Proposal for a Council Regulation on administering of the double-checking system without quantitative limits in respect of the export of certain steel products from the Republic of Moldova to the European Community
Date: 2004-07-13
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Moldova, export, export licence, export monitoring, import licence, iron and steel product

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 13.07.2004 
COM(2004) 482 final 

2004/0147 (ACC) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION 

on administering of the double-checking system without quantitative limits in respect of 
the export of certain steel products from the Republic of Moldova 
to the European Community 

(presented by the Commission) 

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

The  Republic  of  Moldova  asked  to  conclude  an  Agreement  setting  up  a  double-checking 
system  without  quantitative  limitations  in  order  to  monitor  the  exports  into  the  European 
Community  of  certain  steel  product.  The  aim  of  the  double-checking  system  is  to  improve 
transparency  and  to  avoid  possible  diversions  of  trade.  It  is  without  prejudice  to  the 
application of the relevant provisions of the agreements on trade and trade-related matters, in 
particular those relating to anti-dumping and safeguard measures. 

The system relies on the issuance for each transaction of an export document and of an import 
document. 

The export document is issued by the authorities of the country of the exporting company to 
the exporter, upon request of the exporter and after the fulfilment of the necessary conditions 
imposed  by  those  authorities,  notably  those  conditions  included  in  the  international 
agreement. This export document is then given to the EU importer. 

To be able to import products covered by the agreement, the EU importer must obtain from 
relevant EU authorities an import document. This document is released automatically, upon 
presentation of documents/information/evidence as required by the EU internal implementing 
legislation, including the original of the export document. 

The double-checking system would apply for the period until 31 December 2006. It will be 
established by means of an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters. 

The  Community  signed  the  Agreement  and  this  Regulation  lays  down  the  implementing 
provisions.  

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2004/0147 (ACC) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION 

on administering of the double-checking system without quantitative limits in respect of 
the export of certain steel products from the Republic of Moldova 
to the European Community 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community,  and  in  particular  Article  133 
thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission1, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

The  Partnership  and  Cooperation  Agreement  establishing  a  partnership  between  the 
European  Communities  and  their  Member  States,  of  the  one  part,  and  the  Republic  of 
Moldova, of the other part 2, entered into force on 1 July 1998. 

The situation relating to imports of certain steel products from the Republic of Moldova to 
the European Community has been the subject of thorough examination and, on the basis of 
relevant information supplied to them, the Parties have concluded an Agreement in the form 
of an Exchange of Letters 3 which establishes a double-checking system without quantitative 
limits  for  the  period  between  the  date  of  entry  into  force  of  this  Regulation  and 
31 December 2006, unless both Parties agree to terminate the system earlier. 

(3) 

The  measures  necessary  for  the  implementation  of  this  Regulation  should  be  adopted  in 
accordance  with  Council  Decision  1999/468/EC  of  28  June  1999  laying  down  the 
procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission 4, 

1 
2 
3 
4 

OJ C , , p. . 
OJ L 181, 24.6.1998, p. 3. 
See p. …..of this OJ. 
OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23. 

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HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 

Article 1 

For  the  period  running  from  the  date  on  which  this  Regulation  enters  into  force  to 
1. 
31 December  2006,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  above  mentioned  Agreement  in  the 
form  of  an  Exchange  of  Letters,  imports  into  the  European  Community  of  certain  steel  products 
originating in the Republic of Moldova, as listed in Appendix I, shall be subject to the presentation 
of a surveillance document conforming to the model shown in Appendix II issued by the authorities 
in the European Community. 

For  the  period  running  from  the  date  on  which  this  Regulation  enters  into  force  to 
2. 
31 December 2006, imports into the Community of the steel products originating in the Republic of 
Moldova and listed in Appendix I shall, in addition, be subject to the issue of an export document 
issued  by  the  competent  Moldovan  authorities.  The  export  document  shall  conform  to  the  model 
shown  in  Appendix  III.  It  shall  be  valid  for  exports  throughout  the  customs  territory  of  the 
European Community. In order to obtain the surveillance document referred to in paragraph 1, the 
importer must present the original of the export document fully completed. In any case, the importer 
must present the original of the export document not later than 31 March of the year following that 
in which the goods covered by the document were shipped. 

3. 
The  classification  of  the  products  covered  by  this  Regulation  is  based  on  the  tariff  and 
statistical  nomenclature  of  the  European  Community  (hereinafter  called  the  "CN").  The  origin  of 
the products covered by this Regulation shall be determined in accordance with the rules in force in 
the European Community. 

