Commission Regulation (EC) No 117/2005 of 26 January 2005 introducing Community surveillance of imports of certain footwear products originating in certain third countries
Date: 2005-01-26
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: China, footwear industry, surveillance concerning imports

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Official Journal of the European Union

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COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 117/2005

of 26 January 2005

introducing Community surveillance of imports of certain footwear products originating in certain
third countries

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 3285/94 of
22 December 1994 on common rules
imports and
repealing Regulation (EC) No 518/94 (1), and in particular
Article 11(2) thereof,

for

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

transitional product-specific

in
The quota system on footwear products set out
Council Regulation (EC) No 427/2003 of 3 March
2003 on a
safeguard
imports originating in the People’s
mechanism for
Republic of China and amending Regulation (EC) No
imports from certain
519/94 on common rules for
third countries (2) expired on 1 January 2005.

On 7 December 2004, the Commission was informed by
some Member States that it would be appropriate to
impose surveillance measures on footwear products
pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 3285/94.

The Community footwear industry is largely composed
of small and medium-sized enterprises, most of which
are located in regions with few other
sources of
employment.
It is therefore vulnerable to competition
from low-priced imports originating in particular in the
People’s Republic of China.

In response to this import competition, the Community
in recent years, undergone an
footwear industry has,
extensive restructuring by concentrating its output on
more up-market products which are also the products
that have been under quota. These products represent
approximately 85 % of production in the Community
restructuring has entailed a
footwear

industry. This

(1) OJ L 349, 31.12.1994, p. 53. Regulation as last amended by Regu-

lation (EC) No 2474/2000 (OJ L 286, 11.11.2000, p. 1).

(2) OJ L 65, 8.3.2003, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC)

No 1985/2003 (OJ L 295, 13.11.2003, p. 43).

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

efforts,

marked reduction of capacity and workforce. Despite
these
industry
continues to lose production and market share owing
to cheap foreign imports.

the Community

footwear

subject

to quotas

imports of

footwear
Over the period 2000 to 2003,
products originating in the People’s Republic of China
increased sharply both in
not
absolute terms as well as in terms of share of
the
Community market, with prices that were substantially
than the prices of equivalent products manu-
lower
factured in the Community. The average increase in
imports was 59 % between 2000 and 2003 and the
average difference in prices was 21 %.

lead to a similar substantial

Given that prevailing market conditions for all footwear
it is expected that the recent
products are the same,
liberalisation will
increase
of imports. On the basis of recent trends in imports of
footwear, the result of the 2005 removal of quotas could
lead to a doubling in imports in the short term, with a
the
likely
Community industry of 6 % and a loss of 17 000 jobs.
A threat of
injury to Community producers for the
purposes of Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 3285/94
can therefore be deemed to exist.

in market

consequent

share

loss

for

This likely impact is so significant that the interests of
the Community require that imports of certain footwear
products of Chinese origin should be subject to prior
Community surveillance in order to provide statistical
information permitting rapid analysis of import trends.
The footwear concerned, mainly medium to high quality
is that for which significant production still
footwear,
remains
in the Community and can be considered
sensitive for that reason. Prior surveillance by means of
an automatic import
licensing regime applicable until
31 January 2006 would provide the fastest means of
obtaining a clear picture of
the
removal of
these quotas as any retrospective system
takes time to provide meaningful data.

the early effects of

It is also appropriate, in order to obtain an overall view
of the trends in imports of footwear, to establish a retro-
spective customs-based surveillance system for imports of
footwear from all sources. This includes footwear
all
requiring to be made subject
surveillance.
When the retrospective system of surveillance is fully
operational the prior surveillance can be terminated, at
the latest by 31 January 2006.

to prior

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(9)

(10)

(11)

(12)

(13)

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

than three working days after submission, unless it is proven
otherwise.

circulation of

In order to facilitate the collection of data, the release for
free
covered by prior
the products
surveillance should be made subject to presentation of
a surveillance document meeting uniform criteria. That
document should, on simple application by the importer,
be endorsed by the authorities of the Member States
within a certain period but without
importer
thereby acquiring any right to import. The document
should therefore be valid only as long as the import
rules remain unchanged;
it should be valid throughout
the Community.

the

A surveillance document issued by one of the authorities
3.
listed in Annex II shall be valid throughout the Community.

4.
The surveillance document shall be made out on a form
corresponding to the model set out in Annex I to Regulation
(EC) No 3285/94.

The importer's application shall include the following elements:

In order to ensure transparency the Member States and
information
the Commission should exchange
the
resulting from Community surveillance
fully as
as
possible.

(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

The issue of surveillance documents, while subject to
standard conditions at Community level, should be the
responsibility of the national authorities.

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

It is desirable for this Regulation to enter into force on
the day of its publication in order to collect the data as
soon as possible,

(c)

the full name and address of the exporter;

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

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

CHAPTER 1

PRIOR SURVEILLANCE

Article 1

The release for free circulation in the Community of certain
footwear products originating in the People’s Republic of
China listed in Annex I shall be subject to prior Community
surveillance in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 3285/94.

