COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2016/2148

of 7 December 2016

laying down rules for the management and distribution of textile quotas established for the year 2017 under Regulation (EU) 2015/936 of the European Parliament and of the Council

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2015/936 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 June 2015 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 Union import rules(1), and in particular Article 17(3) and (6) and Article 21(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Regulation (EU) 2015/936 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 Regulation (EU) 2015/936 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 the management and distribution of textile quotas established for the year 2017 should be adopted before the quota year begins so that the continuity of trade flows is not unduly affected.

(4) The measures adopted in previous years, such as those in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2106(2), proved to be satisfactory and it is therefore appropriate to adopt similar rules for 2017.

(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 that can be allocated to each operator by that method.

(6) In order to guarantee a degree of continuity in trade and efficient quota administration, operators should be allowed to make their initial import authorisation application for 2017 equivalent to the quantity that they imported in 2016.

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

(8) In order to secure a sound administration, import authorisations should be valid for nine months from the date of issue until the end of the year at the latest. Member States should issue authorisations only after being notified by the Commission that quantities are available and only if operators can prove the existence of a contract and can certify, in the absence of a specific provision to the contrary, that they have not yet been granted a Union import authorisation under this Regulation for the categories and countries concerned. The competent national authorities should, however, be authorised, in response to an importer's application, to extend by three months and until 31 March 2018 the validity of an authorisation provided that at least half of the allocated quantity 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 30 of Regulation (EU) 2015/936,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

This Regulation lays down rules on the management of quantitative quotas for imports of certain textile products set out in Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2015/936 for the year 2017.

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 2017, that, in respect of given categories and given third countries, they imported more than the maximum quantities specified for each category pursuant to import authorisations granted to them for 2016.

In the case of such operators, the competent authorities may authorise imports not exceeding the quantities imported in 2016 from given third countries and in given categories, provided that enough quota capacity is available.

Article 3

Importers who have already used 50 per cent or more of the amount allocated to them 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 a.m., Brussels time, on 11 January 2017, notify the Commission of the amounts covered by requests for import authorisations.

2. The competent national authorities shall issue import authorisations only after being notified by the Commission pursuant to Article 17(2) of Regulation (EU) 2015/936 that the requested quantities are available for importation.

They shall issue authorisations only where 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) the operator has not already been granted an authorisation under this Regulation; or

(ii) the operator has been granted an authorisation under this Regulation but has used at least 50 per cent of the quantity allocated.

3. Import authorisations shall be valid for nine months from the date of issue until 31 December 2017 at the latest.

The competent national authorities may, however, at the importer's request, grant a three-month extension to the validity of an authorisation, provided that at least 50 per cent of the allocated quantity has been used at the time of the request. Such extension shall in no circumstances expire later than 31 March 2018.

Article 5

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the

Official Journal of the European Union

It shall apply as from 1 January 2017.

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

Done at Brussels, 7 December 2016.

For the Commission

The President

Jean-Claude JUNCKER

(1)

OJ L 160, 25.6.2015, p. 1

(2) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2106 of 20 November 2015 laying down rules for the management and distribution of textile quotas established for the year 2016 under Regulation (EU) 2015/936 of the European Parliament and of the Council (

OJ L 305, 21.11.2015, p. 35

ANNEX I

Maximum amounts referred to in Articles 2 and 3

Country concerned	Category	Unit	Maximum amount
Republic of Belarus
	1	Kilograms	20 000
	2	Kilograms	80 000
	3	Kilograms	5 000
	4	Pieces	20 000
	5	Pieces	15 000
	6	Pieces	20 000
	7	Pieces	20 000
	8	Pieces	20 000
	15	Pieces	17 000
	20	Kilograms	5 000
	21	Pieces	5 000
	22	Kilograms	6 000
	24	Pieces	5 000
	26/27	Pieces	10 000
	29	Pieces	5 000
	67	Kilograms	3 000
	73	Pieces	6 000
	115	Kilograms	20 000
	117	Kilograms	30 000
	118	Kilograms	5 000

Country concerned	Category	Unit	Maximum amount
Democratic People's Republic of Korea	1	Kilograms	10 000
	2	Kilograms	10 000
	3	Kilograms	10 000
	4	Pieces	10 000
	5	Pieces	10 000
	6	Pieces	10 000
	7	Pieces	10 000
	8	Pieces	10 000
	9	Kilograms	10 000
	12	Pairs	10 000
	13	Pieces	10 000
	14	Pieces	10 000
	15	Pieces	10 000
	16	Pieces	10 000
	17	Pieces	10 000
	18	Kilograms	10 000
	19	Pieces	10 000
	20	Kilograms	10 000
	21	Pieces	10 000
	24	Pieces	10 000
	26	Pieces	10 000
	27	Pieces	10 000
	28	Pieces	10 000
	29	Pieces	10 000
	31	Pieces	10 000
	36	Kilograms	10 000
	37	Kilograms	10 000
	39	Kilograms	10 000
	59	Kilograms	10 000
	61	Kilograms	10 000
	68	Kilograms	10 000
	69	Pieces	10 000
	70	Pairs	10 000
	73	Pieces	10 000
	74	Pieces	10 000
	75	Pieces	10 000
	76	Kilograms	10 000
	77	Kilograms	5 000
	78	Kilograms	5 000
	83	Kilograms	10 000
	87	Kilograms	8 000
	109	Kilograms	10 000
	117	Kilograms	10 000
	118	Kilograms	10 000
	142	Kilograms	10 000
	151A	Kilograms	10 000
	151B	Kilograms	10 000
	161	Kilograms	10 000

