Notice

Notice to Traders 22/20

Updated 9 June 2021

Imports of Rice from Vietnam under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/991

Introduction

This notice gives details of a new import tariff quota for rice imported from Vietnam. It explains how the rules are applied to this quota and how to apply for a licence. Details of the quantities available are outlined in Annex 1 of this notice.

Background

Following a Free Trade Agreement between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the European Union, a new quota for imports of rice originating in Vietnam is available for applications from 1 August 2020 for licences valid from 1 September 2020.

Proof of Trade

The following must be supplied to be eligible for a rice quota licence. If you do not have the proof of trade as detailed below, you are not eligible and cannot apply.

You must be established and registered for VAT in the Member State where you apply. You must inform us of your current VAT registration number, which can be provided on the quota licence application. However, if your company is part of a group VAT registration number then we require a hard copy of your current VAT certificate to be received before the quota deadline.

If this is your first application of the quota year you must provide evidence to prove that you have imported rice at least once during:

• the 12 month period immediately prior to the time of application; and
• the 12 month period immediately prior to that.

HMRC agents or representatives cannot apply for import licences under these quota arrangements.

Note: For details of the full procedures on providing proof of trade and applying for licences, please refer to Notice to Traders 38/19. You can obtain a copy of this notice by sending an email to [email protected]. If you do not follow the rules of the scheme, your application will be rejected.

Applications

Applications for import licences must be received within the first seven days of each month during the tariff quota year, except for December where no applications will be accepted. Applications for import licences valid from 1 January shall be submitted between 23 and 30 November of the preceding year.

Licences will be valid for four months from the first day of the month following the month of application, or until 31 December, whichever is earlier. Licences applied for between 23 and 30 November will be valid from 1 January 2021.

We advise you to use the latest version of the application form. You can submit applications either by post or by email. The email address for licence applications is [email protected]

The quantities of products under the order numbers set out in Annex 1, shall be sub-divided into four sub-periods, as follows:

(a) 1 January to 31 March
(b) 1 April to 30 June
(c) 1 July to 30 September
(d) 1 October to 31 December

Unused quantities at the end of each sub-period will be carried forward and added to the quantities for the next sub-period. No unused amounts at the end of a quota year will be carried forward to the next quota year.

Your application must not exceed the quantity available in each sub-period for the product for which you are applying.

You must not lodge more than one import licence application for the same quota order number in a sub-period, unless it is accompanied by an export licence.

Note: If you lodge more than one application for the same quota order number, all your applications will be rejected.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your application, all supporting documentation and the security are correct at the time of submission and they are received by the RPA no later than the last working day of the application period.

Note: We will reject any applications where the application, supporting documents, securities and / or proof of trade are received after 12-noon (UK time) on the last working day of the application period.

Security

Security of €30 per tonne must be lodged with each licence application. You can find further information on how to lodge your security on GOV.UK.

Issuing Licences

The European Commission will notify us of the quantity for which licences may be issued within 2 weeks of the application deadline (this may be less than the quantity applied for).

When we have been notified by the Commission of the quantity of quota allocated, we will issue a licence within 5 working days.

Your licence will have a 5% upward tolerance. However, the reduction in duty will only be valid for the quantities shown in sections 17 and 18 of your licence.

Import licences will be valid from the first day of the month following the month of application for either four months, or until 31 December, whichever is sooner. Where an electronic licence is issued, an e-mail can be sent to inform you of its issuance. To receive this e-mail notification you must have already completed the appropriate section of the il3 form..

Authority

You can find details of the arrangements in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2020/991, published in Official Journal L221 of 2020. You can obtain copies from Stationery Office bookshops and accredited agents, or order from the Stationery Office website.

You can also access Official Journals electronically by visiting the Commission’s Europa website. We are not responsible for the accuracy or completeness of the Europa website. Whilst every care has been taken in producing this guidance, the regulations as published are definitive.

