This document is meant purely as documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents
"B COMMISSION DECISION No 2136/97/ECSC
of 12 September 1997
on administering certain restrictions on imports of certain steel products from the Russian
Federation
(OJ L 300, 4.11.1997, p. 15)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
"M1 Commission Decision No 2124/98/ECSC of 2 October 1998 L 268 31 3.10.1998
"M2 Commission Decision No 2235/1999/ECSC of 21 October 1999 L 272 4 22.10.1999
"M3 Commission Decision No 659/2000/ECSC of 30 March 2000 L 80 11 31.3.2000
"M4 Commission Decision No 244/2001/ECSC of 5 February 2001 L 35 16 6.2.2001
NB: This consolidated version contains references to the European unit of account and/or the ecu, which from 1 January 1999
should be understood as references to the euro — Council Regulation (EEC) No 3308/80 (OJ L 345, 20.12.1980, p. 1) andCouncil Regulation (EC) No 1103/97 (OJ L 162, 19.6.1997, p. 1).1997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 1
COMMISSION DECISION No 2136/97/ECSC
of 12 September 1997
on administering certain restrictions on imports of certain steel
products from the Russian Federation
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel
Community and in particular the first paragraph of Article 95 thereof,
Having consulted the Consultative Committee and with the unanimous
assent of the Council,
Whereas for the years 1995, 1996 and the first six months of 1997 trade
in certain products covered by the Treaty establishing the European Coal
and Steel Treaty was the subject of agreements between the Parties (1);
and whereas the Community has concluded a further agreement with the
Russian Federation concerning trade in certain steel products covered by
the European Coal and Steel Community Treaty which take account of
developments in the relationship between the Parties (2);
Whereas this agreement establishes quantitative limits for the entry into
free circulation in the Community of certain steel products between 1997
to 2001 and provides a framework for the removal of quantitative
restrictions provided that certain conditions are met and in particular
when equivalent disciplines in respect of competition, public aid and
environmental protection have been established in respect of the steel
products covered by the Agreement;
Whereas it is necessary to provide the means to administer this
agreement within the Community, taking into account the experience
gained during the previous agreement by the application of Commission
Decision No 3/96/ECSC (3), as amended for the period 1 January to 30
June 1997 by Decision No 350/97/ECSC (4) (the Russian Federation);
Whereas it is necessary to ensure that the origin of the products in
question is checked and appropriate methods of administrative cooper-
ation are set up to this end;
Whereas the effective application of the agreement requires the
introduction of a requirement of a Community import licence for the
entry into free circulation in the Community of the products in question
together with a system for administering the grant of such Community
import licences;
Whereas products placed in a free zone or imported under the
arrangements governing customs warehouses, temporary importation or
inward processing (suspension system) should not be counted against the
limits established for the products in question;
Whereas, in order to ensure that these quantitative limits are not
exceeded, it is necessary to establish a management procedure whereby
the competent authorities of the Member States will not issue import
licences before obtaining prior confirmation from the Commission that
appropriate amounts remain available within the quantitative limit in
question;
Whereas the agreement provides for a system of cooperation between the
Russian Federation and the Community with the aim of preventing
circumvention by means of transhipment, rerouting or other means;
whereas a consultation procedure is established under which an
agreement can be reached with the country concerned on an equivalent
adjustment to the relevant quantitative limit when it appears that the
agreement has been circumvented; whereas the Russian Federation also
agreed to take the necessary measures to ensure that any adjustments!B
(1) OJ L 5, 8. 1. 1996, p. 24 and OJ L 45, 15. 2. 1997, p. 40.
(2) See page 52 of this Official Journal.
(3) OJ L 5, 8. 1. 1996, p. 1.
(4) OJ L 59, 28. 2. 1997, p. 2.1997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 2
could be rapidly applied; whereas, in the absence of agreement with a
supplier country within the time limit provided, the Community may,
where clear evidence of circumvention is provided, apply the equivalent
adjustment;
Whereas it is necessary, in order to ensure an effective application of the
Community licensing system and to ensure coherence and continuity that
export licences and import authorisations issued during the period 1
January to 30 September 1997 should be counted against the limits
established for 1997 in this Decision,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Scope
1 This Decision applies to imports of the steel products listed in Annex
I, originating in the Russian Federation.
2. For the purposes of paragraph 1, the steel products shall be
classiefied in product groups as set out in Annex I.
3. The classification of products listed in Annex I shall be based on the
combined nomenclature (CN). The procedures for the application of this
paragraph are laid down in part I of Annex II.
4. The origin of the products referred to in paragraph 1 shall be
determined in accordance with the rules in force in the Community.
