Commission Regulation (EC) No 1355/2000 of 26 June 2000 establishing administrative procedures for the 2001 quantitative quotas for certain products originating in the People's Republic of China
Date: 2000-06-26
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: China, import, originating product, quantitative restriction, tariff quota

28.6.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 155/31

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1355/2000

of 26 June 2000

establishing administrative procedures for the 2001 quantitative quotas for certain products
originating in the People's Republic of China

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(5)

This has proved to be the best way of ensuring the
continuity of business for the Community importers
concerned and avoiding any disturbance of trade flows.

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 adminis-
tering quantitative quotas (1), as last amended by Regulation
(EC) No 138/96 (2), and in particular Article 2(3) and (4) and
Articles 13 and 24 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

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 (3), as last amended by
Regulation (EC) No 1138/98 (4),
introduced annual
quantitative quotas for certain products originating in
the People's Republic of China listed in Annex II to that
Regulation. The provisions of Regulation (EC) No 520/
94 are applicable to those quotas.

The Commission accordingly adopted Regulation (EC)
No 738/94 (5), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No
983/96 (6),
laying down general rules for the imple-
mentation of Regulation (EC) No 520/94. These provi-
sions apply to the administration of the above quotas
subject to the provisions of this Regulation.

Certain characteristics of China's economy, the seasonal
nature of some of the products and the time needed for
transport mean that orders for products subject to quota
are generally placed before the beginning of the quota
yeare. It is therefore important to ensure that adminis-
trative constraints do not impede the realisation of the
planned imports. In order not to affect the continuity of
trade flows, the arrangements for allocating and admin-
istering the 2001 quota should accordingly be adopted
before the start of the quota year.

the different

examination of

After
administrative
methods provided for by Regulation (EC) No 520/94,
the method based on traditional trade flows should be
adopted. Under this method the quotas are divided into
two portions, one of which is reserved for traditional
importers and the other for other applicants.

(1) OJ L 66, 10.3.1994, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 21, 27.1.1996, p. 6.
(3) OJ L 67, 10.3.1994, p. 89.
(4) OJ L 159, 3.6.1998, p. 1.
(5) OJ L 87, 31.3.1994, p. 47.
(6) OJ L 131, 1.6.1996, p. 47.

(6)

(7)

(8)

importers it

The reference period used for allocating the portion of
the quota set aside for traditional importers in earlier
Regulations on the administration of
these quotas
should be updated to ensure open access to the quotas.
In order to allow a greater flexibility to the benefit of
traditional
is considered appropriate to
allow them to set their reference period as either 1998
or 1999, which are the most recent years representative
of the normal trend of trade flows in the products in
therefore prove
question. Traditional
that they have imported products originating in China
and covered by the quotas in question in the years 1998
or 1999.

importers must

It has been found in the past that the method provided
for in Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 520/94, which is
based on the order in which applications are received,
may not be an appropriate way of allocating that
portion of the quota reserved for non-traditional impor-
ters. Consequently,
in accordance with Article 2(4) of
Regulation (EC) No 520/94, it is appropriate to provide
for allocation in proportion to the quantities requested,
on the basis of a simultaneous examination of import
licence applications actually lodged, in accordance with
Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 520/94.

In order to ensure that the quotas can be efficiently
allocated and used, any speculative applications should
be excluded, and it is furthermore necessary to allocate
economically significant quantities. To this end the
amount that any non-traditional importer may request
should be restricted to a set volume.

(9)

For the purposes of quota allocation, a time limit must
be set for the submission of
licence applications by
traditional and other importers.

(10)

The Member States must inform the Commission of the
import licence applications received, in accordance with
the procedure laid down in Article 8 of Regulation (EC)
No 520/94. The information about traditional importers'
previous imports must be expressed in the same units as
the quota in question.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

28.6.2000

(11)

(12)

In view of the special nature of transactions concerning
products subject to quota, and in particular the time
needed for transport, the import licences should expire
on 31 December 2001.

These measures are in accordance with the opinion of
the Committee for the administration of quotas set up
under Article 22 of Regulation (EC) No 520/94,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

This Regulation lays down for 2001 specific provisions for the
administration of the quantitative quotas referred to in Annex
II to Council Regulation (EC) No 519/94.

Regulation (EC) No 738/94 laying down general rules for the
implementation of Regulation (EC) No 520/94 shall apply,
subject to the specific provisions of this Regulation.

Article 2

1.
The quantitative quotas referred to in Article 1 shall be
allocated using the method based on traditional trade flows,
referred to in Article 2(2)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 520/94.

2.
The portions of each quantitative quota set aside for
traditional importers and other importers are set out in Annex
I to this Regulation.

3.
The portion set aside for non-traditional importers shall
be apportioned using the method based on allocation in
proportion to quantities requested; the volume requested by a
single importer may not exceed that shown in Annex II.

Article 3

Applications for imports licences shall be lodged with the
competent authorities listed in Annex III to this Regulation
from the days following the day of publication of this Regula-
tion in the Official Journal of the European Communities until 3
p.m., Brussels time, on 8 September 2000.

mean importers who can show that they have imported goods
in the calendar years 1998 or 1999.

2.
The supporting documents referred to in Article 7 of
Regulation (EC) No 520/94 shall relate to the release for free
circulation during either calendar year 1998 or 1999, as indi-
cated by the importer, of products originating in the People's
Republic of China which are covered by the quota in respect of
which the application is made.

Instead of the documents referred to in the first indent of
3.
Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 520/94 applicants may enclose
with their licence applications documents drawn up and certi-
fied by the competent national authorities on the basis of
available customs information as evidence of the imports of the
product in question during the calendar years 1998 or 1999
carried out by themselves or, where applicable, by the operator
whose activities they have taken over.

Article 5

Member States shall inform the Commission on later than 22
September 2000 at 10 a.m., Brussels time, of the number and
aggregate quantity of import licence applications and, in the
case of applications from traditional importers, of the volume
of previous imports carried out by traditional importers during
the reference period referred to in Article 4(1) of this Regula-
tion.

Article 6

The Commission shall adopt the quantitative criteria to be used
by the competent national authorities for the purpose of
meeting importers' applications no later than 14 October
2000.

Article 7

Import licences shall be valid for one year, starting on 1
January 2001.

Article 4

Article 8

1.
For the purposes of allocating the portion of each quota
set aside for traditional importers, ‘traditional’ importers shall

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publica-
tion 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, 26 June 2000.

For the Commission

Pascal LAMY

Member of the Commission

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Official Journal of the European Communities

L 155/33

ANNEX I

ALLOCATION OF THE QUOTAS

Product description

HS/CN Code

Portion reserved for traditional
importers

Portion reserved for other
importers

Footwear falling within HS/CN codes

ex 6402 99 (1)

27 406 037 pairs
(70 %)

11 745 444 pairs
(30 %)

6403 51
6403 59

1 956 500 pairs
(70 %)

838 500 pairs
(30 %)

ex 6403 91 (1)
ex 6403 99 (1)

8 484 000 pairs
(70 %)

3 636 000 pairs
(30 %)

ex 6404 11 (2)

12 760 146 pairs
(70 %)

5 468 634 pairs
(30 %)

6404 19 10

22 328 402 pairs
(70 %)

9 569 314 pairs
(30 %)

Tableware, kitchenware of porcelain
or china

6911 10

Ceramic tableware or kitchenware

6912 00

33 663 tonnes
(70 %)

25 468 tonnes
(70 %)

14 427 tonnes
(30 %)

10 915 tonnes
(30 %)

(1) Excluding footwear involving special technology: shoes which have a cif price per pair of not less than EUR 9 for use in sporting
activities, with a single- or multi-layer moulded sole, not injected, manufactured from synthetic materials specially designed to absorb the
impact of vertical or lateral movements and with technical features such as hermetic pads containing gas or fluid, mechanical
components which absorb or neturalise impact or materials such as low-density polymers.

TARIC codes: 6402 99 10 10, 6402 99 91 10, 6402 99 93 10, 6402 99 96 10, 6402 99 98 11, 6403 91 11 10, 6403 91 13 10,
6403 91 16 10, 6403 91 18 10, 6403 91 91 10, 6403 91 93 10, 6403 91 96 10, 6403 91 98 10, 6403 99 91 10,
6403 99 93 11, 6403 99 96 11, 6403 99 98 11.

(2) Excluding:

a)

footwear which is designed for a sporting activity and has, or has provision for the attachment of, spikes, sprigs, stops, clips, bats or
the like, with a non-injected sole;

TARIC codes: 6404 11 00 10, 6404 11 00 20;

b)

footwear involving special technology: shoes which have a cif price per pair of not less than EUR 9 for use in sporting activities, with
a single- or multi-layer moulded sole, not injected, manufactured from synthetic materials specially designed to absorb the impact of
vertical or lateral movements and with technical feature such as hermetic pads containing gas or fluid, mechanical components which
absorb or neutralise impact or materials such as low-density polymers.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

28.6.2000

ANNEX II

MAXIMUM QUANTITY WHICH MAY BE REQUESTED BY EACH IMPORTER OTHER THAN TRADITIONAL

Product decription

HS/CN Code

Predetermined maximum
quantity

Footwear falling within HS/CN codes

ex 6402 99 (1)

5 000 pairs

6403 51
6403 59

ex 6403 91 (1)
ex 6403 99 (1)

5 000 pairs

5 000 pairs

ex 6404 11 (2)

5 000 pairs

6404 19 10

5 000 pairs

Tableware, kitchenware of porcelain or china

6911 10

5 tonnes

Ceramic tableware or kitchenware

6912 00

5 tonnes

(1) Excluding footwear involving special technology: shoes which have a cif price per pair of not less than EUR 9 for use in sporting
activities, with a single- or multi-layer moulded sole, not injected, manufactured from synthetic materials specially designed to absorb the
impact of vertical or lateral movements and with technical features such as hermetic pads containing gas or fluid, mechanical
components which absorb or neturalise impact or materials such as low-density polymers.

