastly amended by the European 
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1048/2013 of 28 October 2013 (O.J. L 2, 29.10.2013). A consolidated version of the Re gulation can be consulted on the EUR-Lex 
web page at the following address:  G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
- 13 - 
 
  http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-conte nt/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:02009R0828-
20131101&qid=1406216669722&from=EN 
 
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 635/2014 of 13 June 2014 opening a tariff 
quota for the import of industrial sugar until the end of 2016/2017 marketing year 
 
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32014R0635&qid=1435046617514&from=EN   
 
Coverage:  
 
  
 
  
Procedures: 
 Please refer to the above mentioned regulation for details on the procedures to be followed.  
 
2.3  Olive oil and table olives 
Legal basis: 
 
 Commission Regulation (EC) No 1345/2005 of 16 August 2005 laying down detailed rules 
for the application of the system of import licences for olive oil and its subsequent amendments. It has been lastly amended by  the Commission Implementing Regulation 
(EU) No 1333/2013 of 13 December 2013, O.J. L 335 of 14.12.2013). A consolidated 
version of the Regulation can be consulted on the EUR-Lex web page at the following address:  http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1406118930854&uri=CELEX:02005R1345-20140401 
 Coverage:  
 
 
  
 
 
 
Procedures: 
 Please refer to the above mentioned regulation for details on the procedures to be followed. 
 
2.4  Milk and milk products 
Legal basis: 
 
 Commission Regulation (EC) No 2535/2001 of 14 December 2001 laying down detailed 
rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/99 as regards the import arrangements for milk and milk products and opening tariff quotas as amended (this Council Regulation 
has been repealed and incorporated into Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 of Product CN codes 
Raw cane sugar for refining 1701 13 10; 1701 14 10 
Cane or beet sugar: 1701 
Product CN codes 
Olives, fresh, for the use for production of oil 0709 92 90 
Olives provisionally preserved (for example, by 
sulphur dioxide gas, in brine, in sulphur water or in other preservative solutions), but unsuitable 
in that state for immediate consumption, for the 
production of oil 0711 20 90 
Oilcake and other residues resulting from the 
extraction of olive oil, containing more than 3 % by weight of olive oil 2306 90 19 G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
- 14 - 
 
  22 October 2007). The regulation has been lastly amended by the Commission 
Implementing Regulation (EU) No 415/20 14 of 23 April 2014 (O.J. L 49, 24.04.2014). A 
consolidated version of the Regulation can be consulted on the EUR-Lex web page at the following address:  
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1406119091669&uri=CELEX:02001R2535-20140425 
 Coverage: 
 
Product CN codes 
Butter, at least six weeks old, of a fat content by 
weight of not less than 80% but less than 85%, 
manufactured directly from milk or cream 
without the use of stored materials, in a single, self-contained and uninterrupted process  
Butter, at least six weeks old, of a fat content by 
weight of not less than 80 % but less than 85 %, manufactured directly from milk or cream 
without the use of stored materials, in a single, 
self-contained and uninterrupted process which may involve the cream passing through a stage 
where the butterfat is concentrated and/or 
fractionated (the processes referred to as "Ammix" and "Spreadable") ex 0405 10 11;  
ex 0405 10 19 
 
   
 
ex 0405 10 30   
 
  
Cheese for processing  Whole Cheddar cheeses (of the conventional flat cylindrical shape of a net weight of not less than 
33 kg but not more than 44 kg and cheeses in 
cubic blocks or in parallelepiped shape, of a net weight of 10 kg or more) of a fat content of 50% 
or more by weight in the dry matter, matured for 
at least three months 0406 90 01 
 ex 0406 90 21  
 
  
 
 
Cheddar made from  unpas teurised milk, of a fat 
content of 50% or more, by weight, in the dry matter, matured for at least nine months, of a 
free-at-frontier value per 100 kg net, of not less 
than: - € 334,20 in whole cheeses - € 354,83 for cheeses of a net weight of not less 
than 500 g 
- € 368,58 for cheeses net weight less than 500 g 
The expression whole cheeses means: ex 0406 90 21 
- Cheeses of the conventional flat cylindrical 
shape of a net weight of not less than 33 kg but 
not more than 44 kg - Cubic blocks or parallelepipeds of cheese of a   
net weight of 10 kg or more  
Skimmed-milk powder 
 
Butter and other fats and oils derived from milk  
 
  
 
 Processed Emmentaler Emmentaler 
 0402 10 19 
 
0405 10 11  0405 10 19  
0405 10 30  
0405 10 50  0405 10 90  
0405 90 10  
0405 90 90 ex 0406 30 10 0406 90 13 G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
- 15 - 
 
  Product CN codes 
Processed Gruyère  
Gruyère, Sbrinz 
 Cheddar  Cheese for processing  
Pizza cheese, frozen, cut into pieces each 
weighing not more than 1 g, in containers of a net content of 5 kg or more, of a water content, 
by weight, of 52% or more, and a fat content by 
weight in the dry matter  of 38% or more ex 0406 30 10 
0406 90 15 
0406 90 21 0406 90 01  
ex 0406 10 30 
ex 0406 10 50 ex 0406 10 80 
 
 
 Fresh (unriped or uncured) cheese including whey cheese, and curd, other than pizza cheese 
 
 Other grated or powdered cheese 
  
Other processed cheese   
  
ex 0406 10 30  ex 0406 10 50 
ex 0406 10 80 
 0406 20 00 
 
0406 30 31  0406 30 39  0406 30 90  
Blue-veined cheese    
Bergkäse and Appenzell 
Fromage fribourgeois, Vacherin Mont d'Or and Tête de Moine  
Edam 
Tilsit Kashkaval 
Feta   
Kefalo-Tyri 0406 40 10  
0406 40 50  0406 40 90  
0406 90 17 
0406 90 18  
0406 90 23 
0406 90 25 0406 90 29 
0406 90 32 
0406 90 35 
Finlandia 
Jarlsberg  
Cheese of sheep’s milk or buffalo milk Pecorino Other 
Provolone 
Maasdam Caciocavallo 
Danbo, Fontal, ,Fynbo,Havarti, Maribo, Samso 
Gouda Esrom, Italico, Kernhem, Saint-Paulin  
Cheshire, Wensleydale, Lancashire, Double 
Gloucester, Blarney, Colby, Monterey Camembert Brie 
Exceeding 47% but not exceeding 52% 
Exceeding 52% but not exceeding 62% Exceeding 62% but not exceeding 72% 
Exceeding 72% 
Other 0406 90 37 
0406 90 39 
0406 90 50  ex0406 90 63 0406 90 69 
0406 90 73 
0406 90 74  ex0406 90 75  
ex0406 90 76  
0406 90 78 ex0406 90 79  
ex0406 90 81  
  0406 90 82 0406 90 84 
0406 90 86 
0406 90 89 0406 90 92 
0406 90 93 
0406 90 99 
 
Procedures: 
 Please refer to the above mentioned regulation for details on the procedures to be followed. 
 G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
- 16 - 
 
  2.5  Beef and veal 
Legal basis: 
 
 Council Regulation (EC) No 1149/2002 of 27 June 2002 opening an autonomous quota for 
imports of high-quality beef (O.J. L 170, 29/06/2002, p. 13): 
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1406122170876&uri=CELEX:32002R1149  
 
 Council Regulation (EC) No 1532/2006 of 12 October 2006 on the conditions for certain 
import quotas of high quality beef (O.J. L 283, 14/10/2006, p. 1). http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1406122268070&uri=CELEX:32006R1532 
 
