Only full-time refiners may apply for import licences for sugar intended for refining with a start validity date during the first three months of each marketing year. By way of derogation from the second subparagraph of Article 8 such licences shall be valid to the end of the marketing year for which they are issued.

If, before the 1 January of each marketing year, applications for import licences for sugar for refining for that marketing year are equal or superior to the total of the quantities referred to in Article 153(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, the Commission shall inform the Member States that the limit of the traditional supply needs for that marketing year has been reached at Community level.

From the date of that notification, paragraph 1 shall not apply for the marketing year concerned.