Quantitative limits
Article 2
1. The importation into the Community of the steel products listed in Annex I originating in Ukraine shall be subject to the annual quantitative limits laid down in Annex V. The release for free circulation in the Community of the products listed in Annex I originating in Ukraine shall be subject to the presentation of an import authorisation issued by the Member States' authorities in accordance with the provisions of Article 4. The authorised imports shall be counted against the quantitative limits laid down for the year in which the products are shipped in the exporting country. 2. In order to ensure that quantities for which import authorisations are issued do not at any time exceed the total quantitative limits for each product group, the competent authorities shall issue import authorisations only upon confirmation by the Commission that there are still quantities available within the quantitative limits for the relevant product group of steel products in respect of the supplier country, for which an importer or importers have submitted applications to the said authorities. 3. Imports of products as from 1 January 2004 for which a licence was required pursuant to Council Decision 2003/893/EC shall be counted against the relevant limits for 2004 laid down in Annex V. 4. For the purposes of this Regulation and as from the date of its application, shipment of products shall be considered as having taken place on the date on which they were loaded onto the exporting means of transport.