Commission Regulation (EC) No 1369/1999 of 25 June 1999 establishing administrative procedures for the 2000 quantitative quotas for certain products originating in the People's Republic of China
26. 6. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 162/35 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1369/1999 of 25 June 1999 establishing administrative procedures for the 2000 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 (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 138/96 (2), and in particular Articles 2(3) and (4), 13 and 24 thereof, (1) 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 1138/98 (4), introduced annual quantitative for certain products originating in the quotas 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: (2) Whereas the Commission accordingly adopted Regulation (EC) No 738/94 (5), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 983/96 (6), 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; (3) Whereas certain characteristics of China’s economy, the seasonal nature of some of the prod- ucts 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 reali- sation of the planned imports; whereas in order not to affect the continuity of trade flows, the arrange- ments for allocating and administering the 2000 quotas should accordingly be adopted before the start of the quota year; (4) Whereas after the different examination of administrative methods provided for by Regulation (EC) No 520/94, the method based on traditional (1) OJ L 66, 10. 3. 1994, p. 1. (2) OJ L 21, 27. 1. 1996, p. 6. (3) OJ L 67, 10. 3. 1994, p. 89. (4) OJ L 159, 3. 6. 1998, p. 1. (5) OJ L 87, 31. 3. 1994, p. 47. (6) OJ L 131, 1. 6. 1996, p. 47. 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; (5) Whereas this has proved to be the best way of ensuring the the Community importers concerned and avoiding any disturbance of trade flows; continuity of business for (6) Whereas, of however, introduction a the Community system must ensure progressive access by non-traditional importers; 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, to this end, it is appropriate that the portion set aside for non-traditional importers should be increased as compared to 1999; (7) Whereas the reference period used for allocating the portion of the quota set aside for traditional importers in earlier Regulations on the administra- tion of these quotas should be updated to ensure open access to the quotas; whereas in order to allow a greater flexibility to the benefit of traditional importers it is considered appropriate to allow them to set their reference period as either 1997 or 1998, which are the most recent years repres- entative of the normal trend of trade flows in the products in question; whereas traditional importers must therefore prove that they have imported prod- ucts originating in China and covered by the quotas in question in the year 1997 or 1998; reserved for non-traditional (8) Whereas it has been found in the past that the method provided for in Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 520/94, which is based on the order in which applications are received, may not be an appropriate way of allocating that portion of the quota importers; whereas, consequently, in accordance with Article 2(4) of Regulation (EC) No 520/94, it is appropriate to provide for allocation in proportion to the quantities requested, on the basis of simultaneous examination of import licence applications actually lodged, in accordance with Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 520/94; L 162/36 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 26. 6. 1999 (9) Whereas in order to ensure that the quotas can be efficiently allocated and used, any speculative applications should be excluded, and it is further- more necessary to allocate economically significant quantities; whereas to this end the amount that any non-traditional importer may request should be restricted to a set volume; (10) Whereas for the purposes of quota allocation, a time limit must be set for the submission of licence applications by traditional and other importers; (11) Whereas the member States must the import inform the licence applications Commission of received, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 520/94; whereas the information about traditional impor- ters’ previous imports must be expressed in the same units as the quota in question; (12) Whereas in view of the special nature of transac- tions concerning products subject to quota, and in particular the time needed for transport, the import licences should expire on 31 December 2000; (13) Whereas these measures are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the administration of quotas set up under Article 22 of Regulation (EC) No 520/94, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 This Regulation lays down for 2000 specific provisions for the administration of the quantitative quotas referred to in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 519/94. Regulation (EC) No 738/94 laying down general rules for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 520/94 shall apply, subject to the specific provisions of this Regulation. Article 2 1. The quantitative quotas referred to in Article 1 shall be allocated using the method based on traditional trade flows, referred to in Article 2(2)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 520/94. 