The  competent  authorities  of  the  European  Community  shall  inform  the  Republic  of 
4. 
Moldova of any changes in the CN in respect of products covered by this Regulation before their 
date of entry into force in the European Community. 

Goods  shipped  before  the  entry  into  force  of  this  Regulation  shall  be  excluded  from  the 
5. 
scope of this Regulation. Shipment is considered to have taken place on the date of loading on to 
the exporting means of transport. 

Article 2 

The  surveillance  document  referred  to  in  Article  1  shall  be  issued  automatically  by  the 
1. 
competent  authority  in  the  Member  States,  without  charge  for  any  quantities  requested,  within 
five working  days  of  presentation  of  an  application  by  any  European  Community  importer, 
wherever established in the European Community. This application shall be deemed to have been 
received  by  the  competent  national  authority  no  later  than  three  working  days  after  submission, 
unless it is proven otherwise. 

A  surveillance  document  issued  by  one  of  the  competent  national  authorities  listed  in 

2. 
Appendix IV shall be valid throughout the European Community. 

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3. 

The importer's application for a surveillance document shall include the following elements: 

(a) 
the  name  and  full  address  of  the  applicant  (including  telephone  and  telefax  numbers,  and 
possible  identification  number  used  by  the  competent  national  authorities)  and  VAT registration 
number, if subject to VAT; 

if  applicable,  the  name  and  full  address  of  the  declaring  person  or  representative  of  the 

(b) 
applicant (including telephone and fax numbers); 

(c) 

the full name and address of the exporter; 

(d) 

the exact description of the goods, including: 

– 

– 

– 

– 

their trade name, 

the CN code(s), 

the country of origin, 

the country of consignment; 

the net weight, expressed in kg and also quantity in the unit prescribed where other than net 

(e) 
weight, by combined nomenclature heading; 

the  c.i.f.  value  of  the  goods  in  euros  at  the  European  Community  frontier  by  combined 

(f) 
nomenclature heading; 

(g) 

whether the products concerned are seconds or of substandard quality 5; 

(h) 

the proposed period and place of customs clearance; 

(i) 

whether the application is a repeat of a previous application concerning the same contract; 

the  following  declaration,  daed  and  signed  by  the  applicant  with  the  transcription  of  his 

(j) 
name in capital letters: 

"I,  the  undersigned,  certify  that  the  information  provided  in  this  application  is  true  and  given  in 
good faith, and that I am established in the Community."  

The  importer  shall  also  submit  a  copy  of  the  contract  of  sale  or  purchase,  the  pro  forma  invoice 
and/or,  in  cases  where  the  goods  are  not  directly  purchased  in  the  country  of  production,  a 
certificate of production issued by the producing steel mill. 

Surveillance  documents  may  be  used  only  for  such  time  as  arrangements  for  the 
4. 
liberalisation of imports remain in force in respect of the transactions concerned. Without prejudice 
to  possible  changes  in  the  import  regulations  in  force  or  decisions  taken  in  the  framework  of  an 
agreement or the management of a quota: 

–the period of validity of the surveillance document is hereby fixed at four months, 

5 

Under  the  criteria  given  in  the  Commission  communication  concerning  identification  criteria  of  non-prime 
steel products from third countries applied by customs services of Member States (OJ C 180, 11.7.1991, p. 4.). 

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–unused or partly used surveillance documents may be renewed for an equal period. 

The importer shall return surveillance documents to the issuing authority at the end of their 

5. 
period of validity. 

Article 3 

1. 
A finding that the unit price at which the transaction is effected exceeds that indicated in the 
import document by less than 5% or that the total value or quantity of the products presented for 
import  exceeds  the  value  or  quantity  given  in  the  import  document  by  less  than  5%  shall  not 
preclude the release for free circulation of the products in question. 

Applications  for  import  documents  and  the  documents  themselves  shall  be  confidential. 

2. 
They shall be restricted to the competent authorities and the applicant. 

Article 4 

Within  the  first  10  days  of  each  month,  the  Member  States  shall  communicate  to  the 

1. 
Commission: 

details of the quantities and values (calculated in euros) for which import documents were issued 
during the preceding month;  

details of imports during the month preceding the month referred to in (a). 

The  information  provided  by  Member  States  shall  be  broken  down  by  product,  CN  code  and  by 
country.  

The  Member  States  shall  give  notification  of  any  anomalies  or  cases  of  fraud  which  they 

2. 
discover and, where relevant, the basis on which they have refused to grant an import document. 

Article 5 

Any  notices  to  be  given  hereunder  shall  be  given  to  the  Commission  and  shall  be  communicated 
electronically within the integrated network set up for this purpose, unless for imperative technical 
reasons it is necessary to use other means of communication temporarily. 

