Article 3

The quantities referred to in Article 2 shall be managed by the Commission, which may take any appropriate administrative measures to ensure that they are managed efficiently.

Where an importer presents a declaration for release for free circulation in a Member State, applying to take advantage of the provisions of this Regulation, and the declaration is accepted by the customs authorities, the Member State concerned shall notify the Commission and draw an amount corresponding to its requirements.

Requests for drawings, indicating the date on which the declarations were accepted, shall be sent to the Commission without delay.

Drawings shall be granted by the Commission by reference to the date on which the customs authorities of the Member State concerned accepted the declaration for release for free circulation, to the extent that the available balance so permits.

If a Member State does not use the amount drawn it shall return it as soon as possible to the corresponding quantity.

If the amounts requested are greater than the available balance of the quantity in question, the balance shall be allocated among applicants pro rata. The Commission shall inform the Member States of the drawings made.

Each Member State shall ensure that importers of the products in question have equal and continuous access to the quantities for as long as the balance of the relevant quantity so permits.