 Commission Regulation (EC) No 382/2008 of 21 April 2008 on rules of application for 
import and export licences in the beef and veal sector (Recast) (O.J. L 115, 29/04/2008, 
p. 10) and its subsequent amendments. It has been lastly amended by Commission 
Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1212/2012 of 17 December 2012 (O.J.L 348, 
18.12.2012). A consolidated version of the Re gulation can be consulted on the EUR-Lex 
web page at the following address:  http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1406122419547&uri=CELEX:02008R0382-20130101  
 
 Commission Regulation (EC) No 412/2008 of 8 May 2008 opening and providing for the 
administration of an import tariff quota for fr ozen beef intended for processing (O.J. L 125, 
9/05/2008, p. 7) and its subsequent amen dments. It has been lastly amended by 
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1059/2012 of 12 November 2012 (O.J. L 16 of 13.11.2012). A consolidated version of the Regulation can be consulted on the EUR-Lex 
web page at the following address: 
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1406122821177&uri=CELEX:02008R0412-20121201  
 
 Commission Regulation (EC) No 431/2008 of 19 May 2008 opening and providing for the 
administration of an import tariff quota for frozen meat of bovine animals covered by CN code 0202 and products covered by CN code 02062991:  
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1406204463494&uri=CELEX:32008R0431  
 
 Commission Regulation (EC) No 748/2008 of 30 July 2008 on the opening and 
administration of an import tariff quota for frozen thin skirt of bovine animals falling within CN code 02062991 (Recast). It has been la stly amended by Commission Implementing 
Regulation (EU) No 1212/2012 of 17 December 2012 (O.J. L 7 of 18.12.2012). A 
consolidated version of the Regulation can be consulted on the EUR-Lex web page at the 
following address: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-conte nt/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:02008R0748-
20130101&from=EN 
 
 Commission Implementing Regulation (EU)  No 593/2013 of 21 June 2013 opening and 
providing for the administration of tariff quot as for high-quality fresh, chilled and frozen 
beef and for frozen buffalo meat (OJ L 170, 22.6.2013, p. 32–42 ) (Codification of 
Commission Regulation (EC) No 810/2008): http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1406123023362&uri=CELEX:32013R0593 
 Coverage: 
 
I. (a) Meat of bovine animals, frozen 
- Boneless 
-- Buffalo meat 
 II. (a) Meat of bovine an imals, fresh or chilled 
Meat of bovine animals, frozen  
 
ex 0202 30 90 
 ex 0201 ex 0202 G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
- 17 - 
 
  Edible offal 
- Of bovine animals, fresh or chilled -- Thick skirt and thin skirt - Of bovine animals, frozen 
--Thick skirt and thin skirt 
 II.(b) Boneless meat of bovine animals, fresh or 
chilled 
Edible offal of bovine animals: thick skirt and thin skirt, fresh or chilled  
 ex 0206 10 95  
ex 0206 29 91 
 ex 0201 30 00 
 
ex 0206 10 95  
II.(c) Boneless meat of bovine animals, fresh or chilled 
Boneless meat of bovine animals, frozen: 
- Other Edible offal of bovine animals: - Thick skirt and thin skirt, fresh or chilled 
- Thick skirt and thin skirt, frozen 
 II.(d) Boneless meat of bovine animals, fresh or 
chilled 
Boneless meat of bovine animals, frozen: - Other 
Edible offal of bovine animals: 
- Thick skirt and thin skirt, fresh or chilled - Thick skirt and thin skirt, frozen ex 0201 30 00 
  
 
ex 0202 30 90  ex 0206 10 95 
ex 0206 29 91 
 ex 0201 30 00 
  
 ex 0202 30 90 
 
ex 0206 10 95 ex 0206 29 91 
II.(e) Meat of bovine anim als, fresh,  chilled or 
frozen  
Meat of bovine animals, fresh or chilled : 
- Other cuts with bone in, other - boneless Meat of bovines animals, frozen: 
- Other cuts with bone in, other 
- boneless Thick  and thin bovine skirt, fresh or chilled 
Thick and thin bovine skirt, frozen 
 II.(f) Meat of bovine anim als, fresh,  chilled or 
frozen  
Meat of bovine animals, fresh or chilled : - Other cuts with bone in, other - boneless 
Meat of bovine animals, frozen: 
- Other cuts with bone in, other - boneless 
Thick  and thin bovine skirt, fresh or chilled 
Thick and thin bovine skirt, frozen  
 
 
ex 0201 20 90 ex 0201 30 00  
ex 0202 20 90 
ex 0202 30 ex 0206 10 95 
ex 0206 29 91 
  
 
 ex 0201 20 90 ex 0201 30 00 
 
ex 0202 20 90 ex 0202 30 
ex 0206 10 95 
ex 0206 29 91 
Meat of bovine animals, frozen Edible offal - Of bovine animals, frozen 
-- Thick skirt and thin skirt ex 0202 
  
ex 0206 29 91 
Meat of bovine animals, frozen - Unseparated or separated forequarters 
- Boneless Edible offal 
- Of bovine animals, frozen 
-- Thick skirt and thin skirt  
ex 0202 20 30 
ex 0202 30  
 
ex 0206 29 91 
Edible offal - Of bovine animals, frozen -- Thin skirt (whole)   
 ex 0206 29 91 
 G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
- 18 - 
 
  Procedures: 
 Please refer to the above mentioned regulation for details on the procedures to be followed.  
 
2.6  Pigmeat 
Legal basis: 
 
 Commission Regulation (EC) No 442/2009 of 27 May 2009 opening and providing for the 
administration of Community tariff quotas in the pigmeat sector (OJ L 129, 28.5.2009) and its subsequent amendments. It has been la stly amended by the European Commission 
Regulation (EU) No 519/2013 of 21 February 2013 (O.J. L 158, 10.06.2013). A 
consolidated version of the Regulation can be consulted on the EUR-Lex web page at the 
following address:  http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1406119927524&uri=CELEX:02009R0442-20130701 
 Coverage: 
 
Product CN codes 
Carcasses and half-carcasses fresh, 
chilled or frozen  Cuts of domestic  swine, fresh, chilled 
or frozen, with or without bone, 
excluding tenderloin presented alone   Loins and hams boneless, fresh, 
chilled or frozen 
 Tenderloins, fresh, chilled or frozen 
 
Sausages, dry or for spreading, uncooked 
Other sausages 
 Preserved meat of domestic swine 0203 11 10; 0203 21 10 
 ex 0203 
 
  ex 0203 19 55; ex 0203 29 55 
 
 ex 0203 19 55; ex 0203 29 55 
 
1601 00 91  
1601 00 99 
 ex 1602 41; ex 1602 42; ex 1602 49 
Meat of swine, fresh, chilled or 
frozen: 
- Fresh or chilled: --- of domestic swine ---- loins and cuts thereof, bone-in 
- Frozen: 
---of domestic swine ----bellies, st reaky and cuts thereof  
 
 0203 19 13  
 
0203 29 15 
 Procedures:  
Please refer to the above mentioned regulation for details on the procedures to be followed.  
 2.7  Poultry meat 
Legal basis: 
 
 Commission Regulation (EC) No 533/2007 of 14 May 2007 opening and providing for the 
administration of tariff quotas in the poultry meat sector (OJ L 125, 15.5.2007, p. 9) and 
its subsequent amendments. It has been la stly amended by the European Commission 
Regulation (EU) No 519/2013 of 21 February 2013 (O.J. L 158, 10.06.2013). A 
consolidated version of the Regulation can be consulted on the EUR-Lex web page at the 
following address:  
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1406120004250&uri=CELEX:02007R0533-20130701  G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
- 19 - 
 
