Where the circumstances relied upon constitute force majeure, the competent body of the Member State in which the licence or certificate was issued shall decide either that the obligation to import or export be cancelled and the security released, or that the period of validity of the licence or certificate be extended for such period as may be considered necessary in view of all the circumstances of the case. Such extension shall not exceed six months following the expiry of the original period of validity of the licence or certificate. Such extension may take place after the expiry of the validity of the licence or certificate.

The decision taken by the competent body may differ from the decision requested by the titular holder of the licence or certificate.

Where the titular holder requests the cancellation of a licence involving advance fixing, even if this request was submitted more than 30 days after expiry of the period of validity of the licence, the competent body may extend that period of validity if the rate fixed in advance plus any adjustments is less than the current rate in the case of amounts to be paid out or greater than the current rate in the case of amounts to be collected.

The decision to cancel or extend the licence shall relate only to the quantity of product which could not be imported or exported as a result of force majeure.

When the period of validity of a licence is extended, the issuing body shall endorse the licence and its extracts and shall make the necessary adjustments thereto.

Notwithstanding Article 8(1), where the period of validity of a licence involving advance fixing is extended, the rights arising from that licence shall not be transferable. However, where the circumstances of the case in question so warrant, such transfer shall be authorised when requested at the same time as the extension.

The Member States shall notify the Commission of the case of force majeure they have recognised, providing the following information: the nature of the product concerned with its CN code, the operation (import or export), the quantities involved and, according to the case, the cancellation of the licence or the extension of the period of validity of the licence with the indication of the term of validity.

The Commission shall inform the other Member States thereof.