Questions

If you have any questions about this notice, please contact the Import Licensing team as follows:

• Our telephone helpline number – 03300 416 500 (select Option 2)
• Email contact – [email protected]
• Our postal address is:

Import Licensing Team
Rural Payments Agency
Lancaster House
Hampshire Court
Newcastle Business Park
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE4 7YH

Annex 1

Annual Quota and Sub-Periods

1. Husked rice under CN Code 1006 10 and 1006 20 Order number 09.4729 Sub-periods (kg)

1 Jan - 31 Mar	1 Apr - 30 Jun	1 Jul – 30 Sept	1 Oct – 31 Dec
10 000 000	5 000 000	5 000 000	–*

–* Quota not allocated in the July to September sub-period will be carried over to the October to December sub-period.

Valid CN codes are:

10061030, 10061050, 10061071, 10061079;
10062011, 10062013, 10062015, 10062017, 10062092, 10062094, 10062096, 10062098.

Successful licence applications are valid from the start of the month following the month of application until the end of the fourth month but not beyond 31 December.

For this quota:

• You must lodge security of €30 per tonne.
• Box 20 of your application must contain: ‘Order Number 09.4729’.
• Box 24 (comments box) of your application must contain: ‘Exemption from Customs duty up to the quantity indicated in boxes 17 and 18 of this licence (Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2020/991’.
• To clear your goods, you must present a certificate of origin to H M Revenue and Customs.

1. Milled rice under CN Code 1006 30 Order number 09.4730

Sub-periods (kg)

1 Jan - 31 Mar	1 Apr - 30 Jun	1 Jul – 30 Sept	1 Oct – 31 Dec
15 000 000	7 500 000	7 500 000	–*

–* Quota not allocated in the July to September sub-period will be carried over to the October to December sub-period.

Valid CN codes are:

10063021, 10063023, 10063025, 10063027, 10063042, 10063044, 10063046, 10063048, 10063061, 10063063, 10063065, 10063067, 10063092, 10063094, 10063096, 10063098.

Successful licence applications are valid from the start of the month following the month of application until the end of the fourth month but not beyond 31 December.

For this quota:

• You must lodge security of €30 per tonne.
• Box 20 of your application must contain: ‘Order Number 09.4730’.
• Box 24 (comments box) of your application must contain: ‘Exemption from Customs duty up to the quantity indicated in boxes 17 and 18 of this licence (Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2020/991’.
• To clear your goods, you must present a certificate of origin to H M Revenue and Customs.

1. Fragrant rice under CN Code ex1006 10, 1006 20 and 1006 30 Order number 09.4731

Sub-periods (kg)

1 Jan -31 Mar	1 Apr - 30 Jun	1 Jul – 30 Sept	1 Oct – 31 Dec
15 000 000	7 500 000	7 500 000	–*

–* Quota not allocated in the July to September sub-period will be carried over to the October to December sub-period.

Valid CN codes are:

10061030, 10061050, 10061071, 10061079;
10062011, 10062013, 10062015, 10062017, 10062092, 10062094, 10062096, 10062098;
10063021, 10063023, 10063025, 10063027, 10063042, 10063044, 10063046, 10063048, 10063061, 10063063, 10063065, 10063067, 10063092, 10063094, 10063096, 10063098.

Varieties of fragrant rice originating in Vietnam

Jasmine 85, ST 5, ST 20;
Nang Hoa 9 (NàngHoa 9), VD 20;
RVT, OM 4900, OM 5451;
Tai nguyen Cho Dao (Tàinguyên Cho Dào)

Successful licence applications are valid from the start of the month following the month of application until the end of the fourth month but not beyond 31 December.

For this quota:

• You must lodge security of €30 per tonne.
• Box 20 of your application must contain: ‘Order Number 09.4731’.
• Box 24 (comments box) of your application must contain: ‘Exemption from Customs duty up to the quantity indicated in boxes 17 and 18 of this licence (Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2020/991’.
• To clear your goods, you must present a Certificate of Authenticity (issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Viet Nam) to H M Revenue and Customs.