   Commission Regulation (EC) No 536/2007 of 15 May 2007 opening and providing for the 
administration of a tariff quota for poultry meat allocated to the United States of America (OJ L 128, 16.5.2007, p. 6–12) and its subseq uent amendments. It has been lastly 
amended by the European Commission Regula tion (EU) No 519/2013 of 21 February 2013 
(O.J. L 158, 10.06.2013). A consolidated version of the Regulation can be consulted on the 
EUR-Lex web page at the following address:  http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1406120081867&uri=CELEX:02007R0536-20130701  
 
 Commission Regulation (EC) No 616/2007 of 4 June 2007 opening and providing for the 
administration of Community tariff quotas in the sector of poultry meat originating in 
Brazil, Thailand and other third countries (O.J. L 142, 05/06/2007, p. 3) and its 
subsequent amendments. It has been last ly amended by the European Commission 
Regulation (EU) No 519/2013 of 21 February 2013 (O.J. L 158, 10.06.2013). A 
consolidated version of the Regulation can be consulted on the EUR-Lex web page at the 
following address:  http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1406120155906&uri=CELEX:02007R0616-20130701  
 
 Commission Regulation (EC) No 1385/2007 of 26 November 2007 laying down detailed 
rules for the application of Council Regulati on (EC) No 774/94 as regards opening and 
providing for the administration of certain Community tariff quotas for poultry meat (I.J. L 
309, 27.11.2007) and its subsequent amendments. It has been lastly amended by the European Commission Regulation (EU) No  519/2013 of 21 February 2013 (O.J. L 158, 
10.06.2013). A consolidated version of the Re gulation can be consulted on the EUR-Lex 
web page at the following address:  http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1406120270764&uri=CELEX:02007R1385-20130701 
 Coverage:  
Product CN codes 
Chicken carcass, fresh, chilled or 
frozen  Chicken cuts, fresh, chilled or frozen  
 
Turkey meat, fresh, chilled or frozen  
Poultry meat, salted or in brine 
 Preparations of chicken meat 
 
 Preparations of turkey  
Preparation of poultry meat other 
than chicken and turkey 0207 11; 0207 12 
  ex 0207 13; ex 0207 14 
 
0207 24; 0207 25; ex 0207 26; ex 0207 27  
ex 0210 99 39 
 1602 32 11; 1602 32 19; 1602 32 30;  
1602 32 90 
 1602 31  
1602 39 21; 1602 39 29; ex 1602 39 85 
 Procedures: 
 Please refer to the above mentioned regulation for details on the procedures to be followed.  
 
2.8  Eggs and products in the egg sector and egg albumin 
Legal basis: 
 
 Commission Regulation (EC) No 539/2007 of 15 May 2007 opening and providing for the 
administration of tariff quotas in the egg sector and for egg albumin (OJ L 128, 16.5.2007) 
and its subsequent amendments. It has been lastly amended by the European Commission 
Regulation (EU) No 519/2013 of 21 February 2013 (O.J. L 158, 10.06.2013). A G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
- 20 - 
 
  consolidated version of the Regulation can be consulted on the EUR-Lex web page at the 
following address:  http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1406120325307&uri=CELEX:02007R0539-20130701 
 Coverage:  
Product CN codes 
Poultry eggs, for consumption, in shell 
 
Eggs yolks   
Bird eggs, not in shell 
 Egg albumin 0407 21 00; 0407 29 10; 0407 90 10 
 
0408 11 80; 0408 19 81; 0408 19 89  
0408 91 80; 0408 99 80 
 3502 11 90; 3502 19 90 
 
Procedures: 
 Please refer to the above mentioned regulation for details on the procedures to be followed.  
 
2.9  Garlic 
Legal basis:  
 
 Commission Regulation (EC) No 341/2007 of 29 March 2007 opening and providing for the 
administration of tariff quotas and introducing a system of import licences and certificates of origin for garlic and certain other agricultural products imported from third countries 
and its subsequent amendments. It has been lastly amended by Commission 
Implementing Regulation (EU) No 628/20 14 of 12June 2014 (O.J. L 174, 13.06.2014, 
page 31). A consolidated version of the Regulation can be consulted on the EUR-Lex web 
page at the following address:  
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02007R0341-
20140701&qid=1409910673925&from=EN 
 
Coverage:   
Product CN codes 
Fresh and chilled garlic: 0703 20 00 
 
Procedures:  Please refer to the above mentioned regulation for details on the procedures to be followed. 
 
2.10  Preserved mushrooms 
Legal basis:  
 
 Commission Regulation (EC) No 1979/2006 of 22 December 2006 opening and providing 
for the administration of tariff quotas for preserved mushrooms imported from third 
countries and its subsequent amendments. It  has been lastly amended by Commission 
Implementing Regulation (EU) No 637/20 14 of 13 June 2014 (O.J. L 175, 14.6.2014, 
page 20). A consolidated version of the Regulation can be consulted on the EUR-Lex web page at the following address:  
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02006R1979-
20140701&qid=1409909691681&from=EN 
 Coverage:  
 
Product CN codes 
Preserved mushrooms of the genus 
Agaricus  classifiable within CN codes 0711 51 00, 2003 10 20; 2003 10 30 G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
- 21 - 
 
  Procedures: 
 Please refer to the above mentioned regulation for details on the procedures to be followed. 
 
2.11  Ethanol of agricultural obta ined from agricultural products 
Legal basis:  
 
 Commission Regulation (EC) No 2336/2003 of 30 December 2003 introducing certain 
detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 670/2003 laying down specific measures concerning the market in ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin: 
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content /EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32003R2336&rid=4    
 
 Commission Regulation 376/2008 of 23 April 2008 laying down common detailed rules for 
the application of the system of import and export licences and advance fixing certificates 
for agricultural products and its subsequent amendments. It has been lastly amended by 
the Commission Regulation (EU) No 519/2013 of 21 February 2013 (O.J. L 158, 10.06.2013). 
 
A consolidated version of the Regulation can be consulted on the EUR-Lex web page at the 
 following address:  
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1406118119153&uri=CELEX:02008R0376-20130701  
 
Coverage:  
 
Product CN codes 
 
Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80 % vol or higher 
 
Ethyl alcohol and other spirits, denatured, of any strength
 
 Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of less than 80 % vol, in containers holding less than 2 litres 
 
Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of less than 80 % vol, in containers 
holding more than 2 litres 
  
2207 10  00 
 
 
2207 20 00 
 
 
2208 90 91 
  
 
2208 90 99 
 
 
Procedures: 
 Please refer to the above mentioned regulation for details on the procedures to be followed. 
 
2.12  Hemp 
Legal basis:  
 
 Commission Regulation (EC) No 507/2008 of 6 June 2008 laying down detailed rules for 
the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1673/2000 on the common organisation of 
the markets in flax and hemp grow fibre: 
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content /EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32008R0507&rid=1  
 G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
- 22 - 
 
  Coverage:  
 
Product CN codes 
 
Seed of the varieties of hemp, for sowing  
 
Hemp seeds other than for sowing  
 True hemp, raw or retted
 
  
ex 1207 99 20  
1207 99 91 
 5302 10 00 
 
 
Procedures: 
 
Please refer to the above mentioned regulation for details on the procedures to be followed.  
 3  STEEL 
Outline of system 
1. The European Commission manages at Union level the issue of import authorizations for steel 
products which are subject to quantitative restrictions applicable for steel products (as contained in 
Council Regulation (EC) No 1340/2008 of 8 December 2008 on trade in certain steel products 
between the European Community and the Republic of Kazakhstan – O.J. L 348) with the help of 
"SIGL" ("Système Intégré de Gestion de Licenses" ). 
 
Purpose and coverage of licensing 
2. The EU maintains quantitative restrictions on certain steel imports from Kazakhstan.  
 
