WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2412/98 by Sir Jack STEWART-CLARK to the Commission. Relief from customs duty for charities
Date: 1998-07-22
Institutions: European Parliament, STEWART-CLARK
Subjects: EU law, application of EU law, customs regulations, customs union, exemption from customs duties, import, medical device, voluntary organisation

8.4.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 96/89

3.
The aid programmes to North Korea from the European Community and the Member States are of a purely
humanitarian nature, though it is hoped that they will also promote our objective of peace and stability in the
Korean Peninsula. They are in any event aimed exclusively at alleviating the plight of the North Korean people,
and not at supporting the North Korean regime. It should be noted in this context that countries like the Republic
of Korea and the US have similar programmes. It remains to be seen how far North Korea(cid:146)s unwelcome decision
to spend its own scarce resources on missiles and satellites will affect the approach of the international
community to humanitarian assistance.

(1999/C 96/124)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2412/98

by Sir Jack Stewart-Clark (PPE) to the Commission

Subject: Relief from customs duty for charities

(22 July 1998)

According to Council Regulation (EEC) 918/83 (1) of 28 March 1983 setting up a Community system of reliefs
from customs duty, charities may apply for relief of import duty for medical equipment manufactured outside the
EU.

The Royal Marsden NHS Trust in my constituency of East Sussex and Kent South submitted a claim which was
approved by the UK Department of Trade and Industry but was disallowed by the Dutch authorities.

Is there a time limit within which claims are to be submitted?

If so, what is the duration of this period?

Will retrospective claims be eligible to receive relief?

(1) OJ L 105, 23.4.1983, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(22 September 1998)

Commission Regulation (EEC) 2290/83 (1), which lays down the provisions for implementing Articles 50 to 59 of
Council Regulation (EEC) 918/83 setting up a Community system of reliefs from customs duty, stipulates that
authorisations for importing goods duty free shall be valid for six months. As things stand, such authorisation
cannot be requested retrospectively, i.e. when the goods have actually been imported.

However, if such authorisation has been given when the goods are imported but is not presented in support of the
customs declaration, subparagraph 2 of Article 256(1) of Commission Regulation (EC) 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 (2)
laying down certain provisions for implementing Council Regulation (EEC) 2913/92 establishing the Community
Customs Code allows the document authorising import free of duty to be submitted within up to three months
from the time the declaration for release into free circulation was accepted.

(1) OJ L 220, 11.8.1983.
(2) OJ L 253, 11.10.1993.

(1999/C 96/125)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2414/98

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(27 July 1998)

Subject: Misleading plates on Turkish lorries engaged in international road haulage

Misleading plates on Turkish vehicles engaged in international road haulage are a source of enormous confusion.
Hundreds of Turkish vehicles travel along European roads bearing a plate in the left corner marked (cid:145)TR(cid:146)
((cid:145)Turkey(cid:146)) which is similar to that which Community lorries are entitled to bear.