5. The procedures for verification of the origin of the products referred
to in paragraph 1 are laid down in Annexes II and III and in the relevant
Community legislation in force.
Article 2
Quantitative limits
1. The importation into the Community of the steel products listed in
Annex I originating in the Russian Federation shall be subject to the
annual quantitative limits laid down in Annex IV . The release for free
circulation in the Community of the products set out in Annex I
originating in the Russian Federation shall be subject to the presentation
of an import authorization issued by the Member States’ authorities in
accordance with the provisions of Article 4.
The authorized imports shall be counted against the quantitative limits
laid down for the year in which the products are shipped in the exporting
country.
2. In order to ensure that quantities for which import authorizations are
issued do not exceed at any moment the total quantitative limits for each
product group, the competent authorities shall issue import auth-
orizations only upon confirmation by the Commission that there are
still quantities available within the quantitative limits for the relevant
product group of steel products in respect of the supplier country, for
which an importer or importers have submitted applications to the said
authorities.
3. Imports of products after 1 January 1997, for which an export
licence was required pursuant to Commission Decision No
350/97/ECSC, shall be counted against the relevant limits for 1997 laid
down in Annex IV .
4. For the purposes of this Decision, shipment of products shall be
considered as having taken place on the date on which they were loaded
onto the exporting means of transport.!B1997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 3
Article 3
Suspensive arrangements
1. The quantitative limits referred to in Annex IV shall not apply to
products placed in a free zone or free warehouse or imported under the
arrangements governing customs warehouses, temporary importation or
inward processing (suspension system).
2. Where the products referred to in paragraph 1 are subsequently
released for free circulation, either in the unaltered state or after working
or processing, Article 2 (2) shall apply and the products so released shall
be counted against the relevant quantitative limit set out in Annex IV .
Article 4
Specific rules for the administration of Community quantitative
limits
1. For the purpose of applying Article 2 (2), the competent authorities
of the Member States, before issuing import authorizations, shall notify
the Commission of the amounts of the requests for import authorizations,
supported by original export licences, which they have received. By
return, the Commission shall notify its confirmation that the requested
amount(s) of quantities are available for importation in the chronological
order in which the notifications of the Member States have been received
(‘first come, first served basis’).
2. The requests included in the notifications to the Commission shall be
valid if they establish clearly in each case the exporting country, the
product group concerned, the amounts to be imported, the number of the
export licence, the quota year and the Member State in which the
products are intended to be put into free circulation.
3. The notifications referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be
communicated electronically within the integrated network set up for this
purpose, unless for imperative technical reasons it is necessary to use
other means of communication temporarily.
4. As far as possible, the Commission shall confirm to the authorities
the full amount indicated in the requests notified for each product group
of products. Moreover, the Commission shall contact the Russian
authorities immediately in cases where requests notified exceed the
limits in order to seek clarification and a rapid solution.
5. The competent authorities shall notify the Commission immediately
after being informed of any quantity that is not used during the duration
of validity of the import authorization. Such unused quantities shall
automatically be transferred into the remaining quantities of the total
Community quantitative limit for each product group.
6. The import authorizations or equivalent documents shall be issued in
accordance with Annex II.
7. The competent authorities of the Member States shall notify the
Commission of any cancellation of import authorizations or equivalent
documents already issued in cases where the corresponding export
licences have been withdrawn or cancelled by the competent Russian
authorities. However, if the Commission or the competent authorities of a
Member State have been informed by the competent Russian authorities
of the withdrawal or cancellation of an export licence after the related
products have been imported into the Community, the quantities in
question shall be set off against the quantitative limit for the year during
which shipment of products took place.
8. The Commission may, in accordance with the procedure laid down in
Article 7, take any measure necessary to implement the provisions of this
Article.!B1997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 4
Article 5
Statistics
1. In respect of the steel products listed in Annex I, Member States
shall notify the Commission monthly, within one month of the end of
each month, of the total quantities that have entered into free circulation
during that month, indicating the combined nomenclature code and using
the statistical units and, where appropriate, supplementary units used in
that code. Imports shall be broken down in accordance with the statistical
procedures in force.
2. In order to enable market trends in the products covered by this
Decision to be monitored, Member States shall communicate to the
Commission, before 31 March each year, statistical data on the imports
of the preceding year.
Article 6
Circumvention
1. Where, following the enquiries carried out in accordance with the
procedures set out in Annex III, the Commission notes that the
information in its possession constitutes proof that products listed in
Annex I originating in the Russian Federation have been transhipped,
rerouted or otherwise imported into the Community through circum-
vention of such quantitative limits and that there is a need for the
necessary adjustments to be made, it shall request that consultations be
opened so that agreement may be reached on an equivalent adjustment of
the corresponding quantitative limits.