Article 6 
Committee 

The  Commission  shall  be  assisted  by  a  committee  composed  of  the  representatives  of  the 

1. 
Member States and chaired by a representative of the Commission. 

Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall 

2. 
apply. 

The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at three months. 

The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure. 

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Article 7 
Final provisions 

Amendments to the Appendices which may be necessary to take into account modifications to the 
Annex or Appendices attached to the Agreement in the Form of an Exchange of Letters between the 
European Community and the Republic of Moldova, or amendments made to European Community 
rules on statistics, customs arrangements, common rules for imports or import surveillance, shall be 
adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 6(2). 

This Regulation shall enter into force on the 15th day following that of its publication in the Official 
Journal of the European Union.  

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

Done at Brussels,  

For the Council 
The President 

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List of products subject to double-checking without quantitative limits 

ANNEX I 

Moldova 

7301 

7303 

7304 

7305 

7306 

7307 

7312 

7202 

7203 

7206 

7207 

7208 

7209 

7210 

7211 

7212 

7213 

7214 

7215 

7216 

7217 

7218 

7219 

7220 

7221 

7222 

7223 

7224 

7225 

7226 

7227 

7228 

7229 

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EUROPEAN COMMUNITY 

SURVEILLANCE DOCUMENT 

ANNEX II 

1 

1. Consignee (name, full address, country, VAT number) 

2. Issue number 

3. Proposed place and date of import 

4. Authority responsible for issue 

(name, address and telephone No) 

5. Declarant/representative as applicable 

6. Country of origin 

(name and full address) 

(and nomenclature code) 

7. Country of consignment 

(and nomenclature code) 

8. Last day of validity 

9. Description of goods 

10. CN code and category 

y
p
o
c

s
'
r
e
d

l
o
H

1 

11.  Quantity  in  kilograms  (net  mass)  or  in 
additional units 

12.  Value  in euros,  cif  at  European  Community 
frontier 

13. Additional remarks 

14. Competent authority's endorsement 

Date : 

Signature: 

Stamp: 

EN 

9 

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15.  ATTRIBUTIONS 

Indicate the quantity available in part 1 of column 17 and the quantity attributed in part 2 thereof 

20.  Name,  Member  State,  stamp  and 
attributing 

the 

of 

signature 
authority 

16.  Net  quantity  (net  mass  or  other  unit  of 

measure stating the unit) 

19.  Customs  document 
(form and number) or 
extract  No  and  date 
of attribution 

17. In figures 

18.  In  words 

for 

the 

quantity attributed 

1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

Extension pages to be attached hereto 

EN 

10 

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EUROPEAN COMMUNITY 

SURVEILLANCE DOCUMENT 

2 

1. Consignee (name, full address, country, VAT number) 

2. Issue number 

y
t
i
r
o
h
t
u
a

g
n

i

u
s
s
i

e
h
t

r
o
f

y
p
o
C

2 

3. Proposed place and date of import 

4. Authority responsible for issue 

(name, address and telephone No) 

5. Declarant/representative as applicable 

6. Country of origin 

(name and full address) 

(and nomenclature code) 

7. Country of consignment 

(and nomenclature code) 

8. Last day of validity 

9. Description of goods 

10. CN code and category 

11.  Quantity  in  kilograms  (net  mass)  or  in 

additional units 

12.  Value  in euros,  cif  at  European  Community 
frontier 

13. Additional remarks 

14. Competent authority's endorsement 

Date : 

Signature: 

Stamp: 

EN 

11 

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15.  ATTRIBUTIONS 

Indicate the quantity available in part 1 of column 17 and the quantity attributed in part 2 thereof 

16.  Net  quantity  (net  mass  or  other  unit  of 

measure stating the unit) 

19. Customs document 
(form  and  number) 
or  extract  No  and 
date of attribution 

20.  Name,  Member  State,  stamp  and 
signature of the attributing authority 

17. In figures 

18.  In  words  for  the  quantity 

attributed 

1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

Extension pages to be attached hereto 

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ANNEX III 

1.  Exporter 
country) 

(name, 

full  address, 

ORIGINAL 

2. No 

3. Year 

4. Product group 

5.  Consignee 

(name, 

full  address, 

country) 

EXPORT DOCUMENT 

(steel products) 

6. Country of origin 

7. Country of destination 

8. Place and date of shipment – means 

9. Supplementary details 

of transport 

10. Description of goods – manufacturer 

11. CN code 

12. Quantity (1) 

13. Fob value (2) 

14. CERTIFICATION BY THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY 

15.  Competent  authority  (name,  full 

At …………………………………. on ……………………………………… 

address, country) 