 
4  OZONE-DEPLETING SUBSTANCES – ODS- (CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES) 
Outline of the system 
1. The import of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) is subject to licensing. In the context of the 
Vienna convention for the protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on the substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, the European Commission issues ODS licences based on 
applications submitted via the ODS Licensing System. Imports (as well as exports) of controlled 
substances, referred to hereby as ozone depleting substances (ODS) and products and equipment containing or relying on ODS are prohibited. However, there are exemptions to this prohibition. Below, the responses to the questionnaire focus on  the procedures in place for the importation of 
controlled substances. 
 Purpose and coverage of licensing 
Replies to questions 2 to 5: 
 Legal basis:  
 
 Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009 of the Europe an Parliament and of the Council of 16 
September 2009 on substances that deplet e the ozone layer (OJ L 286, 31.10.2009). A 
consolidated version of the Regulation can be consulted on the EUR-Lex web page at the 
following address:  
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1412590325348&uri=CELEX:32009R1005 
 For information on types of imports of ODS, which are exempted from the general prohibition in the European Union, see Article 15 of the Regula tion. Article 15(2) outlines which types of ODS 
imports are allowed. The types are listed based on the use of the ODS. Furthermore, Article 15(3) 
of the Regulation indicates that a licence is requ ired for activities listed in Article 15(2). The G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
- 23 - 
 
  exemption to the licencing requirement is also ou tlined in Article 15(3). Four customs procedures 
are exempted from the licence requirement under the 45 day re-export rule.   Annex I to the Regulation outlines the controlled substances. The import of these substances is 
subject to licensing. Substances listed in Annex II to the Regulation (i.e. new substances) are not 
controlled substances and are not covered under Article 15 of the Regulation; therefore are not 
subject to licensing.  
 
Although import for activities outlined in Article 15(2) are allowed under the condition of a licence, 
this may be overruled by Article 20(1) prohibit ing the import of controlled substances and of 
products & equipment containing or relying on controlled substances from any State not party to 
the Montreal Protocol.  
 Licensing System: 
 
A licence is required in case of import of ODS. Licences are issued by the European Commission with the use of a software called the ODS Licensing System. A licence is required for the import of 
the substance itself, a mixture containing ODS and a product or equipment containing or relying 
on ODS.  Coverage:  
The following goods are covered by the ODS licensing system: 
Substances (ODS) CN code 
CFC-11 2903 77 10 00 
CFC-12 2903 77 20 00 
CFC-113 2903 77 30 90 
CFC-113a 2903 77 30 10 
CFC-114 2903 77 40 00 
CFC-115 2903 77 50 00 
CFC-13 2903 77 90 10 
CFC-111 2903 77 90 15 
CFC-112 2903 77 90 20 
CFC-211 2903 77 90 25 
CFC-212 2903 77 90 30 
CFC-213 2903 77 90 35 
CFC-214 2903 77 90 40 
CFC-215 2903 77 90 45 
CFC-216 2903 77 90 50 
CFC-217 2903 77 90 55 
Halon-1211 2903 76 10 00 
Halon-1301 2903 76 20 00 
Halon-2402 2903 76 90 00 
Carbon tetrachloride 2903 14 00 00 
1,1,1-trichloroethane 2903 19 10 00 
Methyl bromide 2903 39 11 00 
HBFC-21 B2 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-22 B1 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-31 B1 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-121 B4 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-122 B3 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-123 B2 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-124 B1 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-131 B3 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-132 B2 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-133 B1 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-133a B1 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-141 B2 2903 79 21 00 G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
- 24 - 
 
  Substances (ODS) CN code 
HBFC-142 B1 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-151 B1 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-221 B6 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-222 B5 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-223 B4 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-224 B3 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-225 B2 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-226 B1 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-231 B5 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-232 B4 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-233 B3 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-234 B2 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-235 B1 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-241 B4 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-242 B3 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-243 B2 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-244 B1 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-251 B1 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-252 B2 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-253 B1 (CAS: 421-46-5) 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-253 B1 (CAS: 460-32-2) 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-261 B2 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-262 B1 2903 79 21 00 
HBFC-271 B1 2903 79 21 00 
HCFC-21 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-22 2903 71 00 00 
HCFC-31 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-121 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-121a 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-122 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-123 2903 72 00 00 
HCFC-123a 2903 72 00 00 
HCFC-124 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-124a 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-131 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-132 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-133 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-133a 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-141 2903 73 00 00 
HCFC-141b 2903 73 00 00 
HCFC-142 2903 74 00 00 
HCFC-142b 2903 74 00 00 
HCFC-151 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-221 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-222 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-223 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-224 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-225 2903 75 00 00 
HCFC-225ca 2903 75 00 00 
HCFC-225cb 2903 75 00 00 
HCFC-226 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-231 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-232 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-233 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-234 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-235 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-241 2903 79 11 00 G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
- 25 - 
 
  Substances (ODS) CN code 
HCFC-242 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-243 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-244 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-251 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-252 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-253 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-261 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-262 2903 79 11 00 
HCFC-271 2903 79 11 00 
Bromochloromethane 2903 79 90 10 
 
 
Mixtures of substances containing ODS CN code 
Deuterium and compounds thereof; ...; mixtures 
and solutions containing these products 2845 90 10 00 
Isotopes other than those of heading 
2844;...other, other 2845 90 90 00 
Preparations and charges for fire-extinguishers … 
for use in certain types of aircraft 3813 00 00 10 
Preparations and charges for fire-extinguishers … 
other 3813 00 00 90 
Diagnostic or laboratory reagents  ...; certified 
reference materials 3822 00 00 00 
Mixtures containing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), 
whether or not containing (HCFCs), (PFCs) or (HFCs) 3824 71 00 00 
Mixtures containing bromochlorodifluoromethane, 
bromotrifluoromethane or 
dibromotetrafluoroethanes (Halons) 3824 72 00 00 
Mixtures containing hydrobromofluorocarbons 
(HBFCs) 3824 73 00 00 
Mixtures containing hydrochlorofluorocarbons 
(HCFCs), ..., but not containing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) 3824 74 00 00 
Mixtures containing carbon tetrachloride 3824 75 00 00 
Mixtures containing 1,1,1-trichloroethane (methyl 
chloroform) 3824 76 00 00 
Mixtures containing bromomethane (methyl 
bromide) or bromochloromethane 3824 77 00 00 
Deuterium and compounds thereof; ...; mixtures 
and solutions containing these products 2845 90 10 00 
 
Products & equipment containing or relying 
on ODS CN code 
Medicaments (excluding goods of heading 3002, 
3005 or 3006) ... put up in measured doses... 
Containing corticosteroid hormones, their 
derivatives or structural analogues 3004 32 00 00 
Medicaments (excluding goods of heading 3002, 
3005 or 3006) ... put up in measured doses... Other 3004 90 00 00 
Air-conditioning machines... split system 8415 10 90 00 
Refrigeratiors … houshold … compressor type … 
other 8418 29 00 00 
Refrigerator-freezers … exceeding 340 L … other 8418 10 20 90 
Mechanical appliances... - Fire extinguishers, 
whether or not charged - for use in civil aircraft 8424 10 00 10 G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
- 26 - 
 
  Products & equipment containing or relying 
on ODS CN code 
Mechanical appliances... - Fire extinguishers, 
whether or not charged - other 8424 10 00 90 
Mechanical appliances ... fire extinguishers... - 
Parts 8424 90 00 00 
Tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 
motorised, whether or not fitted with weapons, and parts of such vehicles 8710 00 00 00
 