2. Pending the outcome of the consultations referred to in paragraph 1,
the Commission may ask the Russian Federation concerned to take the
necessary precautionary steps to ensure that adjustments to the
quantitative limits agreed following such consultations may be carried
out for the year in which the request for consultations was lodged or for
the following year, if the quantitative limits for the current year are
exhausted, where there is clear evidence of circumvention.
3. If the Community and the Russian Federation fail to arrive at a
satisfactory solution and if the Commission notes that there is clear
evidence of circumvention, it shall, in accordance with the procedure laid
down in Article 7, deduct from the quantitative limits an equivalent
volume of products originating in the Russian Federation.
Article 7
Committee
1. In the implementation of this Decision the Commission shall be
assisted by a Committee composed of representatives of the Member
States and chaired by a representative of the Commission.
2. Where reference is made to the procedure laid down in this Article,
the Chairman shall submit to the Committee a draft of the measures to be
taken. The Committee shall deliver its unanimous assent on the draft
measures within a period which may be fixed by the chairman in
accordance with the degree of urgency of the matter.
The Commission shall adopt the measures proposed where they are in
conformity with the Committee’s opinion.
Where the measures proposed are not in conformity with the
Committee’ s opinion, or where no opinion has been given, the
Commission shall present them to the Coucil, without delay. Should
the Council fail to deliver its unanimous assent within one month of the
date on which the proposal was laid before it, the Commission shall
adopt the proposed measures.
3. The chirman may, on his own initiative or at the request of one of the
Member States’ representatives, request that the Committee consider any
other matter relating to the operation or application of this Decision.!B1997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 5
Article 8
Final provisions
Amendments to the Annexes which may be necessary to take into
account the conclusion, amendment or expiry of agreements with the
Russian Federation, adjustments to the quantitative limits made in
accordance with the provisions contained in Article 2 (5) or Article 3 (4)
of the ECSC steel agreement with the Russian Federation, or
amendments made to Community rules on statistics, customs arrange-
ments or common rules for imports, shall be adopted in accordance with
the procedure laid down in Article 7.
Article 9
This Decision shall not constitute in any way a derogation from the
provisions of the bilateral agreements on trade in certain steel products
which the Community has concluded with the Russian Federation and
which, in all cases of conflict, shall prevail.
Article 10
This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
This Decision shall apply from 1 October 1997.
This Decision shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all
Member States.!B1997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 6
ANNEX I
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
SA Flat-rolled products
SA1. Coils
7208 10 00
7208 25 00
7208 26 007208 27 007208 36 007208 37 90
7208 38 90
7208 39 90
7211 14 10
7211 19 20
7219 11 00
7219 12 10
7219 12 90
7219 13 107219 13 907219 14 107219 14 90
7225 20 20
7225 30 00
SA1a. Hot rolled coils for re-rolling
7208 37 10
7208 38 107208 39 10
SA2. Heavy Plate
7208 40 10
7208 51 107208 51 30
7208 51 50
7208 51 917208 51 997208 52 107208 52 917208 52 99
7208 53 10
7211 13 00
SA3. Other flat rolled products
7208 40 90
7208 53 907208 54 10
7208 54 90
7208 90 10
7209 15 00
7209 16 107209 16 907209 17 10
7209 17 90
7209 18 107209 18 917209 18 99!
B1997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 7
7209 25 00
7209 26 107209 26 90
7209 27 10
7209 27 907209 28 107209 28 907209 90 10
7210 11 10
7210 12 117210 12 197210 20 10
7210 30 10
7210 41 107210 49 107210 50 107210 61 10
7210 69 10
7210 70 317210 70 397210 90 317210 90 33
7210 90 38
7211 14 90
7211 19 907211 23 107211 23 51
7211 29 20
7211 90 11
7212 10 10
7212 10 917212 20 11
7212 30 11
7212 40 107212 40 917212 50 31
7212 50 51
7212 60 117212 60 91
7219 21 10
7219 21 90
7219 22 10
7219 22 907219 23 007219 24 007219 31 00
7219 32 10
7219 32 907219 33 107219 33 907219 34 10
7219 34 90
7219 35 107219 35 90
7225 40 80
SB. Longs
SB1. Beams
7207 19 31
7207 20 71!
