Commercial Information Circulars

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e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 230/5/4/10

30 November 2005

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 490/2005

European Union (EU)* : Tariff Quotas for Garlic

Further to Commercial Information Circular No. 80/2002 of 19 April 2002, the European Commission (the Commission) has adopted a Regulation, among others, opening and providing for the administration of tariff quotas for garlic imported from third countries. Details are set out in Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1870/2005 (the Regulation), a copy of which is attached (pdf format) to this circular for reference.

DETAILS

2. Commercial Information Circular No. 80/2002 informed the trade of the rules laid down by the Commission for managing tariff quotas for garlic (CN code 0703 2000) imported from third countries. The tariff quotas allow garlic to be imported into the EU at reduced duty rate up to the quota limit. In the light of practical experience, the Commission has further decided to amend some of the licensing conditions in order to simplify the system. Under the Regulation, the ad valorem duty applicable to garlic imported under the tariff quotas shall be maintained at 9.6%. The normal duty will resume when imports reach the quota limit.

3. Any release for free circulation in the Community of imported garlic shall be subject to the presentation of an import licence issued in accordance with the Regulation. The volume of tariff quota available for each of the three origins (viz. Argentina, China and other countries), the period for which the tariff quota applies and the respective order numbers are specified in Annex I to the Regulation. The tariff quotas will be apportioned between traditional importers and new importers in the ratio of 70:30. The provisions concerning licences issued under the tariff quotas for the import period starting on 1 June 2006 shall apply from 1 April 2006. For full details of the licensing arrangements, please refer to the attached Regulation.

ENQUIRIES

4. For enquiries about the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5684.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Sandra SOU)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry

* The EU includes Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Note : While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.