Commission Regulation (EC) No 2308/2003 of 29 December 2003 laying down rules for the management and distribution of textile quotas established for the year 2004 under Council Regulation (EC) No 517/94
Date: 2003-12-29
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: import, import licence, quantitative restriction, textile product, third country

30.12.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

L 342/13

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2308/2003

of 29 December 2003

laying down rules for the management and distribution of textile quotas established for the year
2004 under Council Regulation (EC) No 517/94

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 517/94 of 7
March 1994 on common rules for imports of textile products
from certain third countries not covered by bilateral agree-
ments, protocols or other arrangements, or by other specific
Community import rules (1), and in particular Article 17(3) and
(6) and Article 21(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

Regulation (EC) No 517/94 established quantitative
restrictions on imports of certain textile products origin-
ating in certain third countries to be allocated on a ‘first
come, first served’ basis.

Under that Regulation it is possible, in certain circum-
stances, to use other allocation methods, to divide quotas
into tranches or to reserve a proportion of a specific
quantitative limit exclusively for applications which are
supported by evidence of the results of past
import
performance.

Rules for management of
the quotas established for
2004 should be adopted before the quota year begins so
that the continuity of trade flows is not affected unduly.

The measures adopted in previous years, such as those
in Commission Regulation (EC) No 2357/2002 estab-
lishing rules for the management and distribution of
textile quotas established for
the year 2003 under
Council Regulation (EC) No 517/94 (2), proved to be
satisfactory and it
is therefore appropriate to adopt
similar rules for 2004.

In order to satisfy the greatest possible number of opera-
tors it is appropriate to make the ‘first come, first served’
allocation method more flexible by placing a ceiling on
the quantities which can be allocated to each operator
by that method.

To guarantee a degree of continuity in trade and efficient
quota administration, operators should be allowed to
import authorisation application for
make their initial
2004 equivalent to the quantity which they imported in
2003.

(1) OJ L 67, 10.3.1994, p. 1; Regulation as last amended by Commis-
sion Regulation (EC) No 1484/2003 (OJ L 212, 22.8.2003, p. 46).

(2) OJ L 351, 28.12.2002, p. 45.

(7)

(8)

(9)

To achieve optimum use of the quantities, an operator
who has used up at least one half of the amount already
authorised should be permitted to apply for a further
amount, provided that quantities are available in the
quotas.

For the sake of sound administration, import authorisa-
tions should be valid for nine months from the date of
issue but only until the end of the year at the latest.
Member States should issue licences only after being
notified by the Commission that quantities are available
and only if an operator can prove the existence of a
contract and can certify,
in the absence of a specific
provision to the contrary that he/she has not already
been allocated a Community import authorisation under
and countries
this Regulation for
concerned. The competent national authorities should,
however, be authorised, in response to importers' appli-
cations, to extend by three months and up to 31 March
2005 licences of which at least one half has been used
by the application date.

categories

the

Given that on 1 May 2004 the European Union will be
enlarged, the allocation amongst importers of the 2004
quota should be divided into two tranches, corre-
sponding to the Union's current and future membership
respectively. Acceding States should be permitted to
issue import authorisations only for goods
to be
imported on or after 1 May.

(10)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in
accordance with the opinion of the Textile Committee
established by Article 25 of Regulation (EC) No 517/94,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The purpose of this Regulation is to lay down rules on the
management of quantitative quotas for imports of certain
textile products set out in Annexes IIIB and IV to Regulation
(EC) No 517/94 for the year 2004.

The 2004 quotas shall be allocated in two separate tranches, of
which the second shall become available from 1 May 2004 for
the acceding States. The quantitative limits for the tranches
shall be as listed in Annex I.

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Article 2

The quotas referred to in Article 1 shall be allocated according
to the chronological order of receipt by the Commission of
Member States' notifications of applications from individual
operators, for amounts not exceeding the maximum quantities
per operator set out in Annex II.

The maximum quantities shall not, however, apply to operators
able to prove to the competent national authorities, when
making their first application for 2004, that, in respect of given
categories and given third countries, they imported more than
the maximum quantities specified for each category pursuant
to import licences granted to them for 2003.

