Commission Regulation (EC) No 1164/2008

of 24 November 2008

laying down rules for the management and distribution of textile quotas established for the year 2009 under Council Regulation (EC) No 517/94

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 517/94 of 7 March 1994 on common rules for imports of textile products from certain third countries not covered by bilateral agreements, protocols or other arrangements, or by other specific Community import rules [1], and in particular Article 17(3) and (6) and Article 21(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Regulation (EC) No 517/94 established quantitative restrictions on imports of certain textile products originating in certain third countries to be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

(2) Under that Regulation it is possible, in certain circumstances, to use other allocation methods, to divide quotas into tranches, or to reserve a proportion of a specific quantitative limit exclusively for applications which are supported by evidence of the results of past import performance.

(3) Rules for management of the quotas established for 2009 should be adopted before the quota year begins so that the continuity of trade flows is not affected unduly.

(4) The measures adopted in previous years, such as those in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1402/2007 of 28 November 2007 laying down rules for the management and distribution of textile quotas established for the year 2008 under Council Regulation (EC) No 517/94 [2], proved to be satisfactory and it is therefore appropriate to adopt similar rules for 2009.

(5) In order to satisfy the greatest possible number of operators it is appropriate to make the "first come, first served" allocation method more flexible by placing a ceiling on the quantities which can be allocated to each operator by that method.

(6) To guarantee a degree of continuity in trade and efficient quota administration, operators should be allowed to make their initial import authorisation application for 2009 equivalent to the quantity which they imported in 2008.

(7) To achieve optimum use of the quantities, an operator who has used up at least one half of the amount already authorised should be permitted to apply for a further amount, provided that quantities are available in the quotas.

(8) For the sake of sound administration, import authorisations should be valid for nine months from the date of issue but only until the end of the year at the latest. Member States should issue licences only after being notified by the Commission that quantities are available and only if an operator can prove the existence of a contract and can certify, in the absence of a specific provision to the contrary, that he has not already been allocated a Community import authorisation under this Regulation for the categories and countries concerned. The competent national authorities should, however, be authorised, in response to importers’ applications, to extend by three months and up to 31 March 2010 licences of which at least one half has been used by the application date.

(9) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Textile Committee established by Article 25 of Regulation (EC) No 517/94,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The purpose of this Regulation is to lay down rules on the management of quantitative quotas for imports of certain textile products set out in Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 517/94 for the year 2009.

Article 2

The quotas referred to in Article 1 shall be allocated according to the chronological order of receipt by the Commission of Member States’ notifications of applications from individual operators, for amounts not exceeding the maximum quantities per operator set out in Annex I.

The maximum quantities shall not, however, apply to operators able to prove to the competent national authorities, when making their first application for 2009, that, in respect of given categories and given third countries, they imported more than the maximum quantities specified for each category pursuant to import licences granted to them for 2008.

In the case of such operators, the competent authorities may authorise imports not exceeding the quantities imported in 2008 from given third countries and in given categories, provided that enough quota capacity is available.

Article 3

Any importer who has already used up 50 % or more of the amount allocated to him under this Regulation may make a further application, in respect of the same category and country of origin, for amounts not exceeding the maximum quantities laid down in Annex I.

Article 4

1. The competent national authorities listed in Annex II may, from 10.00 on 7 January 2009, notify the Commission of the amounts covered by requests for import authorisations.

The time fixed in the first subparagraph shall be understood as Brussels time.

2. The competent national authorities shall issue authorisations only after being notified by the Commission pursuant to Article 17(2) of Regulation (EC) No 517/94 that quantities are available for importation.

They shall issue authorisations only if an operator:

(a) proves the existence of a contract relating to the provision of the goods; and

(b) certifies in writing that, in respect of the categories and countries concerned:

(i) he has not already been allocated an authorisation under this Regulation; or

(ii) he has been allocated an authorisation under this Regulation but has used up at least 50 % of it.

3. Import authorisations shall be valid for nine months from the date of issue, but until 31 December 2009 at the latest.

The competent national authorities may, however, at the importer’s request, grant a three-month extension for authorisations which are at least 50 % used up at the time of the request. Such extension shall in no circumstances expire later than 31 March 2010.

Article 5

This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 2009.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 24 November 2008.

For the Commission

Catherine Ashton

Member of the Commission

[1] OJ L 67, 10.3.1994, p. 1.

[2] OJ L 311, 29.11.2007, p. 27.

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ANNEX I

Maximum amounts referred to in Articles 2 and 3

Country concerned | Category | Unit | Maximum amount |

North Korea | 1 | kilograms | 10000 |

2 | kilograms | 10000 |

3 | kilograms | 10000 |

4 | pieces | 10000 |

5 | pieces | 10000 |

6 | pieces | 10000 |

7 | pieces | 10000 |

8 | pieces | 10000 |

9 | kilograms | 10000 |

12 | pairs | 10000 |

13 | pieces | 10000 |

14 | pieces | 10000 |

15 | pieces | 10000 |

16 | pieces | 10000 |

17 | pieces | 10000 |

18 | kilograms | 10000 |

19 | pieces | 10000 |

20 | kilograms | 10000 |

21 | pieces | 10000 |

24 | pieces | 10000 |

26 | pieces | 10000 |

27 | pieces | 10000 |

28 | pieces | 10000 |

29 | pieces | 10000 |

31 | pieces | 10000 |

36 | kilograms | 10000 |

37 | kilograms | 10000 |

39 | kilograms | 10000 |

59 | kilograms | 10000 |

61 | kilograms | 10000 |

68 | kilograms | 10000 |

69 | pieces | 10000 |

70 | pairs | 10000 |

73 | pieces | 10000 |

74 | pieces | 10000 |

75 | pieces | 10000 |

76 | kilograms | 10000 |

77 | kilograms | 5000 |

78 | kilograms | 5000 |

83 | kilograms | 10000 |

87 | kilograms | 10000 |

109 | kilograms | 10000 |

117 | kilograms | 10000 |

118 | kilograms | 10000 |

142 | kilograms | 10000 |

151A | kilograms | 10000 |

151B | kilograms | 10000 |

161 | kilograms | 10000 |

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ANNEX II

List of licensing offices referred to in Article 4

1. Austria

Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Arbeit

Au?enwirtschaftsadministration

Abteilung C2/2

Stubenring 1

A-1011 Wien

Tel. (43-1) 711 00-0

Fax (43-1) 711 00-8386

2. Belgium

FOD Economie, KMO,

Middenstand en Energie

Economisch Potentieel

KBO-Beheerscel — Vergunningen

Leuvenseweg 44

B-1000 Brussel

Tel. +32 (0) 2 277 67 13

Fax +32 (0) 2 277 50 63

SPF ?conomie, PME, Classes moyennes et ?nergie

Potentiel économique

Cellule de gestion BCE — Licences

Rue de Louvain 44

B-1000 Bruxelles

Tél. +32 (0) 2 277 67 13

Fax +32 (0) 2 277 50 63

3. Bulgaria

Министерство на икономиката и енергетиката

Дирекция "Регистриране, лицензиране и контрол" ул. "Славянска" № 8

BG-1052 София

Република България

Тел. | (359-2) 940 70 08/(359-2) 940 76 73/(359-2) 940 78 00 |

Факс | (359-2) 981 50 41/(359-2) 980 47 10/(359-2) 988 36 54 |

4. Cyprus

Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism

Trade Department

6 Andrea Araouzou Str.

CY-1421 Nicosia

Tel: ++357 2 867100

Fax: ++357 2 375120

5. Czech Republic

Ministerstvo pr?myslu a obchodu

Licen?ní správa

Na Franti?ku 32

CZ-110 15 Praha 1

Tel.: (420) 224 90 71 11

Fax: (420) 224 21 21 33

6. Denmark

Erhvervs- og Byggestyrelsen

?konomi- og Erhvervsministeriet

Langelinje Allé 17

DK-2100 K?benhavn ?

Tlf. (45) 35 46 60 30

Fax (45) 35 46 60 29

7. Estonia

Majandus- ja Kommunikatsiooniministeerium

Harju 11

EE-15072 Tallinn

Estonia

Tel.: (372) 625 6400

Faks: (372) 631 3660

8. Finland

Tullihallitus

PL 512

FI-00101 Helsinki

Puhelin: (358-9) 61 41

Faksi: (358-20) 492 28 52

Tullstyrelsen

PB 512

FI-00101 Helsingfors

Faksi: (358-20) 492 28 52

9. France

Ministère de l'Economie, de l'Industrie et de l'Emploi

Direction générale des entreprises

Service des industries manufacturières et des activités postales

Bureau "Textile Importations"

Le Bervil

12, rue Villiot

F-75572 Paris Cedex 12

Tél. (33) 153 44 96 60

Fax (33) 153 44 91 81

10. Germany

Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle (BAFA)

Frankfurter Str. 29—35

D-65760 Eschborn

Tel.: (49 61 96) 908-0

Fax: (49 61 96) 908 800

11. Greece

Υπουργε?ο Οικονομ?α? & Οικονομικ?ν

Γενικ? Διε?θυνση Διεθνο?? Οικονομικ?? Πολιτικ??

Διε?θυνση Καθεστ?των Εισαγωγ?ν-Εξαγωγ?ν, Εμπορικ?? ?μυνα?

Κορν?ρου 1

GR-105 63 Αθ?να

Τηλ. (30210) 328 6021-22

Φαξ: 210 328 60 94

12. Hungary

Magyar Kereskedelmi Engedélyezési Hivatal

Margit krt. 85.

H-1024 Budapest

Postafiók: 1537 Budapest Pf. 345.

Tel.: (36-1) 336 73 00

Fax: (36-1) 336 73 02

13. Ireland

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Internal Market

Kildare Street

IRL-Dublin 2

Tel. (353-1) 631 21 21

Fax (353-1) 631 28 26

14. Italy

Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico

Direzione Generale per la Politica Commerciale

DIV. III

Viale America 341

I-00144 Roma

Tel. (39 06) 59 64 75 17, 59 93 24 71, 59 93 22 45, 59 93 22 60

Fax (39 06) 59 93 26 36

E-mail: polcom3@mincomes.it

15. Latvia

Ekonomikas ministrija

Brīvības iela 55

LV-1519 Rīga

Tel.: 00 371 670 132 99 / 00 371 670 132 48

Fakss: 00 371 672 808 82

16. Lithuania

Lietuvos Respublikos ūkio ministerija

Gedimino pr. 38/2

LT-01104 Vilnius

Tel.: 00 370 5 262 87 50 / 00 370 5 261 94 88

Fax: 00 370 5 262 39 74

17. Luxembourg

Ministère de l’économie et du commerce

Office des licences

Bo?te postale 113

L-2011 Luxembourg

Tél. (352) 47 82 371

Fax (352) 46 61 38

18. Malta

Ministry for Competitiveness and Communication

Commerce Division, Trade Services Directorate

Lascaris

Valletta CMR02

Malta

Tel: 00 356 21 237 112

Fax: 00 356 21 237 900

19. Netherlands

Belastingdienst/Douane

Centrale dienst voor in- en uitvoer

Engelse Kamp 2

Postbus 30003

NL-9700 RD Groningen

Tel. (31 50) 523 26 00

Fax (31 50) 523 22 10

20. Poland

Ministerstwo Gospodarki

pl. Trzech Krzy?y 3/5

PL-00-950 Warszawa

Tel.: (48 22) 693-55-53

Faks: (48 22) 693-40-21

21. Portugal

Ministério das Finan?as e da Administra??o Pública

Direc??o-Geral das Alf?ndegas e dos Impostos Especiais sobre o Consumo

Rua Terreiro do Trigo

Edifício da Alf?ndega

P-1149-060 LISBOA

Tel.: (351) 218 81 42 63

Fax: (351) 218 81 42 61

E-mail: dsl@dgaiec.min-financas.pt

22. Romania

Ministerul pentru ?ntreprinderi Mici ?i Mijlocii, Comer?, Turism ?i Profesii Liberale

Direc?ia General? Politici Comerciale

Str. Ion C?mpineanu nr. 16

Bucure?ti, sector 1

Cod po?tal 010036

Tel. +40 21 315 00 81

Fax +40 21 315 04 54

E-mail: clc@dce.gov.ro

23. Slovakia

Ministerstvo hospodárstva SR

Oddelenie licencií

Mierová 19

827 15 Bratislava

Slovensko

Tel.: (421-2) 48 54 20 21/(421-2) 48 54 71 19

Fax: (421-2) 43 42 39 19

24. Slovenia

Ministrstvo za finance

Carinska uprava Republike Slovenije

Carinski urad Jesenice

Center za TARIC in kvote

Spodnji Plav? 6c

SLO-4270 Jesenice

Slovenija

Tel: +386(0)4 297 44 70

Fax: +386(0)4 297 44 72

E-mail: taric.cuje@gov.si

25. Spain

Ministerio de Industria, Turismo y Comercio

Secretaría General de Comercio Exterior

Paseo de la Castellana no 162

E-28046 Madrid

Tel. (34) 913 49 38 17, 913 49 37 48

Fax (34) 915 63 18 23, 913 49 38 31

26. Sweden

National Board of Trade (Kommerskollegium)

Box 6803

S-113 86 Stockholm

Tfn (46-8) 690 48 00

Fax (46-8) 30 67 59

27. United Kingdom

Department of Trade and Industry

Import Licensing Branch

Queensway House

West Precinct

Billingham TS23 2NF

United Kingdom

Tel.: (44 1642) 36 43 33, 36 43 34

Fax: (44 1642) 53 35 57

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