B1997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 8
7216 31 11
7216 31 197216 31 917216 31 997216 32 117216 32 197216 32 917216 32 997216 33 107216 33 90
SB2. Wire rod
7213 10 00
7213 20 007213 91 107213 91 207213 91 417213 91 497213 91 707213 91 907213 99 107213 99 90
7221 00 10
7221 00 90
7227 10 00
7227 20 007227 90 107227 90 507227 90 95
SB3. Other longs
7207 19 11
7207 19 147207 19 167207 20 517207 20 557207 20 57
7214 20 00
7214 30 007214 91 107214 91 907214 99 107214 99 317214 99 397214 99 507214 99 617214 99 697214 99 807214 99 90
7215 90 107216 10 00
7216 21 007216 22 007216 40 107216 40 907216 50 107216 50 917216 50 997216 99 10
7218 99 207222 11 11!
B1997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 9
7222 11 19
7222 11 21
7222 11 29
7222 11 91
7222 11 99
7222 19 10
7222 19 90
7222 30 10
7222 40 10
7222 40 30
7224 90 31
7224 90 39
7228 10 10
7228 10 30
7228 20 11
7228 20 19
7228 20 30
7228 30 20
7228 30 41
7228 30 49
7228 30 61
7228 30 69
7228 30 70
7228 30 89
7228 60 10
7228 70 10
7228 70 31
7228 80 10
7228 80 90
7301 10 00!B1997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 10
ANNEX II
PART I
CLASSIFICATION
Article 1
The classification of the steel products covered by the Decision is based on the
combined nomenclature (CN).
Article 2
On the initiative of the Commission or of a Member State, the tariff and statistical
nomenclature section of the Customs Code Committee, which was established byCouncil Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 (
1), as amended by Article 252 of Council
Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 (2), will examine urgently, in accordance with the
provisions of the aforementioned Regulations, all questions concerning the
classification of products covered by this Decision within the combinednomenclature in order to classify them in the appropriate product groups.
Article 3
The Commission shall inform the Russian Federation of any changes in the
combined nomenclature (CN) affecting products covered by this Decision on their
adoption by the competent authorities of the Community.
Article 4
The Commission shall inform the competent Russian authorities of any decisions
adopted in accordance with the procedures in force in the Community relating toclassification of products covered by this Decision, within one month at the latest
of their adoption. Such communication shall include:
(a) a description of the products concerned;
(b) the relevant product group, and the combined nomenclature code (CN code);
(c) the reasons which have led to the decision.
Article 5
1. Where a classification decision adopted in accordance with Community
procedures in force results in a change of classification practice or a change in the
product group of any product covered by this Decision, the competent authorities
of the Member States shall provide 30 days’ notice, from the date of theCommission’ s notification, before the decision is put into effect.
2. Products shipped before the date of application of the decision shall remain
subject to earlier classification practice, provided that the goods in question areentered to importation within 60 days of that date.
Article 6
Where a classification decision adopted in accordance with the Community
procedures in force referred to in Article 5 of this Annex involves a product group
subject to a quantitative limit, the Commission shall, where necessary, initiate
consultations without delay in accordance with Article 9 of this Decision, in orderto reach agreement on any necessary adjustments to the correspondingquantitative limits provided for in Annex IV .
Article 7
1. Without prejudice to any other provision on this subject, where the
classification indicated in the documentation necessary for importation of theproducts covered by this Decision differs from the classification determined by thecompetent authorities of the Member State into which they are to be imported, the
goods in question shall be provisionally subject to the import arrangements which,
in accordance with the provisions of this Decision, are applicable to them on thebasis of the classification determined by the aforementioned authorities.!
B
(1) OJ L 256, 7. 9. 1987, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 302, 19. 10. 1992, p. 1.1997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 11
2. The competent authorities of the Member States shall inform the Commission
of the cases referred to in paragraph 1, indicating in particular:
— the quantities of products involved,— the product group shown on the import documentation and that retained by
the competent authorities,
— the number of the export licence and the category shown.3. The competent authorities of the Member States shall not issue a new import
authorization for steel products subject to a Community quantitative limit laiddown in Annex IV following re-classification until they have obtained
confirmation from the Commission that the amounts to be imported are available
in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 4 of the Decision.
4. The Commission shall notify the exporting countries concerned of the cases
referred to in this Article.
Article 8
In the cases referred to in Article 7, as well as in those cases of a similar nature
raised by the competent Russian authorities, the Commission, if necessary, shallenter into consultations with the Russian Federation, in order to reach agreementon the classification definitively applicable to the products involved in the
divergence.
Article 9
The Commission, in agreement with the competent authorities of the importing
Member State or States and of the Russian Federation, may, in the cases referred
to in Article 8, determine the classification definitively applicable to the products
involved in the divergence.
