Proposal for a Council Regulation on the import of certain steel products originating in the Russian Federation
Date: 2004-10-07
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU customs procedure, Russia, import (EU), import licence, iron and steel product, quantitative restriction

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 7.10.2004 
COM(2004) 639 final 

2004/0226 (ACC) 

. 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION 

on the import of certain steel products originating in 
the Russian Federation 

. 

(presented by the Commission) 

EN 

   EN 

 
 
 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and the Russian Federation concluded on 
9 July 2002 an agreement that fixes quantitative limits to the imports into the Community for 
certain  steel  products.  Following  the  expiry  of  the  ECSC  Treaty,  the  European  Community 
took over all rights and obligations under the agreement. 

The  market  situation  is  very  tense  during  this  year  2004  for  certain  steel  products.  The 
worldwide demand is robust, other regions of the world attract very important imports of steel 
products  and  of  related  inputs  and  the  EU  industry  seems  unwilling  or  unable,  precisely 
because  of  the  relatively  high  use  of  its  production  capacities  and  of  some  difficulties  in 
sourcing the necessary inputs, to produce and deliver the necessary quantities of certain steel 
specific  products  that  European  operators  demand.  Furthermore,  it  appears  that  the  quota 
agreed for some products would not be sufficient to meet the needs of European steel users. 
Therefore,  it  is  proposed  to  allow  additional  imports  for  certain  products  originating  in  the 
Russian Federation. However, in view of the urgency, it is proposed to achieve that through 
an  autonomous  measure  rather  than  going  for  the  longer  route  of  the  renegotiation  of  the 
agreement. 

EN 

2 

   EN 

 
2004/0226 (ACC) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION 

on the import of certain steel products originating in 
the Russian Federation 

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) 

(3) 

(4) 

The  European  Coal  and  Steel  Community  (ECSC)  and  the  Russian  Federation 
concluded on 9 July 2002 an Agreement on trade in certain steel products2 (hereinafter 
referred  to  as  the  Agreement).  The  necessary  implementing  measures  have  been 
adopted  by  Commission  Decision  2002/602/ECSC  of  8  July  2002  on  administering 
certain restrictions on imports of certain steel products from the Russian Federation3. 
Following  the  expiry  of  the  ECSC  Treaty,  the  European  Community  took  over  all 
rights and obligations under the Agreement. 

Commission Decision 2002/602/ECSC sets quantitative limits on the imports into the 
Community. 

Given the important increase in the demand worldwide for certain steel products and 
the  ensuing  comparable  difficulty  for  some  Community  users  to  source  those  steel 
products in the Community market, it is necessary to authorise more imports into the 
Community  than  originally  agreed  in  the  Agreement.  The  steel  products  in  question 
(hot-rolled coils for re-rolling) are classified under TARIC codes 7208 37 00 10, 7208 
38 00 10 and 7208 39 00 10. 

It  is  important  that  the  additional  quantities  be  available  as  soon  as  possible.  The 
renegotiation of the Agreement and  the subsequent implementation of  it as amended 
would  require  too  much  time.  It  is  therefore  preferable  to  recur  to  an  autonomous 
measure. 

(5) 

The completion of the internal market requires that the formalities to be accomplished 
by Community importers be identical wherever the goods may be cleared. 

1 
2 
3 

OJ C […], […], p. […]. 
OJ L 195, 24.7.2002, p. 55. 
OJ  L  195,  24.7.2002,  p.  38.  Decision  as  last  amended  by  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  1386/2004 
(OJ L 255, 31.7.2004, p. 1).  

EN 

3 

   EN 

 
                                                 
(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

Products placed in a free zone or imported under the arrangements governing customs 
warehouses, temporary importation or inward processing (suspension system) should 
not be counted against the limits established for the products in question. 

The effective application of this Regulation requires the introduction of a requirement 
of a Community import licence for the entry into free circulation in the Community of 
the  products  in  question  together  with  a  system  for  administering  the  grant  of  such 
Community import licences. 