(Signature) 

(Stamp) 

.
t
h
g
i
e
w

t
e
n
n
a
h
t

r
e
h
t
o
e
r
e
h
w
d
e
b
i
r
c
s
e
r
p
t
i
n
u
e
h
t
n
i

y
t
i
t
n
a
u
q
o
s
l
a
d
n
a

)
g
k
(

t
h
g
i
e
w

t
e
n
w
o
h
S
)
1
(

EN 

13 

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1. Exporter (name, full address, country) 

COPY 

2. No 

3. Year 

4. Product group 

5. Consignee (name, full address, 

country) 

EXPORT DOCUMENT 

(steel products) 

6. Country of origin 

7. Country of destination 

8. Place and date of shipment – means 

9. Supplementary details 

of transport 

10. Description of goods - manufacturer 

11. CN code 

12. Quantity (1) 

13. Fob value (2) 

14. CERTIFICATION BY THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY 

15.  Competent  authority  (name,  full 

At …………………………………. on ……………………………………… 

address, country) 

(Signature) 

(Stamp) 

.
t
h
g
i
e
w

t
e
n
n
a
h
t

r
e
h
t
o
e
r
e
h
w
d
e
b
i
r
c
s
e
r
p
t
i
n
u
e
h
t
n
i

y
t
i
t
n
a
u
q
o
s
l
a
d
n
a

)
g
k
(

t
h
g
i
e
w

t
e
n
w
o
h
S
)
1
(

EN 

14 

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ANNEX IV 

LISTA DE LAS AUTORIDADES NACIONALES COMPETENTES 
SEZNAM PŘÍSLUŠNÝCH VNITROSTÁTNÍCH ORGÁNŮ 
LISTE OVER KOMPETENTE NATIONALE MYNDIGHEDER 
LISTE DER ZUSTÄNDIGEN BEHÖRDEN DER MITGLIEDSTAATEN 
PÄDEVATE RIIKLIKE ASUTUSTE NIMEKIRI 
∆ΙΕΥΘΥΝΣΕΙΣ ΤΩΝ ΑΡΧΩΝ ΕΚ∆ΟΣΗΣ Α∆ΕΙΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΚΡΑΤΩΝ ΜΕΛΩΝ  
LIST OF THE COMPETENT NATIONAL AUTHORITIES 
LISTE DES AUTORITES NATIONALES COMPETENTES 
ELENCO DELLE COMPETENTI AUTORITA NAZIONALI 
VALSTU KOMPETENTO IESTAŽU SARAKSTS 
ATSAKINGŲ NACIONALINIŲ INSTITUCIJŲ SĄRAŠAS 
AZ ILLETÉKES NEMZETI HATÓSÁGOK LISTÁJA 
LISTA TA' L-AWTORITAJIET KOMPETENTI NAZZJONALI 
LIJST VAN BEVOEGDE NATIONALE INSTANTIES 
LISTA WLAŒCIWYCH ORGANÓW KRAJOWYCH 
LISTA DAS AUTORIDADES NACIONAIS COMPETENTES 
ZOZNAM PRÍSLUŠNÝCH ŠTÁTNYCH ORGÁNOV 
SEZNAM PRISTOJNIH NACIONALNIH ORGANOV 
LUETTELO TOIMIVALTAISISTA KANSALLISISTA VIRANOMAISISTA 
FÖRTECKNING ÖVER BEHÖRIGA NATIONELLA MYNDIGHETER 

BELGIQUE/BELGIË 
Service public fédéral économie, PME, Classes 
moyennes & énergie 
Administration du potentiel économique 
Politiques d'accès aux marchés, Services Licences 
Rue Général Leman 60 
B-1040 Bruxelles 
Fax: + 32-2-230 83 22 
Federale Overheidsdienst Economie, KMO, 
Middenstand & Energie 
Bestuur Economisch Potentieel 
Markttoegangsbeleid, Dienst Vergunningen 
Generaal Lemanstraat 60 
B-1040 Brussel 
Fax: + 32-2-230 83 22 
ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA 
Ministerstvo průmyslu a obchodu 
Licenční správa 
Na Františku 32 
CZ-110 15 Praha 1 
Fax: + 420-22421 21 33 

DANMARK 
Erhvervs- og Boligstyrelsen 
Økonomi- og Erhvervsministeriet 
Vejlsøvej 29 
DK-8600 Silkeborg 
Fax: + 45-35-46 64 01 
DEUTSCHLAND 
Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle,  
(BAFA) 
Frankfurter Strasse 29-35 
D-65760 Eschborn 1 
Fax: + 49-61-96 9 42 26 

