52002XC0328(06)

Extension of electronic licensing for imports of textiles and clothing imports

(2002/C 77/08)

Paragraph 3 of Article 11 of Annex III to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3030/93 on common rules for imports of certain textile products from third countries, introduced by Regulation (EC) No 391/2001 of 26 February 2001(1), states that "where a supplier country has entered into administrative arrangements with the Community concerning electronic licensing the relevant information may be transmitted by electronic means to replace the grant of export licences in paper form".

Electronic licensing has already been introduced in a number of countries as from 1 November 2001(2) 1 January 2002(3) and 1 February 2002(4). Since then, the Commission has entered into the necessary arrangements with the following: Cabodia, Thailand, Malaysia and Ukraine. For these, from 1 April 2002, the presentation of the original of the corresponding export licence will no longer be required for the issuance of import licences by the licensing authorities of Member States, and these can therefore be issued upon receipt by the competent authorities of Member States of the data transmitted in electronic form by the supplier countries and confirmation from the Commission that the amounts requested are available and/or of the validity of the electronic license. The competent authorities of the supplier third countries concerned may, however, issue an export licence or any similar documents, including if they consider it appropriate formal export licenses, for the benefit of operators in order to facilitate the transaction.

For any questions, economic operators are invited to address the licensing authorities of Member States, which is published in OJ C 78, 18.3.2000, p. 2.

(1) OJ L 58, 28.2.2001, p. 3.

(2) OJ C 308, 1.11.2001, p. 16, (Sri Lanka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Vietnam).

(3) OJ C 374, 29.12.2001, p. 58 (Russia, Nepal, Taiwan, Macao and Philippines).

(4) OJ C 29, 1.2.2002, p. 5 (India, South Korea and Laos).