1.   This Regulation establishes the rules governing the administration of quantitative import and export quotas, hereinafter referred to as ‘quotas’, whether autonomous or conventional, established by the Community.

2.   This Regulation shall not apply to products listed in Annex I to the Treaty, nor to other products that are subject to specific common import or export arrangements laying down special provisions for quota administration.

1.   Quotas shall be allocated among applicants as soon as possible after they have been opened. It may be decided, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 22(2), to allocate them in several tranches.

2.   Quotas may, inter alia, be administered using one of the following methods, or a combination of those methods:

3.   The allocation method to be used shall be determined in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 22(2).

4.   If it is apparent that none of the methods indicated in paragraph 2 of this Article is appropriate to the specific requirements of a quota which has been opened, any other appropriate method shall be determined in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 22(2).

5.   Quantities that are not allocated, assigned or used shall be redistributed in accordance with Article 14 in time to allow them to be used before the end of the period covered by the quota.

If it is found that it has not been possible to redistribute such quantities in time, their possible redistribution during the following quota period shall be decided on a case-by-case-basis, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 22(2).

6.   Save where other provisions are adopted when the quota is set, the release for free circulation or export of products subject to quotas shall be conditional on the presentation of an import or export licence issued by the Member States in accordance with this Regulation.

7.   Member States shall designate the administrative authorities competent to carry out implementing measures for which they are responsible under this Regulation. They shall notify the Commission of the authority thus designated.

1.   All Community importers and exporters, no matter where they are established in the Community, may submit a single licence application for each quota or tranche of a quota to the competent authority of the Member State of their choice, drawn up in the official language or languages of the Member State concerned.

Where a quota is limited to one or several regions of the Community, the application shall be made to the competent authorities in the Member State(s) of the region(s) in question.

2.   Applications for licences shall be submitted in accordance with the arrangements determined in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 22(2).

1.   Where the method used is that laid down in Article 12, Member States shall issue licences immediately on verification of the Community balance available.

2.   In other cases the following shall apply:

1.   Import or export licences shall authorise the import or export of products which are subject to quotas and shall be valid throughout the Community, regardless of the place of import or export mentioned in the applications by the operators.

Where a quota is limited to one or several regions of the Community, import or export licences shall be valid only in the Member State(s) of the region(s) in question.

2.   The period of validity of import or export licences to be issued by the competent authorities of the Member States shall be four months. However, a different period of validity may be set in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 22(2).

3.   The holders of import or export licences may, on request, obtain extracts thereof from the competent authorities which issued the licences in the Member State concerned.

Such extracts shall have the same legal effects as the licences from which they are derived, up to the quantity for which the licences were issued.

4.   Applications for import or export licences, licences and extracts shall be drawn up on forms conforming to a specimen the characteristics of which shall be established in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 22(2).

1.   Import or export licences or extracts shall, except in cases of force majeure, be returned to the competent authorities of the Member State of issue within 10 working days of their expiry date at the latest.

2.   Where the issue of import or export licences is conditional upon the lodging of a security, the security shall, except in cases of force majeure, be forfeit where the time limit referred to in paragraph 1 is not complied with.

1.   The Commission shall be assisted by a committee.

2.   Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply.

The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at one month.

1.   The information received by the Council, the Commission or the Member States pursuant to this Regulation may be used only for the purposes for which it was requested.

2.   The Council, the Commission and the Member States, and those acting on their behalf, shall not disclose information in respect of which a duly substantiated request for confidential treatment has been lodged, except where express authorisation is granted by the party providing the information.

3.   This Article shall not prevent the Community authorities from disclosing information of a general nature, in particular the grounds on which decisions are taken pursuant to this Regulation, or evidence used by them to justify their arguments in the event of legal proceedings. Such disclosure must take into account the legitimate interest of the parties concerned in preserving commercial confidentiality.