Article 2

1.
The release for free circulation in the Community of the
products referred to in Article 1 shall be subject to presentation
of a surveillance document issued by the relevant authorities of
a Member State.

2.
The surveillance document referred to in paragraph 1 shall
be issued automatically by the competent authorities in the
Member States, without
any quantities
charge
requested, within five working days of presentation of an appli-
cation by any Community importer, wherever it may be estab-
lished in the Community. This application shall be deemed to
have been received by the competent national authority no later

and for

(i)

their trade name;

(ii)

the TARIC code(s);

(iii) the country of origin (namely the People’s Republic of

China);

(iv) the country of consignment;

(e)

the quantity of goods expressed in pairs;

(f)

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

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

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

concerning the same contract;

values, calculated in euro, for which surveillance documents
have been issued;

(i)

the following declaration, dated and signed by the applicant
‘I, the
with the transcription of his name in capital letters:
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 and of
the pro forma invoice. If so requested, and in particular in
cases where the goods are not directly purchased in China,
the importer shall present a certificate of production issued
by the producer.

5.
The period of validity of the surveillance documents is
hereby fixed at six months. Unused or partly used surveillance
documents may be renewed for the same period.

The importer shall return surveillance documents to the

6.
issuing authority at the end of their period of validity.

The competent authorities may allow the submission of
7.
declarations or requests to be transmitted or printed by elec-
tronic means, under the conditions fixed by them. However, all
documents and evidence shall be available to the competent
authorities.

8.
The surveillance document may be issued by electronic
means, on condition that the customs offices involved have
access to the document via a computer network.

Article 3

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

for

Applications

the
surveillance
2.
documents themselves shall be confidential. Access to the infor-
mation in those applications and documents shall be restricted
to the competent authorities and the applicant.

documents

and

(b) within six weeks of

the end of each month, details of
imports during that month, in accordance with Article 32
of Commission Regulation No (EC) 1917/2000 (1).

The information provided by Member States shall be broken
down by product and combined nomenclature (‘CN’) code.

The Member States

2.
any
anomalies or cases of fraud which they discover and, where
relevant,
the basis on which they have refused to grant a
surveillance document.

shall give notification of

CHAPTER 2

RETROSPECTIVE SURVEILLANCE

Article 5

Footwear products listed in Annex III shall be subject to a

1.
system of retrospective statistical surveillance.

2.
After the release for free circulation of the products, the
competent authorities of the Member States shall notify the
Commission, if possible on a weekly basis but no less frequently
than at the end of each month, of the total quantities imported
(in pairs) and their value (value of the goods in euro at the
Community frontier),
indicating the combined nomenclature
code and and using the units and, where appropriate, supple-
mentary units used in that code. Imports shall be broken down
in accordance with the statistical procedures in force.

CHAPTER 3

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 6

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

reasons

Article 7

Article 4

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publi-
cation in the Official Journal of the European Union.

1.
The Member States
information to the Commission:

shall communicate the following

The provisions of Chapter 1 shall apply from the 1 February
2005 until 31 January 2006, at the latest.

(a) on as regular and up-to-date a basis as possible and at least
by the last day of each month, details of the quantities and

(1) OJ L 229, 9.9.2000, p. 4. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC)

No 1669/2001 (OJ L 224, 21.8.2001, p. 3).

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

Done at Brussels, 26 January 2005.

For the Commission

Peter MANDELSON
Member of the Commission

ANNEX I

LIST OF PRODUCTS SUBJECT TO PRIOR SURVEILLANCE (2005)

6402 99
6403 51
6403 59
6403 91
6403 99

6404 19 10

with the exception of
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 + 19
6403 99 96 11 + 19

6403 99 98 11 + 19

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ANNEX II

LIST OF THE COMPETENT NATIONAL AUTHORITIES

BELGIQUE/BELGIË
Service public fédéral de l’économie, des PME, des classes moyennes et
de l’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: +420 224 21 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: +49-61-969 42 26

EESTI

Majandus- ja Kommunikatsiooniministeerium
Harju 11
EE-15072 Tallinn
Fax: +372-631 3660

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

FRANCE

Ministère de l’économie, des finances et de l’industrie
DIGITIP
Sous-direction «Textile — Habillement — Cuir»
Bureau «Textile-Importations»
Le Bervil
12, rue Villiot
F-75572 Paris Cedex 12
Télécopieur (33-1) 53 44 91 81

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 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
Télécopieur (352) 46 61 38

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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

SUOMI/FINLAND

Tullihallitus
PL 512
FI-00101 Helsinki
Fax: (358-20) 492 28 52

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

SVERIGE

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

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

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ANNEX III

LIST OF PRODUCTS SUBJECT TO RETROSPECTIVE SURVEILLANCE

6401 91
6401 92
6401 99
6402 19
6402 20
6402 91
6402 99
6403 12
6403 19
6403 20
6403 30
6403 40
6403 51
6403 59
6403 91
6403 99
6404 11
6404 19
6404 20
6405 10
6405 20
6405 90

6404 19 10

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 + 19
6403 99 96 11 + 19
6403 99 98 11 + 19