Market Access Unit – Import Licensing

Applying for an Import Licence - Textile Sector

EU trade policy restricts the importation of certain textiles and textile garments originating in certain third countries into the EU. These goods may not be imported into the EU without an import licence.

Details of the principal EU legislation applicable are as follows:

Council Regulation (EC) No. 3030/93, OJ L275 of 8/11/93 (PDF 1.25MB)

Council Regulation (EC) No. 517/94, OJ L67 of 10/3/94 (PDF 428KB)
Council Regulation (EC) No. 3036/94 OJ L322 of 15/12/94

Applications for import licences must be submitted to the Licensing Unit, on a prescribed application form.

• When applying for an import licence for textiles that are subject to quantitative restrictions (quota) the application form must be accompanied by an original export licence furnished by the supplier country and a copy of the relevant invoice.
• If the textiles originate in North Korea or Belarus an importer would not be required to submit an export document, however, there is a limit to the quantity that may be requested per licence application. An importer would be asked to provide evidence of a contract. The granting of further licences for these types of applications would depend on the utilisation of licences previously granted.
• The Licensing Unit sends all quota applications to the European Commission; the Licensing Unit will only issue a licence after the application has been approved by the Commission. Textile import quota licences are processed on a first come first served basis.

Applying for an Import Licences - Iron & Steel

Certain steel products originating in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan are subject to either EU quantative restrictions or double surveillance measures. These products cannot be imported into the EU without an import licence.

Certain steel products originating in Romania, Moldova and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are subject to double surveillance measures. These products cannot be imported into the EU without an import licence.

Apart from the quota/double surveillance measures that are in place, certain Iron and steel products originating in countries outside of the EU are subject to prior community surveillance i.e. the EU monitors the level of imports of these goods into the EU. These products cannot be imported into the EU without an import licence.

Details of the EU legislation applicable can be obtained from the following website:

http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2008/september/tradoc_140673.pdf

(The legislation governing steel imports is updated on a periodic basis)

Applications, in respect of iron and steel products that are subject to quota/double surveillance measures, are made on a prescribed application form that is available from the Department's Licensing Unit.

When applying for an import licence for textiles iron and steel products that are subject to quantitative restrictions (quota) or double surveillance measures the application form must be accompanied by an original export licence furnished by the supplier country and a copy of the relevant invoice.

These applications must be submitted to the European Commission for approval. If this is forthcoming, the Licensing Unit issues a licence to the company concerned.

When applying for an import licence for iron and steel products which are subject to prior community surveillance measures, the application form must be accompanied a copy of the relevant invoice and proof of origin of the goods e.g. a copy of a certificate of origin.