COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2297/98 of 23 October 1998 establishing the quantities to be allocated to importers from the 1999 Community quantitative quotas on certain products originating in the People's Republic of China

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 520/94 of 7 March 1994 establishing a Community procedure for administering quantitative quotas (1), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 138/96 (2), and in particular Articles 9 and 13 thereof,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1555/98 of 17 July 1998 establishing administration procedures for the 1999 quantitative quotas for certain products originating in the People's Republic of China (3), and in particular Article 6 thereof,

Whereas Regulation (EC) No 1555/98 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 have lodged applications for import licences with the competent national authorities between 19 July and 3 p.m., Brussels time, on 11 September, in accordance with Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1555/98;

Whereas the Commission has received from the Member States, pursuant to Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1555/98, particulars of the numbers and aggregate volume of import licence applications submitted and the total volume imported by traditional importers in 1996 or 1997, the reference years;

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 1999 quantitative quotas;

Whereas examination of the figures supplied by Member States shows that the aggregate volume of 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/increase shown in Annex I to the volume of each importer's imports, expressed in quantity or value terms, 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 1555/98;

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 1555/98,

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 his imports for 1996 or 1997, as indicated by the importer, 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 1555/98, 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 1555/98.

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, 23 October 1998.

For the Commission

Leon BRITTAN

Vice-President

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

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

(3) OJ L 202, 18. 7. 1998, p. 34.

ANNEX I

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ANNEX II

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ANNEX III

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