Other aircraft... helicopters... of an unladen 
weight not exceeding 2 000 kg 8802 11 00 00 
Other aircraft... helicopters... of an unladen 
weight exceeding 2 000 kg 8802 12 00 00 
Other aircraft... aeroplanes... of an unladen 
weight not exceeding 2 000 kg 8802 20 00 00 
Other aircraft... aeroplanes... of an unladen 
weight exceeding 2 000 kg but not exceeding 15 
000 kg 8802 30 00 00 
Other aircraft... aeroplanes of an unladen weight 
exceeding 15 000 kg 8802 40 00 00 
Cruise ships, excursion boats and similar vessels 
principally designed for the transport of persons; 
ferry-boats of all kinds  - seagoing 8901 10 10 00 
Refrigerated vessels other than those of 8901 20 - 
seagoing 8901 30 10 00 
Fishing vessels; factory ships and other vessels 
for ... fishery products  - seagoing 8902 00 10 00 
Floating or submersible drilling or production 
platforms 8905 20 00 00 
Warships 8906 10 00 00 
Instruments and apparatus for physical or 
chemical analysis… Spectrometers 9027 20 00 00 
Medicaments (excluding goods of heading 3002, 
3005 or 3006) ... put up in measured doses... Containing corticosteroid hormones, their derivatives or structural analogues 3004 32 00 00 
 
Customs procedure:  
Any physical or virtual movement into the customs territory of the Community is considered an 
import. This includes transit, customs warehousing and other temporary imports.   
The licensing requirement does not apply in rare cases when the ODS goods remain in the EU no 
longer than 45 days and are not subsequently presented for release for free circulation in the European Union, destroyed or processed. Four  customs procedures are exempted from the 
licencing requirement under the 45 day re-export rule.  
 
The customs procedures exempted under the 45 day re-export rule are:  
 Transit; 
 Temporary storage; 
 Customs warehousing; 
 Free zone procedure.  
 
Country restrictions:  An ODS licence will not be issued in cases of import of certain substance groups to certain 
countries as a consequence of an exclusion de fined in the Regulation. The Regulation under 
Article 20 (1) prohibits the import of ODS and of products and equipment containing or relying on 
ODS from any country not party to the Montreal Protocol.  
 G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
- 27 - 
 
  Restrictions in ODS trade are imposed by the Pr otocol and its amendments. The amendments to 
the Protocol provide specific limitations for different substance groups. A particular group of ODS can be imported from a country if this country has ratified the relevant amendment to the Montreal Protocol. It is possible that a country may be party to the Protocol for one substance 
group but not for another. This requirement is appl icable to all Montreal Protocol signatories. In 
short trade of ODS with countries which have not ratified a certain amendment of the Montreal Protocol is not allowed. 
 
Some territories of Member States of the EU are excluded from ratification of the Montreal Protocol or its amendments and therefore trade with thes e territories may be limited or prohibited.  
 
Procedures: 
6. An importer must hold quota for the import of the ODS in the case of some imports. Quota is 
allocated annually for the next calendar year.  
 
Imports for the following uses require quota: 
 Essential laboratory and analytical uses; 
 Halons for critical uses; 
 Feedstock uses; 
 Process agent uses. 
 
I. At the beginning of each year the Commission publishes a notice in the Official Journal of the 
European Union about the quota procedure for the following year. The notice informs about the relevant details of the quota application process for the following year including the 
deadline for applying for quota. Importers and producers request quota for the period from 
1 January to 31 December of the following year.  
 
II. Quota is determined on yearly basis.  
 III. The unused quota is not added to next quota period. The Commission notifies importers of 
the quantity of the ODS and the use for which the import is authorised for the following 
year. The competent authorities of Member States also receive this information. 
 IV. Usually it is about 1 month where companies can apply for quota. The exact timeframe is 
defined annually and notified in the notice in the Official Journal of the European Union. 
 V. The Commission processes the applications in about 5-10 working days. 
 
VI. It is usually approximately a 3 month period between the vote of the Member States on 
allocating quota and the beginning of the quota year. 
 
VII. The importer must approach only one organ which is the European Commission. 
 VIII. The decision on how much quota an importer or producer receives is made in accordance 
with the quota allocation procedure set out in  Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009, Article 10 and 
Commission Regulation (EU) No 537/2011. 
 
IX. Export licences are not issued automatically if import licence is required. 
 X. Not applicable.  
XI. Licences for imports of HCFC are issued under  the condition that the good is later exported. 
The imported good is to be re-packaged and re-exported. More detail is provided in Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009, Article 15 2 (e).  
 
7. Applications for licences can be made all year long. The Commission must take a decision whether or not to issue a licence no later than 30 days after having received a correct application. 
Yet, in urgent cases the Commission endeavours processing the licences upon request. 
 8. The reason for rejection is always provided in the licence application form and it is the failure to 
meet ordinary criteria. G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
- 28 - 
 
  Eligibility of importers to apply for licence 
9. Any undertaking which is defined as natural or  legal person can register in the ODS Licensing 
System and after verification apply for ODS licences. This service is free of charge.   
Documentational and other requirements for application for licence 
10. The general content of a licence form is the following: 
 Consignee; 
 Country of destination; 
 Consignor/ Exporter; 
 Country of export;  
 Customs of entry; 
 Customs of import; 
 Customs procedure; 
 Commercial description; 
 Substance name; 
 Use; 
 CN code; 
 CAS-number; 
 GROSS mass; 
 NET mass; 
 Number of units; 
 Nature of substance. 
 11 to 13: N.A. 
 
Conditions of licensing 
14. The licence cannot be extended or transferred.  The undertaking must cancel an expired licence 
and apply for a new licence.  
 Most import licences have a maximum validity of  28 days (7 days before and 21 days after the 
estimated date of import). In cases where this validity period exceeds the licensing year (before 
1 January and after 31 December), the validity period is cut accordingly. The validity of the licence 
is also cut when the date of issue is less than seve n days before the estimated date of import or if 
the licence is issued after that date. 
 
Different rules apply to the validity period for the import licences for fire extinguishers containing halon for use on aircrafts. Such licence is valid from the day it is issued until the end of the 
calendar year for which it was issued. In cases where the application proceeds the licensing year 
(i.e. it is issued before 1 January), the validi ty period starts 1 January the following year. 
 15. N.A. 
 
16. N.A.  
Other procedural requirements 
Not applicable. 
 
5  IMPORT OF ROUGH DIAMONDS 
Outline of system 1. The EU as a whole is a single Participant in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. The 
Kimberley Process establishes minimum requirements for an international scheme of certification 
for rough diamonds with a view to breaking the link between armed conflict and the trade in rough 
diamonds.   G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
- 29 - 
 
  The system applies to rough diamonds originating in and coming from a participant. A participant 
is defined as a State, international organization of States or dependent territory of a State, or a customs territory.  
Rough diamonds may legally be exported to or imported from any of the 28 Member States. Every 
person who imports rough diamonds must ensure th at the diamonds are in a container that meets 
the requirements of the regulations and are acco mpanied by a valid Kimberley Process Certificate 
that was issued by a participant, has not been invalidated by the participant and that contains 
accurate information. In-transit rough diamonds are deemed not to be imported or exported. Since 30 March 2014, Greenland, one of the overseas countries and territories participates in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme through its cooperation with the EU.  
 