In  order  to  ensure  that  the  quantitative  limits  established  by  this  Regulation  are  not 
exceeded,  a  procedure  should  be  followed  whereby  the  competent  authorities  of  the 
Member States will not issue import licences before obtaining prior confirmation from 
the  Commission  that  appropriate  amounts  remain  available  within  the  quantitative 
limit in question, 

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 

Article 1 

Without  prejudice  to  Commission  Decision  2002/602/ECSC,  the  importation  into  the 
Community of additional quantities of the steel products mentioned in the second paragraph 
originating in the Russian Federation shall be authorised up to 200 000 tonnes. 

The steel products are classified under the TARIC codes 7208 37 00 10, 7208 38 00 10 and 
7208  39  00  10.  The  classification  of  the  products  is  based  on  the  tariff  and  statistical 
nomenclature  of  the  Community  (hereinafter  called  the  'combined  nomenclature`,  or  in 
abbreviated  form  'CN`).  The  origin  of  the  products  covered  by  this  Regulation  shall  be 
determined in accordance with the rules in force in the Community. 

Article 2 

1. 

2. 

3. 

The  release  for  free  circulation  in  the  Community  of  the  steel  products  set  out  in 
Article 1 originating in the Russian Federation shall be subject to the presentation of 
an  import  licence  issued  by  the  Member  States'  authorities  in  accordance  with  the 
provisions of Article 4. 

In order to ensure that quantities for which import licences are issued do not exceed 
at  any  moment  the  total  quantitative  limits,  the  competent  authorities  shall  issue 
import  licences  only  upon  confirmation  by  the  Commission  that  there  are  still 
quantities available within the quantitative limits. 

For the purposes of this Regulation and as from the date of its application, shipment 
of products shall be considered as having taken place on the date on which they were 
loaded onto the exporting means of transport. Shipment must take place no later than 
31.12.2004. 

EN 

4 

   EN 

 
1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

Article 3 

The quantitative limits referred to in Article 1 shall not apply to products placed in a 
free zone or free warehouse or imported under the arrangements governing customs 
warehouses, temporary importation or inward processing (suspension system). 

Where  the  products  referred  to  in  paragraph  1  are  subsequently  released  for  free 
circulation, either in the unaltered state or after working or processing, Article 2(2) 
shall  apply  and  the  products  so  released  shall  be  counted  against  the  quantitative 
limit set out in Article 1. 

Article 4 

For  the  purpose  of  applying  Article  2(2),  the  competent  authorities  of  the  Member 
States, before issuing import licences, shall notify the Commission of the amounts of 
the  requests  for  import  licences  which  they  have  received.  By  return,  the 
Commission  shall  notify  whether  the  requested  amounts  of  quantities  are  available 
for importation in the chronological order in which the notifications of the Member 
States  have  been  received  ('first  come,  first  served  basis').  The  import  licence  shall 
then  be  issued  within  five  working  days  of  the  positive  confirmation  of  the 
Commission. 

The  requests  included  in  the  notifications  to  the  Commission  shall  be  valid  if  they 
establish clearly in each case the exporting country, the amounts to be imported, the 
quota period, the Member State in which the products are intended to be put into free 
circulation and the specific code to identify the products referred to in Article 1. The 
necessary technical modalities for the proper management of these quantitative limits 
shall be agreed within the Steel Liaison Committee. 

The  notifications  referred  to  in  paragraphs  1  and  2  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. 

As far as possible, the Commission shall confirm to the authorities the full amount 
indicated in the requests notified.  

The  import  licences  or  equivalent  documents  shall  be  issued  in  accordance  with 
Annex I. 

Import licences issued in accordance with this Regulation shall be valid throughout 
the  customs  territory  of  the  Community.  A  Community  importer  may  apply  for  an 
import licence with any of the competent authorities. 

