Article 3
1. A Community operator may apply for import rights on the basis of a reference quantity which shall be the quantities of beef falling under CN codes 0201 , 0202 , 0206 10 95 or 0206 29 91 imported by him/her or on his/her behalf under the relevant customs provisions, between 1 May 2005 and 30 April 2006. Subject to the entry into force of the Treaty of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania on 1 January 2007, operators in these countries may apply for import rights in relation to the quantities available for the second sub-period of this quota as referred to in Article 1(3)(b), on the basis of imports in the period and of the products referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph. 2. A company formed by the merger of companies each having reference imports may use those reference imports as basis for its application. 3. Proof of imports referred to in paragraph 1 shall accompany the application for import rights and shall be provided by means of a duly endorsed copy for the consignee of the customs declaration for release for free circulation. However, operators that provided that proof together with their application for import rights in relation to the quantities available for the first sub-period of this quota as referred to in Article 1(3)(a), are exempted from the obligation to provide such proof in case of applications for import rights in relation to the quantities available for the second sub-period of this quota as referred to in Article 1(3)(b).