Article 3

1.

Tenders in connection with this tendering procedure shall be addressed to the competent authority in a Member State by fax or electronic mail.

The competent authorities of the Member States may require that electronic tenders be accompanied by an advance electronic signature within the meaning of Directive 1999/93/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council7.

2.

Tenders shall be admissible only if the following conditions are met:

(a)

tenders shall indicate:

  1. (i)

    the name, address and VAT number of the tenderer;

  2. (ii)

    the quantity of sugar tendered, which shall at least be 20 tonnes and shall not exceed 45 000 tonnes;

  3. (iii)

    the proposed amount of the customs duty, in euros per tonne of sugar, rounded to no more than two decimal places;

  4. (iv)

    the eight digit CN code of the sugar;

(b)

proof is furnished before expiry of the time limit for the submission of tenders that the tenderer has lodged the security referred to in Article 4(1);

(c)

the tender is accompanied by an application for an import licence for the tendered quantities and customs duty, containing the entries provided for Article 8(2);

(d)

the tender is presented in the official language, or one of the official languages of the Member State in which the tender is lodged;

(e)

the tender indicates a reference to this Regulation and the expiry date for the submission of the tenders;

(f)

the tender does not include any additional conditions introduced by the tenderer other than those laid down in this Regulation.

3.

A tender which is not submitted in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not be admissible.

4.

Applicants shall not submit more than one tender per eight digit CN code for the same partial invitation to tender.

5.

A tender may not be withdrawn or amended after its submission.