TARIC codes: 6402 99 10 10, 6402 99 91 10, 6402 99 93 10, 6402 99 96 10, 6402 99 98 11, 6403 91 11 10, 6403 91 13 10,
6403 91 16 10, 6403 91 18 10, 6403 91 91 10, 6403 91 93 10, 6403 91 96 10, 6403 91 98 10, 6403 99 91 10,
6403 99 93 11, 6403 99 96 11, 6403 99 98 11.

(2) Excluding:

a)

footwear which is designed for a sporting activity and has, or has provision for the attachment of, spikes, sprigs, stops, clips, bats or
the like, with a non-injected sole;

TARIC codes: 6404 11 00 10, 6404 11 00 20;

b)

footwear involving special technology: shoes which have a cif price per pair of not less than EUR 9 for use in sporting activities, with
a single- or multi-layer moulded sole, not injected, manufactured from synthetic materials specially designed to absorb the impact of
vertical or lateral movements and with technical feature such as hermetic pads containing gas or fluid, mechanical components which
absorb or neutralise impact or materials such as low-density polymers.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

L 155/35

ANNEX III

LIST OF THE COMPETENT NATIONAL AUTHORITIES

1. BELGIQUE/BELGIË

8. ITALIA

Ministère des affaires économiques
Administration des relations économiques
4e division: Mise en oeuvre des politiques commerciales
Services des licences
Ministerie van Economische Zaken
Bestuur van de Economische betrekkingen
4e afdeling: Toepassing van de handelspolitiek
Dienst Vergunningen
Generaal Lemanstraat 60, Rue Général-Leman 60,
B-1040 Brussel/Bruxelles
Tél./Tel. (32-2) 206 58 16
Télécopieur/Fax (32-2) 230 83 22/231 14 84

2. DANMARK

Erhvervsfremmestyrelsen
Vejlsøvej 29
DK-8600 Silkeborg
Tlf. (45) 35 46 60 00
Fax (45) 35 46 64 01

3. DEUTSCHLAND

Bundesamt für Wirtschaft
Frankfurter Straße 29-31
D-65760 Eschborn
Tel. (49) 619 64 04-0
Fax (49) 619 69 42 26

4. GREECE

Ministry of National Economy
General Secretariat of International Economic Relations
Directorate for Foreign Trade Issues
1, Kornarou Street
GR-Athens 105-63
Tel. (30-1) 328 60 31/328 60 32
Fax (30-1) 328 60 94/328 60 59

5. ESPAÑA

Ministerio de Economía y Hacienda
Dirección General de Comercio Exterior
Paseo de la Castellana, 162
E-28046 Madrid
Tel. (34) 913 49 38 94/913 49 37 78
Fax (34) 913 49 38 32

6. FRANCE

Service des titres du commerce extérieur
8, rue de la Tour-des-Dames
F-75436 Paris Cedex 09
Tél. (33-1) 55 07 46 69/95
Télécopieur (33-1) 55 07 46 59

7. IRELAND

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Licensing Unit
Kildare Street
Dublin 2
Ireland
Tel. (353-1) 631 21 21
Fax (353-1) 631 28 26

Ministero del Commercio con l'estero
Direzione generale per la Politica commerciale e per la gestione del
regime degli scambi - Divisione VII
Viale America 341
I-00144 Roma
Tel. (39) 06 599 31 - 59 93 24 19 - 59 93 24 00
Fax (39) 06 592 55 56

9. LUXEMBOURG

Ministère des affaires étrangères
Office des licences
Boîte postale 113
L-2011 Luxembourg
Tél. (352) 22 61 62
Télécopieur (352) 46 61 38

10. NEDERLAND

Belastingdienst/Douane
Engelse Kamp 2
Postbus 30003
9700 RD Groningen
Nederland
Tel. (31-50) 523 91 11
Fax (31-50) 526 06 98/523 92 37

11. ÖSTERREICH

Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Arbeit
Landstrasser Hauptstraße 55/57
A-1031 Wien
Tel. (43) 171 10 23 86
Fax (43) 17 11 02

12. PORTUGAL

Ministério da Economia
Direcção-Geral das Relações Económicas Internacionais
Avenida da República, 79
P-1069-059 Lisboa
Tel.: (351-21) 791 18 00/19 43
Fax: (351-21) 793 22 10, 796 37 23
Telex: 13 418

13. SUOMI

Tullihallitus
Erottajankatu 2
FIN-00101 Helsinki
P. (358) 9 6141
F. (358) 9 614 28 52

14. SVERIGE

Kommerskollegium
Box 6803
S-113 86 Stockholm
Tfn (46-8) 690 48 00
Fax (46-8) 30 67 59

15. UNITED KINGDOM

Department of Trade and Industry
Import Licensing Branch
Queensway House
West Precinct
Billingham
TS23 2NF
United Kingdom
Tel. (44 1642) 36 43 33, 36 43 34
Fax (44 1642) 53 35 57