The importer's application must be made no later than 31.12.2004 and shall include 
the following elements: 

(a) 

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

EN 

5 

   EN 

 
(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(e) 

(f) 

if  applicable,  the  name  and  full  address  of  the  declarant  or  representative  of  the 
applicant (including telephone and fax numbers); 

the full name and address of the exporter; 

the exact description of the goods, including 

their trade name, 

the combined nomenclature (CN) code(s), 

the country of origin, 

the country of consignment; 

the  net  weight  expressed  in  kg,  and  the  quantity  in  the  unit  prescribed  where  other 
than net weight, by combined nomenclature heading; 

the  cif  value  of  the  goods  in  euro  at  the  Community  frontier  by  combined 
nomenclature heading; 

(g) 

whether the products concerned are seconds or of substandard quality;4 

(h)  

the proposed period and place of customs clearance; 

(i) 

(j) 

(k) 

8. 

9. 

10. 

11. 

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

a copy of the contract of sale or purchase and of the pro forma invoice; 

the following declaration, dated and signed by the applicant with the transcription of 
his 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  period  of  validity  of  the  import  licence  is  hereby  fixed  at  four  months.  Upon 
duly motivated request by an importer, the competent authorities of a Member State 
may extend the duration of validity for a further period of two months. 

The  competent  national  authorities  may  allow  the  submission  of  declarations  or 
requests to be transmitted or printed by electronic means, under the conditions fixed 
by them. However, all documents and evidence must be available to the competent 
national authorities. 

The import licence may be issued by electronic means as long as the customs offices 
involved have access to the document via a computer network. 

The  importers  are  not  obliged  to  import  in  one  consignment  the  total  quantity 
mentioned in an import licence. 

4 

Under the criteria given in OJ No C 180, 11.7.1991, p. 4. 

EN 

6 

   EN 

 
                                                 
Article 5 

1. 

2. 

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

Applications for import licence and the documents themselves shall be confidential. 
They shall be restricted to the competent national authorities and the applicant. 

Article 6 

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

It shall apply until 31.12.2004. 

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

Done at Brussels, […] 

For the Council 
The President 

EN 

7 

   EN 

 
 
 
ANNEX I  

European Community import licence 

1 

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

2. Issue number 

3. Period 

4. Authority responsible for issue 

(name, address and telephone No) 

5. Declarant/representative as applicable 

6. Country of origin 

(name and full address) 

(and geonomenclature code) 

7. Country of consignment 

(and geonomenclature code) 

8. Last day of validity 

y
p
o
c

s
’
r
e
d

l
o
H

1 

9. Description of goods 

10. CN code 

11. Quantity expressed in quota unit 

12. Security/guarantee (as applicable) 

13. Further particulars 

14. Competent authority’s endorsement 

Date : …………………………………. 

(Signature) 

(Stamp) 

EN 

8 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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. 

EN 

9 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
European Community import licence 

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. Period 

4. Authority responsible for issue 

(name, address and telephone No) 

5. Declarant/representative as applicable 

6. Country of origin 

(name and full address) 

(and geonomenclature code) 

7. Country of consignment 

(and geonomenclature code) 

8. Last day of validity 

9. Description of goods 

10. CN code 

11. Quantity expressed in quota unit 

12. Security/guarantee (as applicable) 

13. Further particulars 

14. Competent authority’s endorsement 

Date : …………………………………. 

(Signature) 

(Stamp) 

EN 

10 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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. 

EN 

11 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ANNEX II 

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 

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 

DEUTSCHLAND 
Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle,  
(BAFA) 
Frankfurter Strasse 29-35 
D-65760 Eschborn 1 
Fax: + 49-61-96 9 42 26 

IRELAND 
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment 
Import/ Export Licensing, Block C 
Earlsfort Centre 
Hatch Street 
IE-Dublin 2 

EN 

12 

   EN 

 
 
Fax: + 353-1-631 25 62 

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 

ÖSTERREICH 
Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Arbeit 
Aussenwirtschaftsadministration 
Abteilung C2/2 
Stubenring 1 
A-1011 Wien 
Fax: + 43-1-7 11 00/ 83 86 

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 

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 

NEDERLAND 
Belastingdienst/Douane centrale dienst voor in- en 
uitvoer 
Postbus 30003, Engelse Kamp 2 
NL-9700 RD Groningen 
Fax : + 31-50-523 23 41 

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

EN 

13 

   EN