Guidance

Notice to Traders 68/21 - Imports of Olive Oil from Tunisia

Published 24 August 2021

Introduction

This notice explains how the rules are applied to this quota and how to apply for a licence. The olive oil (originating in Tunisia) quota year is 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021. There will be an application window at the start of each month throughout the quota year until the quantity is exhausted. Details of the quantity available in the September 2021 application window are given in Annex 1 of this notice.

Eligibility

To apply for a quota licence you must be established and registered for VAT in the UK. You must tell us your current VAT registration number. You can provide your VAT number on your quota licence application or send us a copy of your current VAT certificate. However, if your company is part of a group VAT registration number, we will need to see a copy of your current VAT certificate before the quota deadline.

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

Applications

Before you submit a licence application you must make sure that you are registered with the RPA. If your company is not registered, a company director or an individual legally responsible for the business must apply for a six-digit Trader Registration Number.

You will need to telephone our Rural Payments Helpline on 03000 200 301 and select options 3, 2, 1 and 3 and ask to be registered as a trader. (These options are correct at the time of publication, but they are liable to change without notice).

Your quota application must be received during the application window, the first 7 days of September 2021. It is your responsibility to ensure that your application, all additional documentation and the security are correct at the time of submission and they are received by the RPA before 17:00 on the 7 September 2021.

Note: We will reject any applications where the security is received after 17:00 (UK time) on Tuesday 7 September 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 trader@rpa.gov.uk.

If you intend to submit your application by e-mail, please ensure that your email address is approved by the RPA. Please complete an il3 form to register e-mail addresses for approval. We recommend that your email address is approved before you send your application as this will avoid unnecessary delays.

Your application must not exceed the quantity available. You must not lodge more than one import quota licence application for the same order number.

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

Any unused quota will be carried forward to the next application period in October.

Security

You must lodge a security of £170 per tonne with your licence application.

You can find further information on how to lodge your security by searching for ‘Licence securities for the import/export of agricultural products’ on GOV.UK.

Completing a licence application

As part of the olive oil import tariff quota, licence applications must include at least the following entries:

• Box 8 of your application must state the country of origin of the product and you must select this as ‘Yes’. Licences will carry an obligation to import from the country stated.
• Box 20 of your application must contain the correct import tariff quota order number. You must also include “Statutory Instrument 2020/1432”.

If you are not sure of the Combined Nomenclature (CN) code for your product (box 16) you should contact HMRC by sending an email containing as much information about the product as possible to classification.enquiries@hmrc.gov.uk. They will be able to provide you with the correct code and description.

Issuing Licences

As soon as the application window has closed, we will collate details of all valid quota applications we received and calculate the reduction coefficient applicable. Details of the reduction coefficient will be published on the gov.uk website. Licences will be issued electronically towards the end of September and will be valid from 1 October until the end of the quota year, 31 December 2021.

The reduction in duty will only be valid for the quantities shown in sections 17 and 18 of your licence.

As licences will only be valid for imports into the UK, your licence will be issued electronically. We no longer issue paper import licences. Where an electronic licence is issued an email can be sent to inform you of its issue. To receive this email notification, you must have already completed the appropriate sections of the il3 form.

Authority

You can find details of the arrangements in Statutory Instrument 2020 No 1432. You can obtain copies from Stationery Office bookshops and accredited agents, or order from the Stationery Office website.

You can also access Statutory Instruments electronically by visiting the UK’s Legislation website. The RPA is not responsible for the accuracy or completeness of the Legislation website. Whilst every care has been taken in producing this guidance, the Statutory Instrument as published is 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 (Option 1)

• E-mail contact – trader@rpa.gov.uk

• Our postal address is:

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

ANNEX 1

Annual Quota from January 2021

Olive oil under CN Code 1509 1000 imported at zero duty as follows:

Country of Origin	Order Number	September
Tunisia	05.4032	7,690,000 kg
Total		7,690,000 kg

Note: Quota quantities not allocated in September will be carried over to subsequent months.

Note: Licences are valid from 1 October until the end of the quota period (31 December 2021).

For this quota (CN Code 1509 1000):

• You must lodge security of £170 per tonne.
• Box 8 of your application must state the country of origin of the product and you must select this as ‘Yes’. Licences will carry an obligation to import from the stated country.
• Box 20 of your application must contain: ‘Order Number 05.4032’
• 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 (Statutory Instrument 2020/1432).

ANNEX 2

Checklist for your reference prior to submission of an Olive Oil quota import licence application

Presenting a correct application will assist us in processing your quota import licence.

Before submitting your application, check that the following details are correct:

• Is the quota order number correct for the commodity code and country, which you have applied for?
• Check the rate of security used is correct, i.e. £170 per tonne.
• Does the security amount calculated cover the quantity applied for?
• Is it the correct description against the required commodity (CN) code?
• Has a valid VAT certificate been supplied / submitted for the current quota year?
• Is the form signed and dated by an authorised individual?

If you are not sure of any details, then the following will provide further information:

• Annex 1 of this Notice to Traders.
• Import Licensing team contact details are given in this Notice to Traders