The EU has introduced a "precautionary" import licensing mechanism to monitor specific steel products imported into the EU. This regulation was announced on April 29, 2016.
1. You must hold an import license to clear customs-coded products (including fasteners). Affected products include specific products arriving in Ireland or EU Customs since May 31, 2016 inclusive.
2. The following conditions do not require the production of an import license:
(A) The net weight of your product does not exceed 2.5 metric tons, or
(B) Your product is manufactured in the European Union, Ireland, Liechtenstein, or Norway, or
(C) Your product arrived in Ireland or the European Union before May 31, 2016 (except today)
(D) Your products are not products that are freely imported or exported within the European Union, but are products that fall under the customs exemption program (such as the import and storage of customs bonded warehouse procedures, temporary imports, or European Commission processing duty exemptions). If the product subsequently becomes a freely accessible product, a license will be required
Application for import licenses for advance supervision:
1. There is no fee for the issuance of the permit.
2. You need to provide:
(A) Product description/business name (trade name used by the company for commercial purposes)
(B) EU Tariff Code (TARIC code)
(C) Product weight (indicated by "kg")
(D) Amount value of the product (in euros) (cost plus insurance plus freight to EU border)
(E) The place of production of the product
(F) Where products are shipped from
3. You must provide a copy of a proforma invoice (also known as a pre-invoicing or valuation invoice) or a copy of your sales/purchase contract.
The effective range of the permit:
1. You can apply for an import license in any EU member state. The license can be used throughout the EU.
2. The validity period of the permit is 4 months. If not fully used, it can be renewed for about 4 months. As long as your import unit price and/or net weight is within 5% of the tolerance, your license will remain valid.