EESTI  
Majandus- ja Kommunikatsiooniministeerium  
Harju 11  
EE-15072 Tallinn  
Fax: + 372-6313 660 

ΕΛΛΑΣ 
Υπουργείο Οικονοµίας & Οικονοµικών 
∆ιεύθυνση ∆ιεθνών Οικονοµικών Ροών 
Κορνάρου 1 
GR-105 63 Αθήνα 
Fax : + 301-328 60 94 

ESPAÑA 
Ministerio de Economía 
Secretaría General de Comercio Exterior 
Subdirección General de Productos Industriales 
Paseo de la Castellana 162 
E- 28046 Madrid 
Fax: + 34-1-349 38 31 
France 
SETICE 
8, rue de la Tour-des-Dames 
F-75436 Paris Cedex 09 
Fax: + 33-1-55 07 46 69 

IRELAND 
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment 
Import/ Export Licensing, Block C 
Earlsfort Centre 
Hatch Street 
IE-Dublin 2 
Fax: + 353-1-631 25 62 

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ITALIA 
Ministero delle Attivita Produttive 
Direzione generale per la politica commerciale e per 
la gestione del regime degli scambi 
Viale America 341 
I-00144 Roma 
Fax: +39-6-59 93 22 35 / 59 93 26 36 
KYPROS 
Υπουργείο Εµπορίου, Βιοµηχανίας και Τουρισµού  
Υπηρεσία Εµπορίου  
Μονάδα Έκδοσης Αδειών Εισαγωγής/Εξαγωγής  
Οδός Ανδρέα Αραούζου Αρ.6  
CY-1421 Λευκωσία  
Φαξ: + 357-22-37 51 20 
LATVIJA  
Latvijas Republikas Ekonomikas ministrija  
Brīvības iela 55  
LV – 1519 Rīga  
Fax: + 371-728 08 82 

LIETUVA 
Lietuvos Respublikos ūkio ministerija 
Prekybos departamentas 
Gedimino pr. 38/2 
LT- 01104 Vilnius 
Fax: + 370-5-26 23 974 
LUXEMBOURG 
Ministère des affaires étrangères 
Office des licences 
BP 113 
L-2011 Luxembourg 
Fax: + 352-46 61 38 
MAGYARORSZÁG  
Magyar Kereskedelmi Engedélyezési Hivatal  
Margit krt. 85.  
HU-1024 Budapest 
Fax: + 36-1-336 73 02 
MALTA 
Diviżjoni ghall-Kummerċ 
Servizzi Kummerċjali 
Lascaris 
MT-Valletta CMR02 
Fax: + 356-25-69 02 99 
NEDERLAND 
Belastingdienst/Douane centrale dienst voor in- en 
uitvoer 
Postbus 30003, Engelse Kamp 2 
NL-9700 RD Groningen 
Fax : + 31-50-523 23 41 

ÖSTERREICH 
Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Arbeit 
Aussenwirtschaftsadministration 
Abteilung C2/2 
Stubenring 1 
A-1011 Wien 
Fax: + 43-1-7 11 00/ 83 86 
POLSKA  
Ministerstwo Gospodarki, Pracy i Polityki 
Społecznej  
Plac Trzech Krzyży 3/5  
PL- 00-507 Warszawa  
Fax: + 48-22-693 40 21 / 693 40 22 

PORTUGAL 
Ministério das Finanças 
Direcção Geral das Alfândegas e dos Impostos 
Especiais sobre o Consumo 
Rua Terreiro do Trigo, Edifício da Alfândega de 
Lisboa 
PT- 1140-060 Lisboa  
Fax: + 351-218 814 261 
SLOVENIJA 
Ministrstvo za gospodarstvo 
Področje ekonomskih odnosov s tujino 
Kotnikova 5 
SI-1000 Ljubljana 
Fax: + 386-1-478 36 11 
SLOVENSKÁ REPUBLIKA 
Ministerstvo hospodárstva SR 
Odbor licencií 
Mierová 19 
SK-827 15 Bratislava 212 
Fax: + 421-2-43 42 39 19 
SUOMI 
Tullihallitus 
PL 512 
FIN-00101 Helsinki 
Telekopio: + 358-20-492 28 52 
SVERIGE 
Kommerskollegium 
Box 6803 
S-11386 Stockholm 
Fax: + 46-8-30 67 59 

UNITED KINGDOM 
Department of Trade and Industry 
Import Licensing Branch 
Queensway House - West Precinct 
Billingham 
UK-TS23 2NF 
Fax: + 44-1642-36 42 69 

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