WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/LIC/N/3/EEC/2/Add.21
13 October 1999
(99-4359)
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
in the Egg Sector and for Egg Albumin
Outline of system
1. The object of the import licensing system is to ensure a sound administration of the EC’s
WTO tariff rate quotas mentioned in reply 2. The relevant legislation related to the import licensing
system for these tariff quotas 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 quotas mentioned in reply 1 are as follows:
Description of products Tariff item number(s)
Poultry eggs, for consumption, in shell 0407 00 30
Eggs yolks 0408 11 80
0408 19 81
0408 19 89
Bird eggs, not in shell 0408 91 80
0408 99 80
Egg albumin 3502 11 90
3502 19 90
3. The system applies in the European Community to the above-mentioned products originating
in third countries.
4. See reply 1. As referred to in reply 1, the licensing system covers the relevant  WTO tariff
quotas. The EC considers the method adopted to be the most appropriate to administer these tariff rate
quotas.
                                                     
1 See G/LIC/3, Annex, for the Questionnaire.G/LIC/N/3/EEC/2/Add.21
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5. The relevant legislation for the administration of import licences for the tariff quotas
mentioned in reply 1 is:
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1474/95 of 28 June 1995 (OJ L 145), as last amended by
Commission Regulation (EC) No  1 371/98 of 29 June 1998 (OJ L 185).
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. Questions 6.IX and X are not relevant.
The information related to the allocation of  the quotas 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 quotas are annual tariff quotas, opened on a quarterly basis.Applicants for import licences must be natural or legal persons, who at the time applications
are submitted, prove to the satisfaction of the competent authorities of the Member States that theyhave imported not less than 50 tonnes (shell egg equivalent) of products falling within the scope of
Regulation (EEC) No 2771/75 (excluding hatching eggs) and (EEC) No 2783/85 in each of the two
calendar years preceding the year in which the licence application is lodged or who are approved in
accordance with Article 6(1) of Council Directive 89/437/EEC (OJ L 212 of 22.7.89) for the treatment
of egg products. Retail and catering establishments selling their products to the final consumer areexcluded from the benefits of this system. Imports are only known to the competent authority in the
Member States to which the import licence application has been submitted and to the Commission.
Licence applications must be submitted to the competent authority of the Member State in which the
applicant is established or has set up his registered office. Licence applications may be submitted
during the first 10 days of the quarterly quota period (1 July, 1 October, 1 January and 1 April) to the
competent authorities in the Member States. The ap plicant for an import licence must approach only
one administrative organ. The competent authorities in the Member States have to notify to theCommission, on the fifth working day following the end of the application submission period, of
applications submitted. Applications are examined simultaneously by the Commission. The
Commission decides as quickly as possible to what extent quantities may be awarded in respect of the
quantities requested in the import licence applications. If the quantities in respect of which licences
have been applied for exceed the quantities available, the Commission fixes a single percentage ofacceptance for the quantities applied for. Where this percentage is less then five per cent, it is possible
that the Commission will not award the quantities applied for and release the security. The
Commission calculates the quantities remaining which are added to the quantity available in respect
of the following period in the same year. Licences are issued as quickly as possible after the
Commission has taken its decision.
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 licenceG/LIC/N/3/EEC/2/Add.21
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9. See reply 6. There is no specific system of registration necessary for the application of an
import licence.
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 Commi ssion Regulation (EC) No 1474/95 of 28 June 1995
(published OJ L 145, page 19), as last amende d by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1371/98 of
29 June 1998 (published in OJ L 185, page 17).
11. The import licence.
12. No.13. The issuance of import licence is subject to a security 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 are valid 150 days, but not beyond each quota period.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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