Article 10
When a case of divergence referred to in Article 7 cannot be resolved in
accordance with Article 9, the Commission shall adopt, in accordance with the
provisions of Article 10 of Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87, a measure establishing
the classification of the goods in the Combined Nomenclature.
PART II
DOUBLE-CHECKING SYSTEM
(for administering quantitative limits)
Article 11
1. The competent Russian authorities shall issue an export licence in respect of
all consignments of steel products subject to the quantitative limits laid down inAnnex IV up to the level of the said limits.
2. The original of the export licence shall be presented by the importer for the
purposes of the issue of the import authorization referred to in Article 14.
Article 12
1. The export licence for quantitative limits shall conform to the specimen set
out in Appendice I of this Annex and shall certify, inter alia, that the quantity of
goods in question has been set off against the quantitative limit established for the
product group concerned.
2. Each export licence shall cover only one of the product groups listed in
Annex I.
Article 13
Exports shall be set off against the quantitative limits established for the year in
which the products covered by the export licence have been shipped within themeaning of Article 2 (5) of the Decision.!
B1997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 12
Article 14
1. To the extent that the Commission pursuant to Article 4 of the Decision has
confirmed that the amount requested is available within the quantitative limit inquestion, the competent authorities of the Member States shall issue an importauthorization within a maximum of five working days of the presentation by the
importer of the original of the corresponding export licence. This presentation
must be effected not later than 31 March of the year following that in which thegoods covered by the licence have been shipped. Import authorizations shall beissued by the competent authorities of any Member State irrespective of the
Member State indicated on the export licence, to the extent that the Commission,
pursuant to Article 4 of the Decision, has confirmed that the amount requested isavailable within the quantitative limit in question.
2. The import authorizations shall be valid for four months from the date of their
issue. Upon duly motivated request by an importer, the competent authorities of a
Member State may extend the duration of validity for a further period not
exceeding two months. Such extensions shall be notified to the Commission. Inexceptional circumstances, an importer may request a second period of extension.These exceptional requests may be granted only by a decision taken in accordance
with the procedure laid down in Article 7 of the Decision.
3. Import authorizations shall be drawn up in the form set out in Appendix 2 of
this Annex and shall be valid throughout the customs territory of the Community.
4. The declaration or request made by the importer in order to obtain the import
authorization shall contain:
(a) the full name and address of the exporter;(b) the full name and address of the importer;(c) the exact description of the goods and the CN code(s);(d) the country of origin of the goods;(e) the country of consignment;(f) the appropriate product group and the quantity in the appropriate unit as
indicated in Annex IV of the Decision for the products in question;
(g) the net weight by CN heading;(h) the cif value of the products at Community frontier by CN heading (as
indicated in box 13 of the export licence);
(i) whether the products concerned are seconds or of substandard quality;(j) where appropriate, dates of payment and delivery and a copy of the bill of
lading and of the purchase contract;
(k) date and number of the export licence;(l) any internal code used for administrative purposes;(m) date and signature of importer.5. Importers shall not be obliged to import the total quantity covered by an
import authorization in a single consignment.
Article 15
The validity of import authorizations issued by the authorities of the Member
States shall be subject to the validity of and the quantities indicated in the export
licences issued by the competent Russian authorities on the basis of which the
import authorizations have been issued.
Article 16
Import authorizations or equivalent documents shall be issued by the competent
authorities of the Member States in conformity with Article 2 (2) and without
discrimination to any importer in the Community wherever the place of this
establishment may be in the Community, without prejudice to compliance withother conditions required under current rules.!
B1997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 13
Article 17
1. If the Commission finds that the total quantities covered by export licences
issued by Russia for a particular product group in any agreement year exceed thequantitative limit established for that product group, the competent licenceauthorities in the Member States shall be informed immediately to suspend the
further issue of import authorizations. In this event, consultations shall be initiated
forthwith by the Commission.
2. The competent authorities of a Member State shall refuse to issue import
authorizations for products originating in Russia which are not covered by exportlicences issued in accordance with the provisions of this Annex.
PART III
COMMON PROVISIONS
Article 18
1. The export referred to in Article 11 of this Annex and the certificate of origin
(specimen attached) may include additional copies duly indicated as such. Theyshall be made out in English.
2. If the documents referred to above are completed by hand, entries must be in
ink and in block letters.
3. The export licences or equivalent documents and certificates of origin shall
measure 210 × 297 mm. The paper shall be white writing paper, sized, not
containing mechanical pulp and weighing not less than 25 g/m
2. Each part shall
have a printed guilloche pattern background making any falsification bymechanical or chemical means apparent to the eye.
4. Only the original shall be accepted by the competent authorities in the
Community as being valid for import purposes in accordance with the provisionsof this Decision.
