29.4.1999 Official Journal of the European Communities L111/17 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 880/1999 of 28 April 1999 redistributing unused portions of the 1998 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 ('), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 138/96 (%), and in particular Articles 2(5), 14 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 (%), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1138/98 (%), 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 Regula- tion (EC) No 520/94 are applicable to those quotas; Whereas the Commission accordingly adopted Regulation (EC) No 738/94 (%), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 983/96 (°), laying down general rules for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 520/94; whereas these provisions apply to the administration of the above quotas subject to the provisions of this Regulation; Whereas, in accordance with Article 20 of Regula- tion (EC) No 520/94, the competent authorities of the Member States notified the Commission of the quantities of quotas assigned in 1998 and not used; Whereas the unused quantities could not be redis- tributed in time to be used before the end of the 1998 quota year; Whereas examination of the data received for each of the products in question indicates that the quantities not used in the 1998 quota year should be redistributed in 1999, up to a limit of the amounts set out in Annex I to this Regulation; O] L 66, 10.3.1994, p. 1. O] L 21, 27.1.1996, p. 6. O] L 67, 10.3.1994, p. 89. O] L 159, 3.6.1998, p. 1. O] L 87, 31.3.1994, p. 47. O] L 131, 1.6.1996, p. 47. (6) (1) Whereas, the different administrative methods provided for by Regulation (EC) No 520/94 having been considered, the method based on traditional trade flows should be adopted; whereas under this method quota tranches 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 quantities redistributed under this Regula- tion should be divided using the same criteria as for the allocation of the 1999 quotas; Whereas the reference period used for the appor- tionment of the 1999 quotas, consisting of either the year 1996 or 1997, should again be applied to the allocation of the share set aside for traditional importers, since it continues to reflect the normal trend of trade flows for the products in question; whereas, therefore, traditional importers must prove that they imported products originating in China subject to the relevant quotas in the course of either 1996 or 1997, Whereas it is necessary to simplify the formalities to be fulfilled by traditional importers who already hold import licences issued when the 1999 Community quotas were allocated; whereas the competent administrative  authorities already possess the requisite evidence of either 1996 or 1997 imports for all traditional importers; whereas the latter need therefore only enclose a copy of their previous licences with their new licence applications; Whereas measures should be taken to provide the best conditions for the allocation of that portion of the quota reserved for non-traditional importers with a view to optimum use of quotas; whereas, to this end, it is appropriate to provide for that