WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/LIC/N/3/EEC/2/Add.14
13 October 1999
(99-4337)
Committee on Import Licensing Original:  English
REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES1
Notification under Article 7.3 of the Agreement
on Import Licensing Procedures
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
Addendum
Import Licensing Procedures for WTO Tariff Quotas
for Raw Cane Sugar for Refining
Outline of system
1. The object of the import licensing system is to ensure a sound administration of the EC’s
WTO tariff rate quota for 85,463 tonnes of raw cane sugar, for refining of tariff  heading 1701 11 10.
The relevant legislation related to the import licensing system for this tariff quota is mentioned in
reply 5.  As regards the requirements for applicants for import licences see reply 6.
Purpose and coverage of licensing
2. See reply 1.3. The system applies in the European Community to the product mentioned in reply 1
originating in Cuba, Brazil and other third countries.
4. See reply 1.  As referred to in reply 1, the licensing system covers the relevant WTO tariff
quota. The EC considers the method adopted to be the most appropriate to administer this tariff rate
quota.
5. The relevant legislation for the administration of import licences for the tariff quota
mentioned in reply 1 is:
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1507/96 of 29 July 1996 (OJ L 189), as last amended by
Commission Regulation (EC) 1250/ 97 of 30 June 1997(OJ L 173).
The licensing is statutorily required. The legislation does not leave designation of products to
be subjected to licensing to administrative discretion. The system cannot be abolished without
legislative approval.
                                                     
1 See G/LIC/3, Annex, for the Questionnaire.G/LIC/N/3/EEC/2/Add.14
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Procedures
6. Answer to questions 6.I to VIII and to 6.X and 6.XI. Question 6.IX is not relevant.
The information related to the allocation of the quo ta and the formalities for licence application is
published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (see reply 5). There is no derogation
from the licensing requirement.
The tariff quota is an annual tariff quota.Applications for import licences must be submitted by refiners to the competent authority in
the Member State of import concerned and must be accompanied by a declaration to the effect that theapplicant undertakes to refine the quantity of su gar in question before 1 July following the date of
import. The competent authorities in the Member States have to inform the Commission of
application submitted in order in which they are recorded. The Commission has to inform the Member
States as soon as possible of the quantities, which can be allocated to importers. Import licences are
issued by the competent authorities in the Member States. Refiners applying for licences must, withinthree months of the end of the time limit laid down for refining provide the Member State which
issued the licence with proof of refining which the later recognises.  Entitlement under the tariff quota
is conditional on the presentation, at the time for release for free circulation, of a certificate of origin
from the third country concerned. The import of the raw sugar has to take place in the Member State,
which issued the import licence. Imports are only known to the competent authority in the MemberStates to which the import licence application has been submitted, to the exporting country and to the
Commission.
7. Question 7 is not relevant in the present case.
8. The application for an import licence can only be refused if the relevant criteria are not
fulfilled. Applicants can appeal to courts in the Member States according to the legislation in force in
the respective Member States.
Eligibility of importers to apply for licence
9. See reply 6. Applicant must be entered in a VAT register and there is no registration fee.Documentational and other requirements for application for licence
10. A specimen of the import licence is set out at Annex XI to the Community’s general
Article 7.3 notification for 1999 (G/L IC/N/3/EEC/2). Regarding the information required, see the
import licence and Commission Regulation (EC) No  1507/96 of 29.07.96 (published in OJ L 189,
page 82), as last amended by Commission Re gulation (EC) 1250/97 of 30.6.97 (published in
OJ L 173, page 2).
11. See reply 6.12. No.13. 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. The security isreleased when the obligation to import has been fulfilled.G/LIC/N/3/EEC/2/Add.14
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Conditions of licensing
14. Import licences are valid from their date of issue until 30 June thereafter. The period of
validity cannot be extended.
15. In case of non-utilisation of an import licence, the security is not released. In the case of
partial use of the import licence, the security is partially released.
16. Import licences are not transferable.17. No.
Other procedural requirements
18. No.
19. Not relevant.
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