‘Article 1

1.

The imports of bananas falling within CN code 0803 00 19 at the common customs tariff rate of duty for which an import licence shall be presented are laid down in Article 1(2)(a) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 376/200841. Licences shall be issued by the Member States to any party applying therefore, irrespective of their place of establishment in the Community.

2.

Import licence applications shall be lodged in any Member State.

3.

The period of validity of the import licence and the amount of the security to be lodged in accordance with Title III of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2220/8542 shall be as set out in Annex II, Part I, to Regulation (EC) No 376/2008.

However, no licences shall be valid after 31 December of the year of issue.

4.

Save in the case of force majeure, the security shall be forfeit in whole or in part if the operation has not been performed or has been performed only partially during that period.

5.

Notwithstanding Article 34(4) of Regulation (EC) No 376/2008, proof of use of the import licence as referred to in Article 32(1)(a) of that Regulation shall be supplied, except in cases of force majeure, within 30 days following the date of expiry of the period of validity of the licence.’