WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/LIC/N/3/EEC/3/Add.24
14 December 2000
(00-5434)
Committee on Import Licensing Original:  English
REPLIES TO THE 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 Quota for Rice
Outline of systems
1. The object of the import licensing system is to ensure a sound administration of the EC’s
WTO tariff rate quota for the products mentioned in reply 2.  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 quota are (a) husked brown rice tariff item
1006 20 and (b) semi-milled or wholly milled rice tariff item number 1006 30.
3. The system applies in the European Community to the product mentioned in reply 2,
originating in Australia, the United States of America 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 these tariff rate
quotas.
5. The relevant legislation for the administration of import licences for the tariff quota
mentioned in reply 1 is:
Commission Regulation (EC) No 327/98 of 10 February 1998 (OJ L 37) as last amended by
Commission Regulation (EC) 648/ 98 of 23 March 1998 (OJ L 88).
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.
                                                     
1 See G/LIC/3, Annex, for the Questionnaire.G/LIC/N/3/EEC/3/Add.24
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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.Applicants for import licences must be natural or legal persons, who in one of the three years
preceding the date of submission of the application were engaged in trade in rice or submitted import
licence applications covering rice and are registered in the Member State where the application is
made.
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.
The applicant for an import licence must approach only one administrative organ.Applications for import licences have to be s ubmitted to the competent authorities in the
Member States in the first 10 working days of the first month corresponding to one quarterly tranche.
Import licences are issued under specific quarterly tranches per country of origin.  Quantities not used
in respect of a tranche are carried forward to the following tranche of the relevant quota.  Quantities
not covered by licences in September are made available under a supplementary tranche in October.
The competent authorities of the Member State have to notify to the Commission within two
working days of the closing date for the submission on the applications submitted.
Within 10 days of the closing date for notification the Commission shall decide to what extent
the applications may be accepted.  Where the total applied for exceeds the availability per tranche andcountry, the Commission sets a reduction percentage.  It also fixes the quantities available under the
following tranche.  Within three working days of the date of publication of this decision import
licences shall be issued.
7. Question 7 related to no quantitative limits 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 must be entered in a VAT register and there is no registration fee.Documentational and other requirements for application for licence
10. A specimen of the import licence is included  in the EC Regulations set out in answer to
question 10 of the main notification for 2000.  Regarding the information required, see the import
licence and Commission Regulation (EC) No 327/98 of 10 February 1998 (OJ L 37, page 5) as last
amended by Commission Regulation (EC) 648/98 of 23 March 1998 (OJ L 88 page 3).
11. The import licence.12. No.G/LIC/N/3/EEC/3/Add.24
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13. The issuance of import licence is subject to a security in order to guarantee the good faith of
the applicants.  The security is released on the issue of the import licence.
Conditions of licensing
14. Import licences are valid from their actual day of issue until the end of the third month
thereafter but not beyond 31 December of the year of issue.  The period of validity cannot be
extended.
15. See reply 13.16. Import licences are not transferable.17. No.Other procedural requirements
18. No.19. Not relevant.
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