In the case of such operators, the competent authorities may
authorise imports not exceeding the quantities imported in
2003 from given third countries and in given categories,
provided that enough quota capacity is available.

Article 3

Any importer who has already used up 50 % or more of the
amount allocated to him/her under this Regulation may make a
further application, in respect of the same category and country
of origin, for amounts not exceeding the maximum quantities
laid down in Annex II.

Article 4

The competent national authorities listed in Annex III
1.
may, from 10.00 on 5 January 2004, notify the Commission of
the amounts covered by requests for import authorisations.

The time fixed in the first subparagraph shall be understood as
Brussels time.

Requests from the competent national authorities of Member
States set out in section A of Annex III shall be processed initi-
ally by deduction from the first tranche. When the quantitative

limit on a category of the first tranche is exhausted further
requests shall be processed against the second tranche. Requests
from the competent national authorities of Member States set
out in section B of Annex III shall be processed only against
the second tranche.

2.
The competent national authorities shall issue authorisa-
tions only after being notified by the Commission pursuant to
Article 17(2) of Regulation (EC) No 517/94 that quantities are
available for importation. The competent national authorities
of acceding States may only issue import authorisations for
goods to be imported on or after 1 May.

They shall issue authorisations only if an operator:

(a) proves the existence of a contract relating to the provision

of the goods; and

(b) certifies in writing that,
countries concerned:
(i) he/she has not already been allocated an authorisation

in respect of the categories and

under this Regulation; or

(ii) he/she has been allocated an authorisation under this

Regulation but has used up at least 50 % of it.

Import authorisations shall be valid for nine months from

3.
the date of issue, but until 31 December 2004 at the latest.

The competent national authorities may, however, at
the
importer's request, grant a three-month extension for authorisa-
tions which are at least 50 % used up at the time of the request.
Such extension shall in no circumstances expire later than 31
March 2005.

Article 5

This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 2004.

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

Done at Brussels, 29 December 2003.

For the Commission

Pascal LAMY

Member of the Commission

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ANNEX I

Quantitative limits for the tranches referred to in Article 1

Serbia and Montenegro (1)

Category

Unit

First tranche 1 January to 30 April 2004

Second tranche 1 May to 31 December
2004

1

2

2a

3

5

6

7

8

9

15

16

67

Tonne

Tonne

Tonne

Tonne

1 000 pieces

1 000 pieces

1 000 pieces

1 000 pieces

Tonne

1 000 pieces

1 000 pieces

Tonne

770

949

215

104

429

185

96

355

97

143

77

80

1 580

1 904

430

208

897

409

215

754

195

317

155

164

(1)

Including Kosovo as defined by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 10 June 1999.

North Korea

Category

Unit

First tranche 1 January to 30 April 2004

Second tranche 1 May to 31 December
2004

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

24

26

27

Tonne

Tonne

Tonne

1 000 pieces

1 000 pieces

1 000 pieces

1 000 pieces

1 000 pieces

Tonne

1 000 pairs

1 000 pieces

1 000 pieces

1 000 pieces

1 000 pieces

1 000 pieces

Tonne

1 000 pieces

Tonne

1 000 pieces

1 000 pieces

1 000 pieces

1 000 pieces

43

48

16

95

62

72

31

100

24

430

503

51

58

29

20

20

137

47

1 137

88

58

95

85

102

65

194

126

146

66

202

47

878

1 006

103

117

59

41

41

274

95

2 279

175

117

193

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Category

Unit

First tranche 1 January to 30 April 2004

Second tranche 1 May to 31 December
2004

28

29

31

36

37

39

59

61

68

69

70

73

74

75

76

77

78

83

87

109

117

118

142

151A

151B

161

1 000 pieces

1 000 pieces

1 000 pieces

Tonne

Tonne

Tonne

Tonne

Tonne

Tonne

1 000 pieces

1 000 pieces

1 000 pieces

1 000 pieces

1 000 pieces

Tonne

Tonne

Tonne

Tonne

Tonne

Tonne

Tonne

Tonne

Tonne

Tonne

Tonne

Tonne

95

40

98

30

119

17

155

13

40

61

90

50

44

13

40

5

61

18

2

4

17

8

3

3

3

50

191

80

195

65

259

34

311

27

80

123

180

99

89

26

80

9

123

36

6

7

34

15

7

7

7

102

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Official Journal of the European Union