ANNEX II

List of competent national authorities referred to in Article 4

1. Belgium

FOD Economie, KMO, Middenstand en Energie (FPS Economy, SMEs, Self-Employed and Energy)

Algemene Directie Economische Analyses en Internationale Economie

Dienst Vergunningen

Vooruitgangstraat 50

1210 Brussel

Tel. +32 22776713

Fax +32 22775063

SPF Économie, PME, Classes moyennes et Énergie (FPS Economy, SMEs, Self-Employed and Energy)

Direction générale des Analyses économiques et de l'Economie internationale

Service Licences

Rue du Progrès 50

1210 Bruxelles

Tél. +32 22776713

Fax +32 22775063

2. Bulgaria

Министерство на икономиката и енергетиката

Дирекция ‘Регистриране, лицензиране и контрол’

ул. ‘Славянска’ № 8

1052 София

Тел. +359 29407008 / +359 29407673 / +359 29407800

Факс +359 29815041 / +359 29804710 /+359 29883654

Ministry of Economy and Energy

8 Slavyanska Str., Sofia 1052

Tel. +359 29407008 / +359 29407673 / +359 29407800

Fax +359 29815041 / +359 29804710 /+359 29883654

3. Czech Republic

Ministerstvo průmyslu a obchodu (Ministry of Industry and Trade)

Licenční správa

Na Františku 32

110 15 Praha 1

Tel. +420 224907111

Fax +420 224212133

4. Denmark

Erhvervs- og Vækstministeriet (Ministry of Business and Growth)

Erhvervsstyrelsen

Langelinie Allé 17

2100 København

Tel. +45 35291000

Fax +45 35291001

5. Germany

Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle (BAFA) [Federal Office of Economics and Export Control]

Frankfurter Str. 29-35

65760 Eschborn

Tel. +49 6196908-0

Fax +49 6196908800

6. Estonia

Majandus- ja Kommunikatsiooniministeerium (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications)

Harju 11

15072 Tallinn

Tel. +372 6256400

Fax +372 6313660

7. Ireland

An Roinn Post, Fiontar agus Nuálaíochta

23 Sráid Chill Dara

Baile Átha Cliath 2D02 TD30

Tel. +353 16312545

Fax +353 16312562

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Licensing Unit

Kildare Street

IRL-Dublin 2

Tel. +353 16312545

Fax +353 16312562

8. Greece

Υπουργείο Οικονομίας, Ανάπτυξης και Τουρισμού

Γενική Διεύθυνση Διεθνούς Οικονομικής και Εμπορικής Πολιτικής

Διεύθυνση Συντονισμού Εμπορίου και Εμπορικών Καθεστώτων

Τμήμα Β' Ειδικών Καθεστώτων Εισαγωγών

Κορνάρου 1

105 63 Αθήνα

Τηλ. +30 2103286041-43, 2103286223

Fax +30 2103286094

Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism

General Directorate for International Economic and Trade Policy,

Directorate fοr Trade Coordination and Trade Regimes

Unit B' Special Import Regimes

1 Kornarou Str.

10563 Athens

Tel. +30 2103286041-43, 2103286223

Fax +30 2103286094

9. Spain

Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness)

Dirección General de Comercio e Inversiones

Paseo de la Castellana no 162

28046 Madrid

Tel. +34 913493817 / 913493874

Fax +34 913493831

Email: sgpolcoue.sscc@comercio.mineco.es

10. France

Ministère de l'économie, de l'industrie et du numérique

Direction générale des entreprises (DGE)

Service de l'industrie (SI)

Sous-direction de la chimie, des matériaux et des éco-industries (SDCME)

Bureau des Matériaux

67 rue Barbès — BP 80001

94201 Ivry-sur-Seine Cedex

Tel. +33 179843449

Email: isabelle.paimblanc@finances.gouv.fr

11. Croatia

Ministarstvo vanjskih i europskih poslova

Samostalni sektor za trgovinsku politiku i gospodarsku multilateralu

Trg N. Š. Zrinskog 7-8

HR-10000 Zagreb

Tel: +385 16444626

Fax: +385 16444601

Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs

Directorate for Trade Policy and Economic Multilateral Affairs

Trg N. Š. Zrinskog 7-8

HR-10000 Zagreb

Tel. +385 16444626

Fax +385 16444601

12. Italy

Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico (Ministry of Economic Development)