5. Each export licence or equivalent document and the certificate of origin shall
bear a standardized serial number, whether or not printed, by which it can be
identified.
6. This number shall be composed of the following elements:
— two letters identifying the exporting country as follows:
RU = The Russian Federation,
— two letters identifying the Member State of intended destination as follows:
BE = Belgium
DK = Denmark
DE = GermanyEL = GreeceES = Spain
FR = France
IE = IrelandIT = ItalyLU = Luxembourg
NL = Netherlands
AT = AustriaPT = PortugalFI = Finland
SE = Sweden
GB = United Kingdom,!
B1997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 14
— a one-digit number identifying the quota year corresponding to the last figure
in the year in question, e.g. ‘7’ for 1997,
— a two-digit number identifying the issuing office in the exporting country,
— a five-digit number running consecutively 00001 to 99999 allocated to the
specific Member State of destination.
Article 19
The export licence and the certificate of origin may be issued after the shipment of
the products to which they relate. In such cases they shall bear the endorsement
‘issued retrospectively’.
Article 20
In the event of the theft, loss or destruction of an export licence or a certificate of
origin, the exporter may apply to the competent authority which issued thedocument for a duplicate to be made out on the basis of the export documents inthis possession. The duplicate licence or certificate issued in this way shall bear
the endorsement ‘duplicate’.
The duplicate shall bear the date of the original licence or certificate.
PART IV
COMMUNITY IMPORT LICENCE — COMMON FORM
Article 21
1. The forms to be used by the competent authorities of the Member States (list
attached to this Annex) for issuing the import authorizations referred to in Article
14 shall conform to the specimen of the import licence set out in Appendix 2 to
this Annex.
2. Import licence forms and extracts thereof shall be drawn up in duplicate, one
copy, marked ‘Holders copy’ and bearing the number 1 to be issued to the
applicant, and the other, marked ‘Copy for the issuing authority’ and bearing the
number 2, to be kept by the authority issuing the licence. For administrativepurposes the competent authorities may add additional copies to form 2.
3. Forms shall be printed on white paper free of mechanical pulp, dressed for
writing and weighing between 55 and 65 g/m
2. Their size shall be 210 × 297 mm,
the type space between the lines shall be 4,24 mm (one sixth of an inch); thelayout of the forms shall be followed precisely. Both sides of copy No 1, which isthe licence itself, shall in addition have a red printed guilloche pattern background
so as to reveal any falsification by mechanical or chemical means.
4. Member States shall be responsible for having the forms printed. The forms
may also be printed by printers appointed by the Member State in which they are
established. In the latter case, reference to the appointment by the Member State
must appear on each form. Each form shall bear an identification of the printer’ sname and address or a mark enabling the printer to be identified.
5. At the time of their issue the import licences or extracts shall be given an
issue number determined by the competent authorities of the Member State. The
import licence number shall be notified to the Commission electronically withinthe integrated network set up under Article 4.
6. Licences and extracts shall be completed in the official language, or one of
the official languages, of the Member State of issue.
7. In box 10 the competent authorities shall indicate the appropriate steel
product group.
8. The marks of the issuing agencies and debiting authorities shall be applied by
means of a stamp. However, an embossing press combined with letters or figuresobtained by means of perforation, or printing on the licence may be substituted forthe issuing authority’s stamp. The issuing authorities shall use any tamper-proof
method to record the quantity allocated in such a way as to make it impossible to
insert figures or references (e.g. ECU 1 000).
9. The reverse of copy No 1 and copy No 2 shall bear a box in which quantities
may be entered, either by the customs authorities when import formalities are
completed, or by the competent administrative authorities when an extract isissued.!
B1997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 15
If the space set aside for debits on a licence or extract thereof is insufficient, the
competent authorities may attach one or more extension pages bearing boxes
matching those on the reverse of copy No 1 and copy No 2 of the licence or
extract. The debiting authorities shall so place their stamp that one half is on thelicence or extract thereof and the other half is on the extension page. If there ismore than one extension page, a further stamp shall be placed in like manner
across each page and the preceding page.
10. Import licences and extracts issued, and entries and endorsements made, by
the authorities of one Member State shall have the same legal effect in each of the
other Member States as documents issued, and entries and endorsements made, bythe authorities of such Member States.
11. The competent authorities of the Member States concerned may, where
indispensable, require the contents of licences or extracts to be translated into theofficial language or one of the official languages of that Member State.!
