WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/LIC/N/3/EEC/2/Add.6
13 October 1999
(99-4339)
Committee on Import Licensing Original:  English
REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES1
Notification under Article 7.3 of the Agreement
on Import Licensing Procedures
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
Addendum
Import Licensing Procedures for WTO Tariff Quotas
Covering Frozen Thin Skirt of Bovine Animals
Outline of system
1. The object of the import licensing system is to ensure a sound administration of the EC’s
WTO tariff rate quota for 1,500 tonnes of frozen thin skirt of bovine animals. The relevant legislation
related to the import licensing system for this tariff quota is mentioned in reply 5.  As regards the
requirements for applicants for import licences see reply 6.
Purpose and coverage of licensing
2. See reply 1. The products covered by the tariff rate quota are as follows:
Description of products Tariff item number(s)
Edible offal
- Of bovine animals, frozen
-- Thin skirt (whole) ex 0206 29 91
3. The system applies in the European Community to the above-mentioned products originating
in Argentina and in other third countries.
4. See reply 1. As referred to in reply 1, the licensing system covers the relevant WTO tariff
quota. The EC considers the method adopted to be the most appropriate to administer this tariff ratequota.
5. The relevant legislation for the administration of import licences for the tariff quota
mentioned in reply 1 is:
Commission Regulation (EC) No  996/97 of 3 June 1997 (OJ L 144), as last amended by
Commission Regulation (EC) 1266/98 (OJ L 175).
                                                     
1 See G/LIC/3, Annex, for the Questionnaire.G/LIC/N/3/EEC/2/Add.6
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The licensing is statutorily required. The legislation does not leave designation of products to
be subjected to licensing to administrative discretion. The system cannot be abolished without
legislative approval.
Procedures
6. Answer to questions 6.I to VIII and to 6. XI and 6. X. Question 6.IX is not relevant.
The information related to the allocation of the quota and the formalities for licence
application is published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (see reply 5). There is
no derogation from the licensing requirement.
The tariff quota is an annual tariff quota, opened on 1 July of each year.
Seven hundred tonnes of the tariff quota are allocated to Argentina and 800 tonnes are
allocated to other third countries. The imports unde r the tariff quota are subject to the presentation of
an import licence. In the case of imports from Argen tina, imports are subject to the presentation of a
certificate of authenticity issued by the empowered authority in Argentina. The competent authorities
in the Member States may issue import licences only after they are satisfied that all the information on
the certificate of authenticity is correct. The import licence is issued immediately thereafter.
In the case of imports from other third countries, applicants for import licences must be
natural or legal persons who, when submitting their application must prove to the satisfaction of the
competent authorities in the Member State concerned that they have traded in beef and veal with non-
member countries at least once during the previous 12 months. They must be entered in a national
VAT register. The application for an import licence must be lodged within the competent authorities
in the Member State in which the applicant is registered, only during the first ten days of each year ofimport (1 July to 30 June). The competent authorit ies in the Member States have to notify to the
Commission on tenth working day following the end of  the period for lodging the applications of the
total of the quantity covered by the applications. The Commission calculates as soon as possible to
what extent applications may be accepted. If the quantities in respect of which applications are made
exceed the quantities available, the Commission fixes a single percentage reduction to be applied to
the quantities applied for. Following the Commission’s decision on acceptance of applications,
licences are issued as rapidly as possible by the competent authorities in the Member States.
7. Question 7 is not relevant in the present case.8. The application for an import licence can only be refused if the relevant criteria are not
fulfilled. Applicants can appeal to courts in the Me mber States according to the legislation in force in
the respective Member States.
Eligibility of importers to apply for licence
9. See reply 6. Applicants for an import licence re lated to imports from “other third countries”
must be registered in a VAT register in the Member States and there is no registration fee.
Documentational and other requirements for application for licence
10. The application for an import licence has to be  submitted to the competent authorities in the
Member States conforming to the specimen set out at Annex XI to the Community’s general
Article 7.3 notification for 1999 (G/LIC/N/3/EEC /2). Regarding the information required in
applications, see the application form and Commission Regulation (EC) No 996/97 of 3.6.97G/LIC/N/3/EEC/2/Add.6
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(published in OJ L 144, page 6), as at last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) 1266/98 of
18.6.98 (published in OJ L 175, page 9).
11. The import licence plus appropriate health certificate.
12. No.
13. The issuing of import licence is subject to a s ecurity in order to guarantee that the undertaking
to import will be fulfilled during the period of validity of the licence. The security is released when
the obligation to import has been fulfilled.
Conditions of licensing
14. Import licences expire on 30 June following the date of issue and the validity of the licences
cannot be extended.
15. In case of non-utilisation of an import licence, the security is not released. In the case of
partial use of the import licence, the security is partially released.
16. Import licences are not transferable.17. No.Other procedural requirements
18. No.
19. Not relevant.
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