Purpose and coverage of licensing 
Replies to questions 2 to 5:  
 
Legal basis:  
 
 Council Regulation (EC) No 2368/2002 of 20 December 2002 implementing the Kimberley 
Process certification scheme for the international trade in rough diamonds. (O.J. L 358, 
31.12.2002, p. 28). A consolidated version of  the Regulation can be consulted on the 
EUR-Lex web page at the following address: 
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1412761610942&uri=CELEX:02002R2368-20140409 
 The Regulation provides for controls on the import, export or transit across the EU of rough 
diamonds in order to meet the EU's obligations und er the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.   
 Article 3 of Council Regulation No 2368/2002 provid es that the import of rough diamonds into the 
EU shall be prohibited unless all of the following conditions are fulfilled:  
 (a) the rough diamonds are accompanied by a certificate validated by the competent authority 
of a participant (i.e. of the Kimberley Process);  
 
(b) the rough diamonds are contained in tamper-resistant containers, and the seals applied at 
export by that participant are not broken;  
 
(c)  the certificate clearly identifies the consignment to which it refers.  
Importers or economic operators can freely choose a po int of entry at an external border of the EU 
for the import of rough diamonds.  However, every import of rough diamonds must first be verified by an EU authority, including those destined to Greenland. An EU authority is a competent authority designated by a Member State and agreed  by the Commission to fulfil certain tasks in 
connection with the implementation of the KPCS, namely the verification of incoming shipments 
and KP certificates for conformity with KP rules.  
Acceptance of a customs declaration for release for free circulation of rough diamonds pursuant to 
Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 can only happen after the containers and certificates had been verified by an EU authority.  
 
Article 4 of the Regulation provides:   1. Containers and the corresponding certificates sh all be submitted for verification, together and at 
the earliest opportunity, to a Union authority eith er in the Member State where they are imported 
or in the Member State for which they are destined, as indicated in the accompanying documents.   
2. In cases where rough diamonds are imported into a Member State where there is no Union 
authority, they shall be submitted to the appr opriate Union authority in the Member State for 
which they are destined. If a Union authority exists neither in the importing Member State nor in 
the Member State of destination, or with rega rd to rough diamonds coming from/destined to 
Greenland, they shall be submitted to an appropriate Union authority in another Member State.   G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
- 30 - 
 
  3. The Member State where the rough diamonds are imported shall ensure their submission to the 
appropriate Union authority provide for in paragrap hs 1 and 2. Customs transit may be granted to 
that effect. If such customs transit is granted, the verification provide for by this Article shall be suspended until arrival at the appropriate Union authority.  
 
There are currently Union Authorities in: Antwerp (Belgium); London (United Kingdom); Idar-Oberstein (Germany); Prague (Czech Repub lic); Bucharest (Romania); Sofia (Bulgaria).  
 
Contact details are provided in Section 10 of the "Guidelines on Trading with the EU" – see below - and are also available in Annex III of Council Regulation (EC) No 2368/2002.  
Licensing System: 
 An administrative procedure used for the operation of import of rough diamonds, i.e. the act of the 
verification of a KP certificate is required. Some EU member states with Union authorities also 
require that diamond traders be licensed.  
Coverage:  
 A rough diamond is defined as a diamond that is unsorted, unworked or simply sawn, cleaved or bruted, and that falls under subheading 7102.10,  7102.21 or 7102.31 in the List of Tariff 
Provisions set out in the schedule to the Customs Tariff, but does not include diamonds that are of 
a class prescribed by regulation.  
Procedures 
6. Not applicable. Quantity and value restrictions, beyond the minimum requirements. For 
Certificates in Annex I of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme Document, do not apply to 
imports of rough diamonds. 
 7. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is implemented through the national legislation of the respective participants. The European Commission represents the European Union and 
Greenland in the Kimberley Process certification scheme. 
 8. If an application for a EU license for imports does not meet the criteria, each EU Member State 
imposes its own sanctions.  
 9. Import licenses are issued by an EU authority.  
 
Documentational and other requirements for application for licence 
Replies to questions 10 to 13: 
 
A practical guide for traders in rough diamonds with  the EU is available at the following webpage  
 http://eeas.europa.eu/blood_diamonds/docs/guidelines-on-trading-with-the-european-community-
012014_en.pdf   
 
Conditions of licensing 
14. Authentic accompanying KP certificate, within the period of validity; this may vary depending 
on the issuing country.  15. N.A. 
 
16. N.A.  
17. Tamper resistant container. 
 Other procedural requirements 
 
Not applicable. G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
- 31 - 
 
  6  IMPORT OF WASTE SHIPMENT 
Outline of system 1. This section provides a description of the EU waste shipment notification scheme as established 
by the EU rules and procedures for the transboundary shipments (i.e. transport) of waste.  
 
The import of waste in the EU is controlled under  a permit system administered by the national 
competent authorities. Its requirements are tied in with those of the Basel Convention on the 
Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. 
  Purpose and coverage of licensing 
2. In accordance with the EU's obligations under the Basel convention and in the organization for 
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), th e regulation applies to hazardous wastes and 
other wastes as listed in the schedules of the Basel Convention.  
3. The system applies to hazardous wastes and other wastes as listed in the schedules of the Basel 
Convention originating in and coming from all countries that are a party to the Basel Convention or OECD. 
 
4. The notification system ensures that the EU's  commitments as a party to the Basel Convention 
are upheld. To that effect, trans-boundary movements of hazardous wastes and other wastes is to be reduced to the minimum consistent with the environmentally sound and efficient management 
of such wastes and to be conducted in such a manner which will protect human health and the 
environment against the adverse effects which may result from such movement. The EU procedures applicable for the shipment of haza rdous wastes are not intended to restrict the 
quantity or value of imports. 
 5. The internal EU legal framework for this scheme is Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006 of the 
European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2006 on shipments of waste (O.J. L 190, 
12.07.2006). Licensing is a statutory requirement for the import of any hazardous waste listed in schedules to the Basel Convention  or OECD Council Decisions.  
 
Procedures 
6. The products concerned are not under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports. Replies 
from I to XI below are therefore not pertinent. 
 
7. a) Permit applications should be lodged in advance of the importation. The processing time for 
an application varies from case to case, depending primarily on the time taken by the 
competent authorities of the exporting econom ies concerned to provide feedback for the 
application, and on whether the application fo rm is duly completed and lodged with all the 
required supporting documents. To allow for su fficient time for the competent authorities to 
make responses. 
 b)  Permits are issued only after the authorisation by the competent authorities designed in 
each EU Member State with a requirement und er the Regulation for determination of the 
justification for import and the fitness of the processing organisation to treat the material in an environmentally sound manner. 
 
c)  There are no limitations as to the period of the year during which permit application may be 
made. 
 
d)  For notifiable shipments of waste, the submission of a notification is made by the notifier to 
the competent authorities of the country of dispatch and a prior consent for the shipment needs to be obtained from the competent authorities of all countries concerned (dispatch, 
transit and destination). The competent authorit ies in the EU Member states are listed here: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/shipments/links.htm  
 G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
- 32 - 
 
  8. Apart from statutory requirements, there are requirements under the Basel Convention for all 
States of Transit to control the trans-boundary movement of hazardous waste. Refusal to accept the movement by any such state shall cause the St ate of export to deny a permit. According to 
Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006 on shipments of waste, the reasons for objection to shipments for 
disposal and for recovery are listed in Articles 11 and 12 of the Regulation, respectively.   
 Eligibility of Importers to Apply for Licence 
9.  Any person, firm or institution may apply for a licence. Nevertheless, the applicant should 
normally be the disposer or the importer of the waste.  Documentational and other requirements for application for licence 
10. In accordance with Art. 4 of Regulation  (EC) No 1013/2006 on shipments of waste, the 
notification shall be effected by means of the notification document set out in Annex IA and the movement document set out in Annex IB of the Regulation. Together with Annex IA and IB, the 
notifier shall also supply the information listed in  Annex II, Part 1 and Part 2 of the Regulation, 
respectively. Competent authorities may require additional information and documentation as listed in Annex II, Part 3 of the Regulation. 
 
11. The import permit is required and a valid export permit from the country of origin may be required as a condition of this permit.  
12. In accordance with Article 29 of Regulation  (EC) No 1013/2006, appropriate and proportionate 
administrative costs of implementing the notification and supervision procedures and usual costs of appropriate analyses and inspection s may be charged to the notifier. 
 