2. The portions of each quantitative quota set aside for traditional importers and other importers are set out in Annex I to this Regulation. 3. The portion set aside for non-traditional importers shall be apportioned using the method based on alloca- tion in proportion to quantities requested; the volume requested by a single importer may not exceed that shown in Annex II. Article 3 Applications for import licences shall be lodged with the competent authorities listed in Annex III to this Regula- tion from the day following the day of publication of this Regulation in the Official Journal of the European Communities until 3 p. m. , Brussels time, on 10 September 1999. Article 4 For the purposes of allocating the portion of each 1. quota set aside for ‘traditional' traditional importers shall mean importers who can show that they have improted goods in the calendar year 1997 or 1998. importers, 2. The supporting documents referred to in Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 520/94 shall relate to the release for free circulation during either calendar year 1997 or 1998, as indicated by the importer, of products originating in the People’s Republic of China which are covered by the quota in respect of which the application is made. 3. Instead of the documents referred to in the first indent of Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 520/94 appli- cants may enclose with their licence applications docu- ments drawn up and certified by the competent national on the basis of available customs information as evidence of the imports of the product in question during the calendar year 1997 or 1998 carried out by themselves or, where applicable, by the operator whose activities they have taken over. Article 5 inform the Commission no later Member States shall than 24 September 1999 at 10 a. m. , Brussels time, of the number and aggregate quantity of import licence applica- tions and, in the case of applications from traditional importers, of the volume of previous imports carried out importers during the reference period by traditional referred to in Article 4(1) of this Regulation. Article 6 The Commission shall adopt the quantitative criteria to be used by the competent national authorities for the purpose of meeting importers’ applications no later than 15 October 1999. Article 7 Import licences shall be valid for one year, starting on 1 January 2000. Article 8 This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. 26. 6. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 162/37 This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 25 June 1999. For the Commission Leon BRITTAN Vice-President L 162/38 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 26. 6. 1999 ANNEX I Allocation of the quotas Product description HS/CN code Portion reserved for traditional importers Portion reserved for other importers Footwear falling within HS/CN codes ex 6402 99 (1) 27 406 037 pairs (70 %) 11 745 444 pairs (30 %) 6403 51 6403 59 1 956 500 pairs (70 %) 838 500 pairs (30 %) ex 6403 91 (1) ex 6403 99 (1) 8 484 000 pairs (70 %) 3 636 000 pairs (30 %) ex 6404 11 (2) 12 760 146 pairs (70 %) 5 468 634 pairs (30 %) 6404 19 10 22 328 402 pairs (70 %) 9 569 314 pairs (30 %) Tableware, kitchenware of porcelain or china 6911 10 Ceramic tableware or kitchenware 6912 00 33 663 tonnes (70 %) 25 468 tonnes (70 %) 14 427 tonnes (30 %) 10 915 tonnes (30 %) (1) Excluding footwear involving special technology: shoes which have a cif price per pair of not less than EUR 9 for use in sporting activities, with a single- or multi-layer moulded sole, not injected, manufactured from synthetic materials specially designed to absorb the impact of vertical or lateral movements and with technical features such as hermetic pads containing gas or fluid, mechanical components which absorb or neutralise impact or materials such as low-density polymers. (2) Excluding: (a) footwear which is designed for a sporting activity and has, or has provision for the attachment of, spikes, sprigs, stops, clips, bats or the like, with a non-injected sole; (b) footwear involving special technology: shoes which have a cif price per pair of not less than EUR 9 for use in sporting activities, with a single- or multi-layer moulded sole, not injected, manufactured from synthetic materials specially designed to absorb the impact of vertical or lateral movements and with technical features such as hermetic pads containing gas or fluid, mechanical components which absorb or neutralise impact or materials such as low-density polymers. 26. 6. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 162/39 Maximum quantity which may be requested by each importer other than traditional ANNEX II Product description HS/CN code Predetermined maximum quantity Footwear falling within HS/CN codes ex 6402 99 (1) 5 000 pairs 6403 51 6403 59 ex 6403 91 (1) ex 6403 99 (1) 5 000 pairs 5 000 pairs ex 6404 11 (2) 5 000 pairs 6404 19 10 5 000 pairs 6911 10 6912 00 5 tonnes 5 tonnes Tableware, kitchenware of porcelain or china Ceramic tableware or kitchenware (1) Excluding footwear involving special technology: shoes which have a cif price per pair of not less than EUR 9 for use in sporting activities, with a single- or multi-layer moulded sole, not injected, manufactured from synthetic materials specially designed to absorb the impact of vertical or lateral movement and with technical features such as hermetic pads containing gas or fluid, mechanical components which absorb or neutralise impact or materials such as low-density polymers. (2) Excluding: (a) footwear which is designed for a sporting activity and has, or has provision for the attachment of, spikes, sprigs, stops, clips, bats or the like, with a non-injected sole; (b) footwear involving special technology: shoes which have a cif price per pair of not less than EUR 9 for use in sporting activities, with a single- or multi-layer moulded sole, not injected, manufactured from synthetic materials specially designed to absorb the impact of vertical or lateral movements and with technical features such as hermetic pads containing gas or fluid, mechanical components which absorb or neutralise impact or materials such as low-density polymers. L 162/40 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 26. 6. 1999 ANEXO III  BILAG III  ANHANG III  ΠΑΡΑΡΤΗΜΑ ΙΙΙ  ANNEX III  ANNEXE III  ALLEGATO III  BIJLAGE III  ANEXO III  LIITE III  BILAGA III Lista de las autoridades nacionales competentes Liste over kompetente nationale myndigheder Liste der zuständigen Behörden der Mitgliedstaaten Π νακα των αρµ διων εθνικ ν αρχ ν List of the national competent authorities Liste des autorités nationales compétentes Elenco delle autorità nazionali competenti L¶st van bevoegde nationale instanties Lista das autoridades nacionais competentes Luettelo kansallisista toimivaltaisista viranomaisista Lista över nationella kompetenta myndigheter 1. BELGIQUE/BELGIË 6. FRANCE Ministère des affaires économiques/Ministerie van Economische Zaken Administration des relations économiques, 4e division  Mise en œuvre des politiques commerciales/Bestuur van de Economische Betrekkingen, 4e afdeling  Toepassing van de Handelspolitiek Services des licences/Dienst Vergunningen Rue Général Leman/Generaal Lemanstraat 60 B-1040 Bruxelles/Brussel Tél. /Tel. : (32-2) 230 90 43 Télécopieur/Fax: (32-2) 230 83 22/231 14 84 2. DANMARK Erhvervsfremmestyrelsen Søndergade 25 DK-8600 Silkeborg Tlf. (45) 35 46 60 00 Fax (45) 35 46 64 01 3. DEUTSCHLAND Bundesamt für Wirtschaft Frankfurter Straße 29-31 D-65760 Eschborn Tel. Fax. (49) 61 96 404-0 (49) 61 96 40 42 12 4. ΕΛΛΑ∆Α Υπουργε ο Εθνικ Οικονοµ α Γενικ Γραµµατε α ∆ιεθν ν Οικονοµικ ν Σχ σεων Γενικ ∆ιε θυνση Εξωτερικ ν Οικονοµικ ν και Εµπορικ ν Σχ σεων ∆ιε θυνση ∆ιαδικασι ν Εξωτερικο Εµπορ ου Κορν#ρου 1 GR-105 63 Αθ να Τηλ. : &αξ: (30-1) 328 60 31/328 60 32 (30-1) 328 60 94 5. ESPAÑA Ministerio de Economía y Hacienda Dirección General de Comercio Exterior Paseo de la Castellana, 162 E-28071 Madrid Tel. : Fax. : (349 1) 3 49 38 94/349 37 78 (349 1) 3 49 38 32/349 38 31 Services des titres du commerce extérieur 8, rue de la Tour-des-Dames F-75436 Paris Cedex 09 Tél. : Télécopieur: (33-1) 40 04 04 04 (33-1) 55 07 46 59 7. IRELAND Department of Tourism and Trade, Licensing Unit, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 Tel. : Fax: (353 1) 662 14 44 (353 1) 676 61 54 8. ITALIA Ministero del Commercio con l’estero Direzione generale per la politica commerciale e per la gestione del regime degli scambi, divisione VII Viale Boston, 25 I-00144 Roma Tel. : Telefax: (3906) 592 55 56 Telex: 610083 - 610471 - 614478 (3906) 59 931 9. LUXEMBOURG Ministère des affaires étrangères Office des licences Boîte postale 113 L-2011 Luxembourg Tél. : Télécopieur: (352) 22 61 62 (352) 46 61 38 10. NEDERLAND Belastingdienst/Douane C. D. I. 4 Engelse Kamp 2 Postbus 30003 9700 RD Groningen Nederland Tel. : Fax: (31-50) 523 91 11 (31-50) 523 92 37 11. ÖSTERREICH Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Angelegenheiten Landstraßer Hauptstraße 55-57 A-1031 Wien Tel. Fax. (43) 1 71 10 23 61 (43) 17 15 83 47 26. 6. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 162/41 12. PORTUGAL Ministério da Economia Direcção-Geral das Relações Económicas Internacionais Avenida da República 79 P-1000 Lisboa Tel. : Telefax: Telex: 13418 (351-1) 791 18 00, 791 19 43, 793 30 02 (351-1) 793 22 10/796 37 23 13. SUOMI Tullihallitus PL 512 FIN-00101 Helsinki Puh. : Telekopio (358) 9 614 28 52 (358) 9 61 41 14. SVERIGE Kommerskollegium Box 6803 S-113 86 Stockholm Tfn (46-8) 690 48 00 Fax (46-8) 30 67 59 15. UNITED KINGDOM Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Import Licensing Branch, Queensway House, West Precinct, Billingham, Stockton on Tees TS23 2NF (44 1642) 631 21 21 Tel. : (44 1642) 53 35 57 Fax: