CHAPTER IIIU.K.IMPORT LICENCES

Article 4U.K.

Applications for an import licence for products falling within CN codes 0714 10 10, 0714 10 91 and 0714 10 99 originating in Thailand, drawn up in accordance with Regulations (EC) No 1291/2000 and (EC) No 1342/2003, shall be submitted to the competent authorities in the Member States accompanied by the original of the export certificate.

The original of the export certificate shall be retained by the body which issues the import licence. However, where the application for an import licence relates to only a part of the quantity indicated on the export certificate, the issuing body shall indicate on the original the quantity for which it was used and, after affixing its stamp, shall return it to the party concerned.

Only the quantity indicated under ‘shipped weight’ on the export certificate shall be taken into consideration for the issue of the import licence.

Article 5U.K.

Where it is found that the quantities actually unloaded in a given consignment are greater than the total figuring on the import licence or licences issued for this consignment, the competent authorities who issued the import licence or licences concerned shall, at the request of the importer, communicate to the Commission by telex or fax, case by case and as soon as possible, the number or numbers of the Thai export certificates, the number or numbers of the import licences, the excess quantity concerned and the name of the cargo vessel.

The Commission shall contact the Thai authorities so that new export certificates may be drawn up.

Until the new certificates have been drawn up, the excess quantities may not be released for free circulation under this Regulation unless new import licences are presented for the quantities concerned.

New import licences shall be issued on the terms laid down in Article 10.

Article 6U.K.

As an exception to the third subparagraph of Article 5, where it is found that the quantities actually unloaded in the case of a given delivery do not exceed the quantities covered by the import licence or licences presented by more than 2 %, the competent authorities of the Member State of release for free circulation shall, at the importer's request, authorise the release for free circulation of the surplus quantities in return for payment of a customs duty with a ceiling of 6 % ad valorem and the lodging by the importer of a security of an amount equal to the difference between the duty laid down in the Common Customs Tariff and the duty paid.

The security shall be released upon presentation to the competent authorities of the Member State of release for free circulation of an additional import licence for the quantities concerned. The security referred to in Article 15(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 or Article 8 of this Regulation shall not be required for additional licences.

Additional import licences shall be issued on the terms laid down in Article 10 and on presentation of one or more new export certificates issued by the Thai authorities.

Section 20 of additional import licences shall contain one of the following entries:

Except in cases of force majeure, the security shall be forfeit for quantities for which an additional import licence is not presented within four months from the date of acceptance of the declaration of release for free circulation referred to in the first subparagraph. It shall be forfeit in particular for quantities for which no additional import licence has been issued under Article 10, first subparagraph.

After the competent authority has entered the quantity on the additional import licence and authenticated the entry, when the security provided for in the first subparagraph is released, the licence shall be returned to the issuing body as soon as possible.

Article 7U.K.

Applications for import licences under this Regulation may be submitted in all Member States and licences issued shall be valid throughout the Community.

The fourth indent of the first subparagraph of Article 5(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 shall not apply to imports carried out under this Regulation.

Article 8U.K.

As an exception to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 1342/2003, the security relating to the import licences provided for in this Regulation shall be EUR 5 per tonne.

Article 9U.K.

1.Section 8 of applications for import licences and the licences themselves shall be marked ‘Thailand’.

2.Import licences shall contain:

(a)in section 24, one of the following entries:

(b)in section 20, the following information:

(i)

the name of the cargo vessel as given in the Thai export certificate,

(ii)

the number and date of the Thai export certificate.

3.The import licence shall be accepted in support of a declaration of release for free circulation only if it is shown, in particular by a copy of the bill of lading presented by the party concerned, that the products for which release for free circulation is requested have been transported to the Community by the vessel referred to in the import licence.

4.Subject to Article 6 of this Regulation, and as an exception to Article 8(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000, the quantity released for free circulation may not exceed that shown in sections 17 and 18 of the import licence. The figure 0 shall be entered to that effect in section 19 of the said licence.

Article 10U.K.

Import licences shall be issued on the fifth working day following the day on which the application is lodged, except where the Commission informs the competent authorities of the Member State by telex or fax that the conditions laid down in this Regulation have not been fulfilled.

At the request of the party concerned, and following communication of the Commission's agreement by telex or fax, the import licence may be issued within a shorter period.

Where the conditions governing the issue of the import licence have not been complied with, the Commission may, where necessary, and following consultation with the Thai authorities, adopt appropriate measures.

Article 11U.K.

As an exception to Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1342/2003, the last day of the period of validity of the import licence shall correspond to the last day of the period of validity of the corresponding export certificate plus 30 days.

Article 12U.K.

1.The Member States shall notify the Commission each day by telex or fax of the following information concerning each import licence application:

(a)the quantity for which each import licence is requested, with the indication, where appropriate, ‘additional import licence’;

(b)the name of the applicant for the import licence;

(c)the number of the export certificate submitted, as indicated in the upper section of the certificate;

(d)the date of issue of the export certificate;

(e)the total quantity for which the export certificate was issued;

(f)the name of the exporter indicated on the export certificate.

2.No later than the end of the first six months of 2006, the authorities responsible for issuing import licences shall send the Commission, by telex or fax, a complete list of quantities not taken up as endorsed on the back of the import licences, the name of the cargo vessel and the numbers of the export certificates in question.