No L 165/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 15. 7. 95 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1732/95 of 14 July 1995 establishing administrative procedures for the 1996 quantitative quotas for certain products originating in the People’s Republic of China THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 520/94 of 7 March 1994 establishing a Community procedure for administering quantitative quotas, and in particular Articles 2 (3) and (4) and Atrticles 13 and 24 thereof ("), Whereas Council Regulation (EC) No 519/94 of 7 March 1994 on common rules for imports from certain third countries and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 1765/82, (EEC) No 1766/82 and (EEC) No 3420/83 (3, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 839/95 (), introduced annual quantitative quotas for certain products originating in the People’s Republic of China listed in Annex II to that Regulation ; whereas the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 520/94 are applicable to those quotas; Whereas the Commission accordingly adopted Regulation (EC) No 738/94 (%), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1150/95 (%) laying down general rules for the implementa- tion of Regulation (EC) No 520/94 ; whereas these provi- sions apply to the administration of the above quotas subject to the provisions of this Regulation ; Whereas certain characteristics of China’s economy, the seasonal nature of some of the products and the time needed for transport mean that orders for products subject to quota are generally placed before the beginning of the quota year ; whereas it is therefore important to ensure that administrative constraints do not impede the realiza- tion of the planned imports; whereas in order not to affect the continuity of trade flows, the arrangements for allocating and administering the 1996 quotas should accordingly be adopted before the start of the quota year ; 10. 3. 1994, p. 1. 10. 3. 1994, p. 89. 19. 4. 1995, p. 9. 31. 3. 1994, p. 47. 6, 23. 5. 1995, p. 3. 'y ’ ’ ’ L 66 L 67 % O] No L 85 L 87 L 11 Whereas after examination of the different administrative methods provided for by Regulation (EC) No 520/94, the method based on traditional trade flows should be adopted ; whereas under this method the quotas are divided into two portions, one of which is reserved for traditional importers and the other for other applicants ; Whereas this has proved to be the best way of ensuring the continuity of business for the Community importers concerned and avoiding any disturbance of trade flows ; Whereas, however, the introduction of a Community system must ensure progressive access by non-traditional importers ; whereas the portion set aside for other appli- cants must make due allowance for the disparities in the Member States’ previous import arrangements, in accordance with Article 6 (4) of Regulation (EC) No 520/94 ; whereas in the light of all these factors a balance must therefore be sought in determining the portions to be allocated to the two categories of importers; Whereas the reference period used for allocating the portion of the quota set aside for traditional importers in earlier Regulations on the administration of these quotas should be updated to ensure open access to the quotas; whereas that update should be based on the latest period for which complete data is available ; whereas the years 1992 and 1994 therefore appear to be a suitable reference period, given that they are the only recent years represen- tative of the normal trend of trade flows in the products in question ; whereas traditional importers must therefore prove that they have imported products originating in China and covered by the quotas in question in the years 1992 and 1994; Whereas it is necessary to simply the formalities to be fulfilled by traditional importers who already hold import licences issued when the 1994 or 1995 Community quotas were allocated ; whereas the competent administra- tive authorities already possess the requisite evidence of 1992 imports for all traditional importers ; whereas, with regard to 1992 imports, the latter need only enclose a copy of their previous licences with their new licence applications ; whereas, however, use of simplified formali- ties should not be authorized in respect of import licence