Council Regulation (EC) No 2041/2004 of 15 November 2004 on the import of certain steel products originating in the Russian Federation
Date: 2004-11-15
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU customs procedure, Russia, import (EU), import licence, iron and steel product, quantitative restriction

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I

(Acts whose publication is obligatory)

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 2041/2004

of 15 November 2004

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

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

establishing the European

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(hereinafter

products (1)

the European Coal

and Steel
On 9 July 2002,
Community (ECSC) and the Government of the Russian
Federation concluded an Agreement on trade in certain
the
steel
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
Federation (2). Following the expiry of the ECSC Treaty,
the European Community took over all rights and obli-
gations under the Agreement.

referred

to

as

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

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

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
circulation in the
Community of the products in question together with
a
such
Community import licences.

entry into free

administering

system for

grant

the

the

for

of

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
licences before
obtaining prior confirmation from the Commission that
appropriate amounts remain available within the quanti-
tative limit in question,

issue import

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

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.

Without prejudice to Decision 2002/602/ECSC, the importation
into the Community of additional quantities of
the steel
products mentioned in the second subparagraph 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 clas-
sification of the products is based on the tariff and statistical
nomenclature of
called the
‘combined nomenclature’, or in abbreviated form ‘CN’). The
the products covered by this Regulation shall be
origin of
in force in the
determined in accordance with the rules
Community.

the Community

(hereinafter

Article 2

(1) OJ L 195, 24.7.2002, p. 55. Agreement as last amended by the
Agreement between the European Community and the Government
of the Russian Federation (OJ L 255, 31.7.2004, p. 33).

(2) 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).

1.
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.

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

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In order

to ensure that quantities for which import
2.
licences are issued do not exceed at any moment the total
quantitative limits, the competent authorities of the Member
States listed in Annex II shall issue import licences only upon
confirmation by the Commission that there are still quantities
available within the quantitative limits.

3.
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 on
to the exporting means of transport. Shipment must take place
no later than 31 December 2004.

Article 3

1.
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 ware-
houses,
processing
temporary
(suspension system).

importation

inward

or

Import licences issued in accordance with this Regulation
the
an

6.
shall be valid throughout
territory of
Community. A Community importer may apply for
import licence with any of the competent authorities.

customs

the

The importer's application shall be made no later than 31

7.
December 2004 and shall include the following elements:

(a)

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

the applicant

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

2. Where the products referred to in paragraph 1 are subse-
quently 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.

(c)

the full name and address of the exporter;

(d) the exact description of the goods, including:

Article 4

— their trade name,

1.
For the purpose of applying Article 2(2), before issuing
import licences, the competent authorities of the Member States
listed in Annex II 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 combined nomenclature (CN) code(s),

— the country of origin,

— the country of consignment;

The

included in the notifications

to the
2.
requests
Commission shall be valid if
they establish clearly in each
case the exporting country, the amounts to be imported, the
the Member State in which the products are
quota period,
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 quan-
titative
agreed within the Steel Liaison
Committee.

shall be

limits

3.
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
communication
temporarily.

is necessary to use other means of

As far as possible, the Commission shall confirm to the
4.
authorities the full amount indicated in the requests notified.

The import

5.
issued in accordance with Annex I.

licences or equivalent documents shall be

(e)

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

(f)

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 (1);

(h) the proposed period and place of customs clearance;

(i) whether the application is a repeat of a previous application

concerning the same contract;

(1) Under the criteria given in OJ C 180, 11.7.1991, p. 4.

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(j) a copy of the contract of sale or purchase and of the pro

forma invoice;

The importers shall be under no obligation to import in
11.
one consignment the total quantity mentioned in an import
licence.

(k) 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.’

8.
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 period of two months.

The

competent national

9.
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 shall be available
to the competent national authorities.

The import licence may be issued by electronic means, as
to the

10.
long as
document via a computer network.

involved have access

the customs offices

Article 5

1.
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.

2.
Applications for import licence and the documents them-
selves 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
its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply until 31 December 2004.

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

Done at Brussels, 15 November 2004.

