1.In special cases, the term of validity of export licences for common wheat, durum wheat, rye, barley, maize, rice, wheat flour, rye flour, groats and meal of durum wheat and products covered by CN codes 2309 10 11, 2309 10 13, 2309 10 31, 2309 10 33, 2309 10 51, 2309 10 53, 2309 90 31, 2309 90 33, 2309 90 41, 2309 90 43, 2309 90 51 and 2309 90 53 containing less than 50 % by weight of milk products may be longer than is provided for in Article 7(1) where the party concerned is in the process of concluding a contract warranting a longer period. To that end, the party concerned shall submit to the competent authority a written statement from an official body in the country of destination or an undertaking with its place of business in that country. Such statements must indicate the projected quantity and quality of the products, the delivery period and the price terms. The Member State shall immediately send the Commission a copy of the statement for information.
2.In the cases set out in paragraph 1, the interested party shall lodge with the competent authority an application for an export licence accompanied by an application for advance fixing of the export refund or export tax applicable on the day of submission of the application for the intended destination, together with details of the minimum and maximum quantities that he intends to export and of the minimum and maximum time necessary to complete export as planned. However, the minimum quantity may not be less than 75 000 tonnes in the case of common wheat, durum wheat, rye, barley, maize, wheat flour, rye flour and products falling within CN codes 2309 10 11, 2309 10 13, 2309 10 31, 2309 10 33, 2309 10 51, 2309 10 53, 2309 90 31, 2309 90 33, 2309 90 41, 2309 90 43, 2309 90 51 and 2309 90 53 containing less than 50 % by weight of milk products, and 15 000 tonnes in the case of groats and meal of durum wheat and rice. Notwithstanding Article 15(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000, such applications shall not be accompanied by securities.
For exports to an ACP State or to several countries within one of the ACP State groups set out in Annex III, the minimum quantity laid down in the first subparagraph shall be reduced to:
(a)20 000 tonnes in the case of common wheat, durum wheat, rye, barley, maize, wheat flour, rye flour and products covered by CN codes 2309 10 11, 2309 10 13, 2309 10 31, 2309 10 33, 2309 10 51, 2309 10 53, 2309 90 31, 2309 90 33, 2309 90 41, 2309 90 43, 2309 90 51 and 2309 90 53 containing less than 50 % by weight of milk products; and
(b)5 000 tonnes in the case of groats and meal of durum wheat and rice.
Applications relating to several countries within a group of ACP States must specify the name of each intended country of destination.
3.The Member State of the competent authority receiving applications shall examine them, in particular as to quantity, economic implications of the planned exports and the practicality of execution and, where it finds them admissible, shall notify the Commission, which shall take a decision in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 23 of Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 or Article 22 of Regulation (EC) No 3072/95. Where the Commission accepts an application, it shall in particular set a time limit for presentation of the contract to the competent authority. The latter shall inform the applicant of the Commission's decision.
4.Where the term of validity fixed for the licence is the same as that applied for, the applicant shall, within the time limit set in accordance with paragraph 3, submit to the competent authority a signed original of the contract, together with a copy thereof. The contract shall specify at least the quantity covered, which must fall within the minimum and maximum quantities indicated in the licence application, the destination, the period within which export is to be carried out (which must fall within the minimum and maximum periods indicated), the price fixed for the duration of the contract and the terms of payment. The licence shall then be issued after the security provided for in Article 9(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 or Article 9(1) of Regulation (EC) No 3072/95 has been lodged. The country (or countries within a single group) of destination shall be shown in section 7 and the licence shall carry with it an obligation to export to that country or countries. However, up to 10 % of the quantities shown on the licence may be delivered under the contract to another country indicated in Annex III as falling within the same group.
Where the applicant is unable to conclude such a contract, he shall so inform the competent authority within the time limit set for submission of the contract and the licence shall not be issued.
5.Except in cases of force majeure, where the applicant does not comply with paragraph 4, no licence shall be issued.
6.Where the term of validity fixed is different from that applied for but is longer than that laid down in Article 7, paragraphs 4 and 5 of this Article shall apply. However, the applicant may, within the time limit set for submission of the contract, withdraw his application for a licence.
7.Where an application for an extension of the term of validity as provided for in Article 7 is rejected, no licence shall be issued.
8.Licences issued under the conditions laid down in this Article shall not be subject to the provisions of Article 8(1).