B1997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 16
Appendix 1 to Annex II
!B1997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 17
!B1997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 18
Appendix 2 to Annex II
!B1997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 19
!B1997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 20
!B1997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 21
!B1997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 22
LISTA DE LAS AUTORIDADES NACIONALES COMPETENTES
LISTE OVER KOMPETENTE NATIONALE MYNDIGHEDER
LISTE DER ZUSTÄNDIGEN BEHÖRDEN DER MITGLIEDSTAATEN
∆ΙΕΥΘΥΝΣΕΙΣ ΤΩΝΑΡ3KhiΩΝ ΕΚ∆3OmikronΣΗΣ Α∆ΕΙΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΚΡΑΤΩΝ
ΜΕΛΩΝ
LIST OF THE COMPETENT NATIONAL AUTHORITIES
LISTE DES AUTORITÉS NATIONALES COMPÉTENTES
ELENCO DELLE COMPETENTI AUTORITÀ NAZIONALI
LIJST V AN BEVOEGDE NATIONALE INSTANTIES
LISTA DAS AUTORIDADES NACIONAIS COMPETENTES
LUETTELO TOIMIV ALTAISISTA KANSALLISISTA VIRANOMAISISTA
LISTA ÖVER BEHÖRIGA NATIONELLA MYNDIGHETER
BELGIQUE — BELGIË
Administration des relations économiques
Quatrième division: Mise en œuvre des politiques commerciales internationales— Services ‘Licences’Rue Général Leman 60
B-1040 Bruxelles
Télécopieur: (32-2) 230 83 22
Bestuur van de Economische Betrekkingen
Vierde Afdeling: Toepassing van het Internationaal Handelsbeleid — Dienst
Vergunningen
Generaal Lemanstraat 60B-1040 BrusselFax: (32-2) 230 83 22
DANMARK
Erhvervsfremme StyrelsenSøndergade 25
DK-8600 Silkeborg
Fax (45) 87 20 40 77
DEUTSCHLAND
Bundesamt für Wirtschaft, Dienst 01Postfach 51 71D-65762 Eschborn 1
Fax: (49) 6196 40 42 12
ΕΛΛΑ∆Α
Υπ3omikronυργεί3omikron Εθνικής 3Omikronικ3omikronν3omikronµίας
Γενική Γραµµατεία ∆3OmikronΣ∆ιεύθυνση ∆ιαδικασιών Ε3ksiωτερικ3omikronύ Εµπ3omikronρί3omikronυΚ3omikronρνάρ3omikronυ 1
GR-105 63 Αθήνα
Φα3ksi: (301) 328 60 29/328 60 59/328 60 39
ESPAÑA
Ministerio de Economía y Hacienda
Dirección General de Comercio ExteriorPaseo de la Castellana, 162E-28046 Madrid
Fax: (34-1) 563 18 23/349 38 31
FRANCE
Setice
8, rue de la Tour des DamesF-75436 Paris Cedex 09Télécopieur: (33-1) 44 63 26 59!
B1997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 23
IRELAND
Licensing Unit
Department of Tourism and Trade
Kildare StreetIRL-Dublin 2Fax: (353-1) 676 61 54
ITALIA
Ministero del Commercio con l’estero
Direzione generale per la politica commerciale e per la gestione del regime degli
scambiViale America 341I-00144 Roma
Telefax: (39-6) 59 93 22 35/59 93 26 36
LUXEMBOURG
Ministère des affaires étrangères
Office des licencesBoîte postale 113L-2011 Luxembourg
Télécopieur: (352) 46 61 38
NEDERLAND
Centrale Dienst voor In- en Uitvoer
Postbus 30003Engelse Kamp 2NL-9700 RD Groningen
Fax: (31-50) 526 06 98
ÖSTERREICH
Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Angelegenheiten
AußenwirtschaftsadministrationLandstrasser Hauptstraße 55-57A-1030 Wien
Fax: (43-1) 715 83 47
PORTUGAL
Direcção-Geral do Comércio Externo
Avenida da República, 79P-1000 LisboaTelefax: (351-1) 793 22 10
SUOMI
Tullihallitus
PL 512
FIN-00101 HelsinkiTelekopio: +358-9 614 2852
SVERIGE
KommerskollegiumBox 6803
S-113 86 Stockholm
Fax: (46-8) 30 67 59
UNITED KINGDOM
Department of Trade and IndustryImport Licensing BranchQueensway House, West Precinct
Billingham TS23 2NF
ClevelandFax: (44) 1642 533 557!
B1997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 24
ANNEX III
ADMINISTRATIVE COOPERATION
Article 1
The Commission shall supply the Member States’ authorities with the names and
addresses of authorities in Russia competent to issue certificates of origin andexport licences together with specimens of the stamps used by these authorities.