For the Council
The President

M. VAN DER HOEVEN

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ANNEX I

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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

ΔΙΕΥΘΥΝΣΕΙΣ ΤΩΝ ΑΡΧΩΝ ΕΚΔΟΣΗΣ ΑΔΕΙΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΚΡΑΤΩΝ ΜΕΛΩΝ

LIST OF THE COMPETENT NATIONAL AUTHORITIES

LISTE DES AUTORITÉS NATIONALES COMPÉTENTES

ELENCO DELLE AUTORITÀ NAZIONALI COMPETENTI
VALSTU KOMPETENTO IESTĀŽU SARAKSTS
KOMPETENTINGŲ NACIONALINIŲ INSTITUCIJŲ SĄRAŠAS

AZ ILLETÉKES NEMZETI HATÓSÁGOK LISTÁJA

LISTA TA' L-AWTORITAJIET KOMPETENTI NAZZJONALI

LIJST VAN BEVOEGDE NATIONALE INSTANTIES
LISTA WŁAŚCIWYCH ORGANÓW KRAJOWYCH

LISTA DAS AUTORIDADES NACIONAIS COMPETENTES
ZOZNAM PRÍSLUŠNÝCH VNÚTROŠTÁTNYCH ORGÁNOV

SEZNAM PRISTOJNIH NACIONALNIH ORGANOV

LUETTELO TOIMIVALTAISISTA KANSALLISISTA VIRANOMAISISTA

FÖRTECKNING ÖVER BEHÖRIGA NATIONELLA MYNDIGHETER

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

DEUTSCHLAND

Service public fédéral économie, PME, Classes moyennes et énergie
Administration du potentiel économique
Politiques d'accès aux marchés, Services Licences
Rue Général Leman 60
B-1040 Bruxelles
Télécopieur: (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

Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle
(BAFA)
Frankfurter Straße 29-35
D-65760 Eschborn 1
Fax: + 49-61-969 42 26

EESTI

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

ΕΛΛΑΔΑ

Υπουργείο Οικονομίας και Οικονομικών
Διεύθυνση Διεθνών Οικονομικών Ροών
Κορνάρου 1
GR-105 63 Αθήνα
Φαξ: (30-210) 32 86 094

ESPAÑA

Ministerio de Economía
Secretaría General de Comercio Exterior
Subdirección General de Productos Industriales
Paseo de la Castellana, 162
E-28046 Madrid
Fax (34) 913 49 38 31

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FRANCE

SETICE
8, rue de la Tour-des-Dames
F-75436 Paris Cedex 09
Télécopieur (33-1) 55 07 46 69

IRELAND

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

ITALIA

Ministero delle Attività produttive
Direzione generale per la Politica commerciale e per la gestione del
regime degli scambi
Viale America 341
I-00144 Roma
Fax (39-06) 59 93 22 35/59 93 26 36

ΚΥΠΡΟΣ

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
Fakss: + 371-728 08 82

LIETUVA

Lietuvos Respublikos ūkio ministerija
Prekybos departamentas
Gedimino pr. 38/2
LT-01104 Vilnius
Faks. (370-5) 262 39 74

LUXEMBOURG

Ministère des affaires étrangères
Office des licences
BP 113
L-2011 Luxembourg
Télécopieur (352) 46 61 38

MAGYARORSZÁG

Magyar Kereskedelmi Engedélyezési Hivatal
Margit krt. 85.
H-1024 Budapest
Fax: (36-1) 336 73 02

MALTA

Diviżjoni għall-Kummerċ
Servizzi Kummerċjali
Lascaris
MT-Valletta CMR02
Fax: + 356 2569 0299

NEDERLAND

Belastingdienst/Douane centrale dienst voor in- en uitvoer
Postbus 30003, Engelse Kamp 2
9700 RD Groningen
Nederland
Fax (31-50) 523 23 41

ÖSTERREICH

Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Arbeit
Außenwirtschaftsadministration
Abteilung C2/2
Stubenring 1
A-1011 Wien
Fax: + 43-1-711 00/83 86

POLSKA

Ministerstwo Gospodarki, Pracy i Polityki
Społecznej
pl. 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
P-1140-060 Lisboa
Fax: (351-21) 881 42 61

SLOVENIJA

Ministrstvo za gospodarstvo
Področje za ekonomske odnose 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

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SVERIGE

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

SUOMI/FINLAND

Tullihallitus
PL 512
FIN-00101 Helsinki
Faksi (358) 20 492 28 52

Tullstyrelsen
PB 512
FIN-00101 Helsingfors
Fax (358) 20 492 28 52

UNITED KINGDOM

Department of Trade and Industry
Import Licensing Branch
Queensway House - West Precinct
Billingham TS23 2NF
United Kingdom
Fax: (44-1642) 36 42 69