COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1280/98 of 19 June 1998 establishing the quantities to be allocated to importers from the Community quantitative quotas redistributed by Regulation (EC) No 786/98

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 519/94 of 7 March 1994 on common rules for imports from certain third countries and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 1765/82, (EEC) No 1766/82 and (EEC) No 3420/83 (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1138/98 (2),

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 520/94 of 7 March 1994 establishing a Community procedure for administering quantitative quotas (3), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 138/96 (4), and in particular Articles 9 and 13 thereof,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 786/98 of 14 April 1998 redistributing the unused portions of the 1997 quantitative quotas for certain products originating in the People's Republic of China (5), and in particular Article 6 thereof,

Whereas Regulation (EC) No 786/98 established the portion of each of the quotas concerned reserved for traditional and other importers and the conditions and methods for participating in the allocation of the quantities available; whereas importers lodged applications for import licences with the competent national authorities between 16 April and 6 May 1998 at 3 p.m., Brussels time, in accordance with Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 786/98;

Whereas the Commission has received from the Member States under Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 786/98 particulars of the numbers and aggregate volume of import licence applications submitted and the total volume imported by traditional importers in 1995, the reference year;

Whereas the Commission is now able, on the basis of that information, to establish uniform quantitative criteria by which the competent national authorities may satisfy licence applications submitted by importers in the Member States for the quantitative quotas redistributed by Regulation (EC) No 786/98;

Whereas examination of the figures supplied by Member States shows that the aggregate volume of the applications submitted by traditional importers for the products listed in Annex I to this Regulation exceeds the portion of the quota set aside for them; whereas the applications must therefore be met by applying the uniform rate of reduction shown in Annex I to the imports, expressed in value or volume terms, of each importer over the reference period;

Whereas examination of the figures supplied by Member States shows that the aggregate volume of applications submitted by non-traditional importers for the products listed in Annex II to this Regulation exceeds the portion of the quota set aside for them; whereas the applications must therefore be met by applying the uniform rate of reduction shown in Annex II to the amounts requested by each importer, as limited by Regulation (EC) No 786/98;

Whereas examination of the figures supplied by Member States shows that the total applications submitted by non-traditional importers for products listed in Annex III to this Regulation amount to less than the portion of the quota set aside for them; whereas those applications should therefore be met in full, up to the maximum amount that can be requested by each importer under Regulation (EC) No 786/98,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

In response to licence applications in respect of the products listed in Annex I duly submitted by traditional importers, the competent national authorities shall allocate each importer a quantity or value equal to its imports for 1995 adjusted by the rate of reduction/increase specified in the said Annex for each quota.

Where the use of this quantitative criterion would entail allocating an amount greater than that applied for, the quantity or value allocated shall be limited to that specified in the application.

Article 2

In response to licence applications in respect of the products listed in Annex II duly submitted by non-traditional importers, the competent national authorities shall allocate each importer a quantity or value equal to the amount requested within the limits set by Regulation (EC) No 786/98, adjusted by the rate of reduction specified in the said Annex for each quota.

Article 3

Licence applications in respect of the products listed in Annex III duly submitted by non-traditional importers shall be met in full by the competent national authorities, within the limits set by Regulation (EC) No 786/98.

Article 4

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 19 June 1998.

For the Commission

Leon BRITTAN

Vice-President

(1) OJ L 67, 10. 3. 1994, p. 89.

(2) OJ L 159, 3. 6. 1998, p. 1.

(3) OJ L 66, 10. 3. 1994, p. 1.

(4) OJ L 21, 27. 1. 1996, p. 6.

(5) OJ L 113, 15. 4. 1998, p. 17.

ANNEX I

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ANNEX II

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ANNEX III

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