WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/LIC/N/3/EEC/3/Add.11
14 December 2000
(00-5439)
Committee on Import Licensing Original:  English
REPLIES TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES1
Notification under Article 7.3 of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
Addendum
Import Licensing Procedures for WTO Tariff Quotas for Broken Rice
Outline of systems
1. The object of the import licensing system is to ensure a sound administration of the EC’s
WTO tariff rate quota for 1,000 tonnes of broken rice of tariff heading 1006 40 00, intended for the
production of foodstuffs of tariff heading 1901 10.  The relevant legislation related to the import
licensing system for this tariff quota is mentioned in the reply to question 5.  As regards therequirements for applicants for import licences see reply to question 6.
Purpose and coverage of licensing
2. See answer to question 1.3. The system applies in the European Comm unity to the product mentioned in answer to
question 1 originating in third countries.
4. See answer to question 1.  As referred to in the answer to question 1, the licensing system
covers the relevant WTO tariff quota.  The EC considers the method adopted to be the most
appropriate to administer this tariff rate quota.
5. The relevant legislation for the administration of import licences for the tariff quota
mentioned in the answer to question 1 is the Co mmission Regulation (EC) No  2058/96 of 28 October
1996 (OJ L 276).
The licensing is statutorily required.  The legislation does not leave designation of products to
be subjected to licensing to administrative discretion.  The system cannot be abolished without
legislative approval.
Procedures
6. Answer to questions 6.I to VIII and to 6. XI.  Questions 6.IX and X are not relevant.
                                                     
1 See G/LIC/3, Annex, for the Questionnaire.G/LIC/N/3/EEC/3/Add.11
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The information related to the allocation of the quota and the formalities for licence
application is published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (see answer to
question 5).  There is no derogation from the licensing requirement.
The tariff quota is an annual tariff quota.Applications for import licences have to be accompanied by the proof that the applicant is a
natural or legal person who has carried out a commercial activity in the rice sector for at least 12
months and who is registered in the Member State in which the application is submitted.  On the day
on which licence applications are lodged, the competent authorities in the Member States have to
inform the Commission on the applications submitted.  Import licences are issued on the 11th working
day following that on which the application was lodged provided that the quantities applied for do notexceed the tariff quota volume.  If the quantities in respect of which licences have been applied for
exceed the quantities available, the Commission shall fix a single percentage of acceptance for the
quantities applied for and notify this to the competent authorities in the Member States.
Imports are only known to the competent authority in the Member States to which the import
licence application has been submitted and to the Commission.
The applicant for an import licence must approach only one administrative organ.
7. Question 7 related to no quantitative limits is not relevant in the present case.8. The application for an import licence can only be refused if the relevant criteria are not
fulfilled.  Applicants can appeal to courts in the Me mber States according to the legislation in force in
the respective Member States.
Eligibility of importers to apply for licence
9. See answer to question 6.  Applicant must be entered in a VAT register and there is no
registration fee.
Documentational and other requirements for application for licence
10. A specimen of the import licence is included in the EC Regulations set out in answer to
question 10 of the main notification for 2000.  Regarding the information required, see the import
licence and Commission Regulation (EC) No 2058/96 of 28.10.96 (published in OJ L 276, page 7).
11. The import licence, and on entry into free circulation, a written undertaking that all the goods
entered will be processed within six months of the date of acceptance of the entry for free circulation.
12. No.13. The issuance of import licence is subject to a security in order to guarantee that the imported
broken rice will be processed into the product indicated in the import licence.  Where rice entered for
free circulation has not been processed within the specified time limit the security released is reduced
by 2% for each of the day by which the time limit is exceeded.
Conditions of licensing
14. Import licences are valid until the end of the third months following that of issue and the
period of validity cannot be extended.G/LIC/N/3/EEC/3/Add.11
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15. See answer to question 13.
16. Import licences are not transferable.17. No.Other procedural requirements
18. No.19. Not relevant.
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