Direzione Generale per la Politica Commerciale Internazionale

Divisione III — Accesso dei beni italiani nei mercati esteri e difesa commerciale delle imprese

Viale Boston 25

00144 Roma

Tel. +39 0659647517, 0659932450, 0659932436

Fax +39 0659932681, 0659932636

Email: dgpci.div3@mise.gov.it

13. Cyprus

Κλάδος Έκδοσης Αδειών Εισαγωγής/ Εξαγωγής

Υπηρεσία Εμπορίου

Υπουργείο Ενέργειας, Εμπορίου, Βιομηχανίας και Τουρισμού

Ανδρέα Αραούζου 6

1421 Λευκωσία

Τηλ. +357 22867100

Φαξ +357 22375443

Imports/ Exports Licensing Section

Trade Service

Ministry of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism

6 Andrea Araouzou

1421 Nicosia

Tel. +357 22867100

Fax +357 22375443

14. Latvia

Latvijas Republikas Ārlietu ministrija (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia)

Kr.Valdemāra iela 3

Rīga, LV-1395

Tel. +371 67016201

Fax +371 67828121

15. Lithuania

Lietuvos Respublikos ūkio ministerija (Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Lithuania)

Gedimino pr. 38 / Vasario 16-osios g. 2

LT-01104 Vilnius

Tel. +370 70664658, +370 70664808

Faks +370 70664762

Email: vienaslangelis@ukmin.lt

16. Luxembourg

Ministère de l'Économie (Ministry of Economy)

Office des licences

19-21 boulevard Royal

L-2449 Luxembourg

Tél. +352 226162

Fax +352 466138

Email: office.licences@eco.etat.lu

17. Hungary

Magyar Kereskedelmi Engedélyezési Hivatal

(Hungarian Trade Licencing Office)

Budapest

Németvölgyi út 37-39.

1124

Tel. +36 14585514

Fax +36 14585832

Email: keo@mkeh.gov.hu

18. Malta

Ministeru għall-Ekonomija, Investiment u Intrapriżi Żghar

Dipartiment tal-Kummerċ, Xatt Lascaris

Valletta

VLT 1933

Tel. +356 25690214

Fax +356 21237112

Email: commerce@gov.mt

Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Business

Commerce Department, Trade Services Directorate

Lascaris

Valletta

VLT 1933

Tel. +356 25690214

Fax +356 21237112

Email: commerce@gov.mt

19. Netherlands

Belastingdienst/Douane (Customs Administration)

centrale dienst voor in- en uitvoer

Postbus 3070

6401 DN Heerlen

Tel. +31 88 1512122

Fax +31 88 1513182

20. Austria

Bundesministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Wirtschaft (Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy)

Abteilung C2/9 — Außenwirtschaftskontrolle

Stubenring 1

1010 Wien

Tel. +43 171100 - 8353

Fax +43 171100 - 8366

21. Poland

Ministerstwo Rozwoju (Ministry of Economic Development)

pl. Trzech Krzyży 3/5

00-507 Warszawa

Tel. +48 226935553

Fax +48 226934021

22. Portugal

Ministério das Finanças (Ministry of Finance)

AT- Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira

DSL – Direcção de Serviços de Licenciamento

Rua da Alfândega no 5 R/C

1149-006 Lisboa

Tel. +351 1218813843

Fax +351 1218813986

Email: dsl@at.gov.pt

23. Romania

Ministerul Economiei (Ministry of Economy)

Comerţului şi Mediului de Afaceri

Direcţia Politici Comerciale

Calea Victoriei, nr.152, sector 1

010096 Bucureşti

Tel. +40 213150081

Fax +40 213150454

Email: clc@dce.gov.ro

24. Slovenia

Ministrstvo za finance (Ministry of Finance)

Finančna uprava Republike Slovenije

Spodnji Plavž 6c

SI-4270 Jesenice

Tel. +386 42027583

Faks +386 42024969

Email: taric.fu@gov.si

25. Slovakia

Ministerstvo hospodárstva SR (Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic)

Odbor výkonu obchodných opatrení

Mierová 19

827 15 Bratislava

Tel. +421 248547019

Fax +421 243423915

Email: jan.krocka@mhsr.sk

26. Finland

Tulli (Finnish Customs)

PL 512

FI-00101 Helsinki

Tel. +358 2955200

Email: kirmo@tulli.fi

Tullen (Finnish Customs)

PB 512

FI-00101 Helsingfors

Tel. +358 2955200

Email: kirmo@tulli.fi

27. Sweden

Kommerskollegium (National Board of Trade)

Box 6803

SE-113 86 Stockholm

Tel. +46 86904800

Fax +46 8306759

Email: registrator@kommers.se

28. United Kingdom

Department for International Trade

1 Victoria Street

London SW1H OET

Email: grant.mosedale@trade.gsi.gov.uk