Regulation (EC) No 517/94 established quantitative restrictions on imports of certain textile products originating in certain third countries to be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Under that Regulation it is possible, in certain circumstances, to use other allocation methods, to divide quotas into tranches, or to reserve a proportion of a specific quantitative limit exclusively for applications which are supported by evidence of the results of past import performance.

Rules for management of the quotas established for 2012 should be adopted before the quota year begins so that the continuity of trade flows is not affected unduly.

The measures adopted in previous years, such as those in Commission Regulation (EU) No 1159/2010 of 9 December 2010 laying down rules for the management and distribution of textile quotas established for the year 2011 under Council Regulation (EC) No 517/942, proved to be satisfactory and it is therefore appropriate to adopt similar rules for 2012.

In order to satisfy the greatest possible number of operators it is appropriate to make the ‘first come, first served’ allocation method more flexible by placing a ceiling on the quantities which can be allocated to each operator by that method.

To guarantee a degree of continuity in trade and efficient quota administration, operators should be allowed to make their initial import authorisation application for 2012 equivalent to the quantity which they imported in 2011.

To achieve optimum use of the quantities, an operator who has used up at least one half of the amount already authorised should be permitted to apply for a further amount, provided that quantities are available in the quotas.

To secure a sound administration, import authorisations should be valid for 9 months from the date of issue but only until the end of the year at the latest. Member States should issue licences only after being notified by the Commission that quantities are available and only if an operator can prove the existence of a contract and can certify, in the absence of a specific provision to the contrary, that he has not already been allocated a Community import authorisation under this Regulation for the categories and countries concerned. The competent national authorities should, however, be authorised, in response to importers’ applications, to extend by 3 months and up to 31 March 2013 licences of which at least one half has been used by the application date.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Textile Committee established by Article 25 of Regulation (EC) No 517/94,