13. A financial guarantee, or equivalent insuranc e, shall be established by the notifier or by 
another natural or legal person on its behalf and shall be effective at the time of the notification or, 
if the competent authority which approves the financial guarantee or equivalent insurance so 
allows, at the latest when the shipment starts, and shall apply to the notified shipment at the latest when the shipment starts. This financial guarantee or equivalent insurance shall cover: (a) costs of transport; (b) costs of recovery or di sposal, including any necessary interim operation; 
and (c) costs of storage for 90 days pursuant to Art. 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006 on 
shipments of waste.  
Conditions of licensing 
14. Under the Regulation the import permit is valid for a period of up to 12 months, with the 
possibility of an extension up to 36 months and covers the amount and number of shipments of 
the hazardous waste as noted in the application. 
 15.  No penalty for non-utilization.  
16. Permits/licenses are not transferable between importers. 
 17. All applications must identify the maximum am ount of the hazardous wastes that is intended 
to be covered by the permit. This limit cannot be exceeded. In addition, the applicant is provided 
with specific conditions that form part of the permit that usually relate specifically to the transport, treatment and/or disposal of the hazardous waste. 
 
Other Procedural Requirements 
18. In some cases the approval/certification of ot her agencies is required prior to the issue of a 
permit. The permit applicant is responsible to obtain all relevant approvals and licenses. 
 
19. N.A. 
 G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
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  7  IMPORT OF HARVESTED TIMBER  
Outline of system 1. This section provides a description of the EU  FLEGT licensing scheme as established under the 
EU FLEGT Action Plan.  
 
The EU FLEGT licensing scheme is a voluntary scheme to ensure that only legally harvested timber 
is imported into the EU from countries with which the EU concludes bilateral FLEGT Voluntary 
Partnership Agreements. Under the scheme a partner country issues FLEGT licences for every 
shipment of timber products covered by the agre ement exported to the EU.  The release for free 
circulation in the EU of such shipments is conditional on the acceptance by EU competent authorities of the FLEGT licence.  EU competent authorities may verify the authenticity of the 
FLEGT licence and its conformity with the shipment that it covers.   
 Purposes and Coverage of Licensing 
2. Under the FLEGT licensing scheme the EU has concluded FLEGT Voluntary Partnership 
Agreements (VPAs) with a number of countries.  Ti mber products (defined in the Agreements by 
HS codes) exported from FLEGT partner countries to the EU are covered by a FLEGT licence issued 
by the licensing authority of that country. The FLEGT license demonstrates that the timber 
products have complied with relevant legislation as set out in the corresponding bilateral FLEGT VPAs. Once operational the implementation of the licensing scheme requires that imports of 
relevant timber products into the EU be made subject to a system of checks and controls so that 
only FLEGT licensed timber will be imported to the EU.   
 3. The FLEGT licensing scheme applies only to imports from partner countries with which the EU 
has concluded FLEGT VPAs.  These agreements plac e a legally binding obligation on the EU and on 
the partner country to implement the licensing sc h e m e  a s  s e t  o u t  i n  e a c h  V P A .   T h e  E U  h a s  
concluded FLEGT VPAs with: Cameroon, Central Af rican Republic, Ghana, Liberia, Indonesia, 
Republic of Congo.  As of June 2015 the scheme was not yet operational - the agreements provide 
for a period after conclusion in which the necessary procedures and measures can be put in place.    4. The licensing system has been put in plac e so that countries exporting to the EU can 
demonstrate that their exports of timber products  to the EU are from legal sources.  The scheme 
does not impose any restrictions neither in terms of quantity nor in terms of volumes to the imported goods.  While the CITES Convention re gulates trade in endangered species, including 
certain timber species, it does not cover the bulk  of the timber trade.  In the light of public 
concerns about imports of illegally harvested timber and the negative impact on perceptions of the timber sector a bilateral approach to address the issue together with interested countries, 
accompanied by capacity building measures, was considered appropriate. An alternative approach 
could have been to rely on voluntary certification schemes, however this would not provide the economies of scale or impact of a national approach and may not have adequately taken into account the role of government in verifying and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation.  The 
EU also adopted a horizontal approach to the issue of illegal logging through adoption of 
Regulation 995/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2010 laying 
down the obligations of operators who place timber and timber products on the market (O.J. L OJ 
L 295, 12.11.2010).  This Regulation is consistent with the FLEGT Voluntary Partnership 
Agreements in that it recognises FLEGT licences (and CITES permits) as a means to demonstrate compliance with the Regulation.   
 
5. The internal EU legal framework for this scheme is Council Regulation No 2173/2005 of 
20 December 2005 on the establishment of a FLEGT licensing scheme for imports of timber into the European Community (O.J. L 347, 30.12.2005)  and the Commission Regulation (EC) No 
1024/2008 of 17 October 2008 laying down detailed measures for the implementation of Council 
Regulation (EC) No 2173/2005 on the establishm ent of a FLEGT licensing scheme for imports of 
timber into the European Community (O.J. L 277, 18.10.2008). 
 
The licensing is statutorily required for those countries that enter into bilateral FLEGT VPAs, once the parties have decided to make the scheme op erational and the legislation does not leave 
designation of products to be subjected to licensing to administrative discretion. Furthermore, it is G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
- 34 - 
 
  not possible for the government (or the executive br anch) to abolish the system without legislative 
approval.  Procedures  
6. The products concerned are not under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports. Replies 
from I to XI below are therefore not pertinent.  
7.  
a) Under the agreements a FLEGT licence is issued when a shipment is exported from the 
p a r t n e r  c o u n t r y .   A n  E U  i m p o r t e r  o f  s u c h  a  s h i p m e n t  d o e s  n o t  n e e d  t o  a p p l y  f o r  a n  importation licence from an EU competent auth ority but must present a copy of the FLEGT 
licence as issued at the time of export of the shipment from the partner country.  If justified 
and subject to verification that the shipment meets the relevant conditions it is generally possible for a FLEGT licence to be re-issued by  the partner country in case of unforeseen 
circumstances.   
 (b)  The procedures established by the partne r country determine whether a licence can be 
granted immediately upon request or not. 
 (c)  There are no limitations as to the period of the year during which application for licence 
and/or importation may be made. 
 
(d)  As indicated above, licences are issued by the exporting country and not by the EU.   
 
8. The issuance of a licence is the responsibility of the partner country; the procedures in case of 
refusal are therefore subject to the partner countries' rules.    
Eligibility of Importers to Apply for Licence 
9. All persons, firms and institutions are eligible to apply for licences. 
 Documentational and Other Requirements for Application for Licence 
10. The information required to apply for a FLEGT licence is set out in the FLEGT VPA and is 
subject to the rules of the partner country.  The fo rmat of the FLEGT licence is set out in an Annex 
of each FLEGT VPA but follows the general format set out in the Annex to Commission Regulation 
(EC) No 1024/2008 of 17 October 2008.  An EU im porter needs to provide a copy of the FLEGT 
licence, obtained from the exporter.    
11. A FLEGT licence cross referenced to the Single Administrative Document for release for free 
circulation.  12. EU Member States have discretion on whether to charge an administrative fee and the amount 
of the feed.     
 13. N.A. as the EU does not issue the licences.   
  
Conditions of Licensing 
14. The period of validity of FLEGT licences from a given partner country is set out in the 
corresponding bilateral FLEGT VPA. The validity can be extended by the issuing country upon 
request if adequately justified.    15. There is no penalty for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of a licence.  
 
