Austin Deasy
Ceist:74 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the way in which a licence for the importation of fruit which was lost or mislaid resulting in a cost to the importing company could not have been replaced.
Written Answers. - Import Licences.
In accordance with EU regulations licences are required for the import of certain agricultural products from non-member states. Licences are issued subject to the lodging of a security so as to guarantee that the undertaking to import is fulfilled. In the case of certain agricultural products, such as bananas, import licences are issued to importers within the framework of a quota. Where a licence issued within this quota is lost, a relacement licence cannot be provided by the issuing authority.
In such circumstances a duplicate licence may be issued but only for the purpose of seeking a refund for that part of the security pertaining to the quantity, if any, of the product which has already been imported under the licence. Duplicate licences cannot, however, be used for import operations.