Article 2
For the steel products subject to a double-checking system Member States shall
notify the Commission within the first ten days of each month of the total
quantities, in the appropriate units and by country of origin and group of products,for which import authorizations have been issued during the preceding month.
Article 3
1. Subsequent verification of certificates of origin or export licences shall be
carried out at random, or whenever the competent authorities of the Communityhave reasonable doubt as to the authenticity of the certificate of origin or export
licence or as to the accuracy of the information regarding the true origin of the
products in question.
In such cases the competent authorities of the Community shall return the
certificate of origin or the export licence or a copy thereof to the competentRussian governmental authority, giving, where appropriate, the reasons of form orsubstance for an enquiry. If the invoice has been submitted, such invoice or a copy
thereof shall be attached to the certificate of origin or export licence or copy
thereof. The competent authorities shall also forward any information that hasbeen offered suggesting that the particulars given on the said certificate or the saidlicence are inaccurate.
2. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall also apply to subsequent verifications of
declarations of origin.
3. The results of the subsequent verifications carried out in accordance with
paragraph 1 shall be communicated to the competent authorities of the
Community within three months at the latest. The information communicatedshall indicate whether the disputed certificate, licence or declaration applies to thegoods actually exported and whether the goods are eligible for export to the
Community under this Decision. The competent authorities of the Community
may also request copies of all documentation necessary to determine the factsfully, including, in particular, the origin of the goods (
1).
4. Should such verifications reveal abuse or major irregularities in the use of
declarations of origin, the Member State concerned shall inform the Commissionof this fact. The Commission shall pass the information on to the other Member
States.
At the request of a Member State or on the initiative of the Commission, the
Customs Code Committee shall, as soon as possible and in accordance with the
procedure specified in Article 249 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 (
2),
examine whether it is desirable to require the production of a certificate of originin respect of the products and the exporting country concerned.
The decision shall be taken in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article
14 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 802/68 (
3).
5. Random recourse to the procedure specified in this Article shall not
constitute an obstacle to the release for free circulation of the products in question.
Article 4
1. Where the verification procedure referred to in Article 2 or where
information available to the competent authorities of the Community indicates
that the provisions of this Decision are being contravened, the said authorities shallrequest Russia to carry out appropriate enquiries or arrange for such enquiries to!
B
(1) For the purpose of subsequent verification of certificates of origin, copies of
the certificates as well as any export documents referring to them shall bekept for at least two years by the competent governmental authority in eachexporting country.
(
2) OJ L 302, 19. 10. 1992, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 148, 28. 6. 1968, p. 1.1997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 25
be carried out concerning operations which are or appear to be in contravention of
the provisions of this Decision. The results of these enquiries shall be
communicated to the competent authorities of the Community together with any
other pertinent information enabling the true origin of the goods to be determined.
2. In pursuance of the action taken under the terms of this Annex, the competent
authorities of the Community may exchange any information with the competentgovernmental authorities of Russia which is considered to be of use in preventingthe contravention of the provisions of this Decision.
3. Where it is established that the provisions of this Decision have been
contravened, the Commission, acting in accordance with the procedure laid down
in Article 7 of the Decision, may take, with the agreement of Russia, such
measures as are necessary to prevent recurrence of such contravention.
Article 5
The Commission shall coordinate the action undertaken by the competent
authorities of the Member States under the provisions of this Annex. Thecompetent authorities of the Member States shall inform the Commission and theother Member States of action which they have undertaken and the results
obtained.!
B1997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 26
ANNEX IV
QUANTITATIVE LIMITS
Russian Federation
Products 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
SA. Flat products
SA1. Coils 207 487 204 861 220 000 (1)"M3201 423 3"M4206 459 3
SA1a. Hot-rolled coils for re-
rolling 430 000 430 000 440 750 "M3397 557 3"M4407 495 3
SA2. Heavy plate 31 115 42 671 36 796 (2)"M330 2063"M430 9613
SA3. Other flat products 28 265 32 678 30 420 "M327 4383"M428 1253
SB. Long products
SB1. Beams 12 000 11 718 12 011 (3)"M311 6493"M411 9413
SB2. Wire rod 28 000 27 342 28 026 (4)"M327 1823"M427 8623
SB3. Other long products 104 357 112 515 115 327 (5)"M3101 307 3"M4103 840 3
(1)This figure has been reduced by 3 308 tonnes.
(2)This figure has been increased by 3 308 tonnes.
(3)This figure has been reduced by 904 tonnes.
(4)This figure has been reduced by 2 109 tonnes.
(5)This figure has been increased by 3 013 tonnes.!M21997S2136 — EN — 07.02.2001 — 004.001 — 27