16. The licences are not transferable between import ers.  The name of the importer on the FLEGT 
licence can however be amended by the issuing count ry upon request if adequately justified.   
 
17. Evidence of compliance with relevant legislation, as set out in the relevant FLEGT VPA.  G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
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  Other Procedural Requirements 
18. No other administrative procedures, apart from import licensing and similar administrative 
procedures, required prior to importation.  
19. N.A. 
 8  IMPORT OF ENDANGERED SPECIES (CITES) 
Outline of system 
1. This section provides a description on the EU legislation regulating the imports of certain 
endangered species of animals and plants (or parts or derivatives made thereof). Documents are required for the import and export of endangered species listed in Appendices I, II and III of the 
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), 
whether alive, dead, parts or derivatives, as well as a number of non-CITES species. 
  
Purpose and coverage of licensing 
2. The EU Wildlife Trade Regulations are based on the Convention on International Trade in 
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and comprise a double-checking system 
involving export and import controls both at the country of origin and at EU level.  
 The EU Wildlife Trade Regulations and CITES cover trade in, by default, all specimens, whether alive or dead, including parts and derivatives, from animal and plant species listed in the 
Annexes/Appendices. The term “trade” encompasses not only trade in a commercial sense but 
also, for example, imports and (re) ‐exports for personal use. The species covered by Regulation 
(EC) No 338/97 are listed in four Annexes (A to D). 
 
The EU Regulation lays down different requiremen ts and procedures for each of the groupings of 
species listed in its Annexes A, B, C and Annex D.  
Species listed in Annex A: Any transaction with commercial purposes involving specimens of the 
species listed in this Annex is prohibited. Exemption from this prohibition can be granted on a case-by-case basis, by issuance of a special certificate by a management authority of the Member 
State in which the specimens are located, provided the specimens: 
a. are captive-born and bred, or artificially propagated; or 
b. are required, under exceptional circumstan ces, for the advancement of science or 
biomedical purposes; or 
c. are intended for breeding or propagation purposes; or 
d. are intended for research or education aimed at the preservation of the species 
Species listed in Annex B, i.e. most species concerned by the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations: 
transaction with commercial purposes involving specimens of the species listed in this Annex are possible under a number of strict conditions. Exemptions from this permit requirement can be 
granted on a case-by-case basis.  
 Species listed in Annexes C and D need also to meet a number of documentary requirements. 
The EU may determine to prohibit the importation of certain specimens or species, either globally 
or originating from specific third countries. These suspensions are published periodically and affect 
imports into all EU Member States. The latest list of restrictions is laid down in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2015/736 of 7 May 2015 prohibiting the introduction into the 
Union of specimens of certain species of wild fauna and flora. 
 3. The import licensing requirement applies to traders as well as individuals importing these items 
from all territories. 
 G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
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  4. The licensing is not intended to restrict the qu antity or value of imports. The approval system 
shall function to perform the duty of the CITE S and aims therefore at protecting endangered 
species and to prevent them from over-exploitation in accordance with CITES. Management authorities of the Member States verify the following conditions for all imports of the covered 
species: 
 A. For all species:  
a. whether or not the trade will be harmful to the survival of the species in the wild, 
b. whether or not the specimen was legally acquired. 
B. For live specimens:  
c. whether or not the specimen is properly prepared for transportation,  
d. whether or not the importer has the suitable facilities to house and care for live 
specimens.  
C. Besides, the authority must verify that specimens of species listed in Annex A to Council 
Regulation (EC) No 338/97 are not imported to be used for primarily commercial purposes.  
5. The EU implements CITES through a set of Regulations known as the EU Wildlife Trade 
Regulations.  
 Currently these are: - Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 1997 on the protection of species of wild 
fauna and flora by regulating trade therein (O.J. L 61, 03.03.1997),  
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 1320/2014 of 1 December 2014 amending Council 
Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the protection of  species of wild fauna and flora by regulating 
trade therein 
- Commission Regulation (EC) No 865/2006 of 4 May 2006 laying down detailed rules 
concerning the implementation of Regulation (E C) No 338/97 on the protection of species of 
wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein (OJ L-166 19/06/2006)  
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 757/2012 of 20 August 2012 suspending the 
introduction into the Union of specimens of certain species of wild fauna and flora (OJ L-223 21/08/2012)  
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 792/2012 of 23 August 2012 laying down 
rules for the design of permits, certificates and other documents provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the protection of  species of wild fauna and flora by regulating 
trade therein and amending Commission Regulation (EC) No 865/2006 (OJ L-242 
07/09/2012)  
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/56 of 15 January 2015 amending, as regards the trade in 
species of wild fauna and flora, Regulation (EC) No 865/2006 laying down detailed rules 
concerning the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/57 of 15 January 2015 amending 
Implementing Regulation (EU) No 792/2012 as regards the rules for the design of permits, 
certificates and other documents provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the 
protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein and in Commission 
Regulation (EC) No 865/2006 laying down detailed rules concerning the implementation of 
Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97. 
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2015/736 of 7 May 2015 prohibiting the 
introduction into the Union of specimens of certain species of wild fauna and flora. 
 
An import permit, as defined in Art. 4 of Council Regulation No 338/97, is required.  The legislation does not leave designation of products to be subjected to licensing to 
administrative discretion and it is not possible for the government (or the executive branch) to 
abolish the system without legislative approval.   G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
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  Procedures 
6. Not applicable. 
 7. 
a)  Import permits shall be applied for in sufficient time to allow their issue prior to the 
introduction of specimens into the EU. The issue of a licence is not automatic and shipments should not be effected unless and until the licence has been issued. EU Member States 
Management authorities shall decide on the issue of permits and certificates within one 
month of the date of submission of a complete application. 
 b)  No, see above. 
 
c)  No.  
d)  The issuance of permits and certificates is exclusively done by Member States Management 
Authorities, upon advice of their national Scientific Authority. Moreover, the CITES Secretariat or CITES authority of exporting countries may have to be consulted in a very 
limited number of cases. 
 8. Licensing policy follows closely the provisions and spirit of CITES, and an application for a license can only be refused in case of failure to meet the conditions posed by the EU Wildlife Trade 
Regulations. 
 Eligibility of Importers to Apply for Licence 
9.  Any person can lodge an application 
 Documentational and other requirements for application for licence 
10. The standard model forms that must be used for permits, certificates, notifications and 
applications for these documents, as well as labels for scientific specimens, are contained in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/ 57 of 15 January 2015 amending Implementing 
Regulation (EU) No 792/2012 as regards the rules fo r the design of permits, certificates and other 
documents provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the protection of species of wild 
fauna and flora by regulating trade therein and in  Commission Regulation (EC) No 865/2006 laying 
down detailed rules concerning the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97. 
 
11. Under the scheme, different types of document s are required for trade into and from the EU: 
 an import permit for the import of specimens of Annex A ‐ or B‐listed species; 
 an import notification for the import of Annex C ‐ or D‐listed species, which is to be 
completed by the importer. 
 12. Certain EU Member States apply licensing fees. The amount depends on each Member State.  
13. Neither a deposit nor an advance payment is required. 
 Conditions of licensing 
14. The maximum time validi ty of an import permit is 12 months. However, in the case of caviar of 
sturgeon and paddlefish species (Acipenseriformes) that originated from shared stocks that are subject to export quotas, there is an additional stipulation that the permit ceases to be valid at the 
latest on the last day of the year to which the quota applies (i.e. the quota year in which the caviar 
was harvested and processed).  15.  No penalty for non-utilization. 
 
16. Not transferable.  
17. N.A. 
 G/LIC/N/3/EU/4 
 
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  Other Procedural Requirements 
18. No other administrative/procedural requirements prior to importation. 
 19. No foreign exchange control. 
 
__________