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ANNEX II

Maximum amounts referred to in Articles 2 and 3

Country concerned

Category

Unit

Maximum amount

North Korea

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

24

26

27

28

29

31

36

37

39

59

61

68

69

70

73

74

75

76

77

78

83

87

109

117

118

142

151A

151B

161

Kilogram

Kilogram

Kilogram

Piece

Piece

Piece

Piece

Piece

Kilogram

Pairs

Piece

Piece

Piece

Piece

Piece

Kilogram

Piece

Kilogram

Piece

Piece

Piece

Piece

Piece

Piece

Piece

Kilogram

Kilogram

Kilogram

Kilogram

Kilogram

Kilogram

Piece

Piece

Piece

Piece

Piece

Kilogram

Kilogram

Kilogram

Kilogram

Kilogram

Kilogram

Kilogram

Kilogram

Kilogram

Kilogram

Kilogram

Kilogram

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

5 000

5 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Country concerned

Category

Unit

Maximum amount

Serbia and Montenegro (1)

1

2

2a

3

5

6

7

8

9

15

16

67

Kilogram

Kilogram

Kilogram

Kilogram

Piece

Piece

Piece

Piece

Kilogram

Piece

Piece

Kilogram

20 000

20 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

10 000

(1)

Including Kosovo as defined by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 10 June 1999.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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ANNEX III

List of licensing offices referred to in Article 4

Section A: List of the competent national authorities in the current Member States

1. België

6.

France

Ministerie van Economische Zaken
Bestuur Economische Betrekkingen
Dienst Vergunningen
Generaal Lemanstraat 60
B-1040 Brussel
Tel. (32-2) 206 58 11
Fax (32-2) 230 83 22

1. Belgique

Ministère des affaires économiques
Administration des relations économiques
Service des Licences
Rue Général Leman 60
B-1040 Bruxelles
Tel. (32-2) 206 58 11
Fax (32-2) 230 83 22

Ministère de l'économie, des finances et de l'indus-
trie
Direction générale de l'industrie, des technologies
de l'information et des postes
Service des industries manufacturières (SIM)
Mission ‘Textile-Importations’
Le Bervil, 12 rue Villiot
F-75572 Paris Cedex 12
Tél. (33-1) 44 87 17 17
Fax (33-1) 53 44 91 81

7.

Ireland

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

2. Danmark

8.

Italy

Erhvervs- og Boligstyrelsen
Økonomi- og Erhvervsministeriet
Vejlsøvej 29
DK-8600 Silkeborg
Tel. (45) 35 46 64 30
Fax: (45) 35 46 64 01

Ministero del Commercio con l'Estero
Direzione Generale per la Politica Commerciale e
per la Gestione del Regime degli Scambi
DIV. III
Viale America 341
I-00144 Roma
Tel. (39-6) 59 64 75 17/59 93 22 02/59 93 22 15
Fax (39-6) 59 93 22 35/59 93 22 35
Telex: (39-6) 59 64 75 31

3. Deutschland

für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle

Bundesamt
(BAFA)
Frankfurter Str. 29-35
D-65760 Eschborn
Tel. (49 61 96) 9 08-0
Fax: (49 61 96) 9 42 26

4.

text missing

Υπουργείο Οικονοµίας & Οικονοµικών
Γενική Γραµµατεία ∆ιεθνών Σχέσεων
Γενική ∆ιεύθυνση Σχεδιασµού & ∆ιαχείρισης Πολιτικής
∆ιεύθυνση ∆ιεθνών Οικονοµικών Ροών
Κορνάρου 1
GR-10563 Αθήνα
Τηλ (3010) 328 60 31-5
Φαξ (3010) 328 60 94

9.

Luxembourg

Ministère des affaires étrangères
Office des licences
Boîte postale 113
L-2011 Luxembourg
Tel. (352) 47 82 371
Fax (352) 46 61 38

10. Nederland

Belastingdienst/Douane
Centrale dienst voor in- en uitvoer
Engelse Kamp 2
Postbus 30003
9700 RD Groningen
Nederland
Tel. (31-50) 523 91 11
Fax (31-50) 523 22 10

11. Portugal

5. España

Ministerio de Economía
Secretaría General de Comercio Exterior
Paseo de la Castellana no 162
E-28046 Madrid
Tel. (34 91) 349 38 17, 349 37 48
Fax (34 91) 563 18 23, 349 38 31

Ministério das Finanças
Direcção Geral das Alfândegas e dos Impostos Espe-
ciais sobre o Consumo
Rua Terreiro do Trigo
Edifício da Alfândega
P-1149-060 Lisboa
Tel. (351-1) 218 814 263
Fax (351-1) 218 814 261
E-mail: dsl@dgaiec.min-financas.pt

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12. United Kingdom

14. Sweden

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

13. Österreich

Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Arbeit
Außenwirtschaftsadministration
Abteilung C2/2
Stubenring 1
A-1011 Wien
Tel. (43-1) 71100-0
Fax (43-1) 71100-8386

National Board of Trade (Kommerskollegium)
Box 6803
S-113 86 Stockholm
Tel. (46-8) 690 48 00
Fax (46-8) 30 67 59

15. Suomi

Tullihallitus
Erottajankatu 2
FIN-00101 Helsinki
Tel. (358-9) 61 41
Fax (358-9) 61 42 852

Section B: List of the competent national authorities in the Acceding countries

1. Cyprus

6.

Lithuania

Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism
Trade Department
6 Andrea Araouzou Str.
1421 Nicosia
Tel. (357-2) 86 71 00
Fax (357-2) 37 51 20

2. Czech Republic

Ministerstvo prumyslu a obchodu
Licencní správa
Na Frantisku 32
110 15 Praha 1
Tel. (420) 224 06 2206
Fax (420) 224 21 2133

3. Estonia

Majandus- ja Kommunikatsiooniministeerium
Harju 11
15072 Tallinn
Estonia
Tel. (372) 6256 400
Fax (372) 6313 660

4. Hungary

Gazdasági és Közlekedési Minisztérium
Engedélyezési és Közigazgatási Hivatala
1024 Budapest Margit krt. 85.
Postafiók: 1537 Budapest Pf. 345.
Tel. 0036(1) 336 7300
Fax 0036(1)336 7302

5.

Latvia

Ekonomikas ministrija
Brivibas iela 55
LV-1519 Riga
Tel. (371) 701 30 06
Fax: (371) 728 08 82

Lietuvos Respublikos U¯kio Ministerija
Gedimino Ave 38/2
LT-2600 Vilnius
Tel. (370-5) 262 50 30/262 87 50
Fax (370-5) 262 39 74

7. Malta

Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs
Trade Services Directorate, Commerce Division
Lascaris
Valletta CMR02
Malta
Tel. (356-21) 24 68 00
Fax (356-21) 25 15 15

Pracy

i

Polityki

8. Poland

Gospodarki,

Ministerstwo
Spolecznej
Pl. Trzech Krzyzy 3/5
00-950 Warszawa
Tel. (48-22) 693 55 53
Fax (48-22) 693 40 21

9. Slovakia

Ministerstvo Hospodárstva SR
Odbor výkonu obchodno-politických opatrení
Mierová 19
827 15 Bratislava
Tel. (421-2) 43 42 39 13/48 54 21 60
Fax (421-2) 43 42 39 19

10. Slovenia

Ministrstvo za gospodarstvo
Podrocˇje ekonomskih odnosov s tujino
Kotnikova 5
1000 Ljubljana
Tel. (386(0)1) 478 35 42
Fax (386(0)1) 478 36 11