background. This copy shall be clearly marked as 'original' and the other copies as 'copy'. Only the original shall be accepted by the competent authorities in the Community as being valid for the purposes of export to the Community inaccordance with the arrangements established by this Agreement.2. Each document shall bear a standardized serial number, whether or not printed, by which it can be identified. This number shall be composed of the following elements:-two letters identifying China as follows: CN, two letters identifying countries of destination as follows:BL: BeneluxDE: Federal Republic of GermanyDK: DenmarkEL: GreeceES: SpainFR: FranceGB: United KingdomIE: IrelandIT: ItalyPT: Portugal- a one-digit number identifying quota year, corresponding to the last figure in year, e.g. 9 for 1989,- a two-digit number running consecutively from 01 to 99 identifying the issuing office,- a five-digit number running consecutively from 00001 to 99999 allocated to the country of destination.3. The competent authorities in China shall satisfy themselves that the goods exported correspond to the statements given in the export licence and certificate of origin.Article 15The export licence and certificate of origin may be issued after the shipment of the products to which they relate. In such cases they shall bear either the endorsement 'délivré a posteriori' or the endorsement 'Issued retrospectively'.Article 161. In the event of theft, loss or destruction of an export licence or a certificate of origin, the exporter may apply to the competent governmental authority which issued the document for a duplicate to be made out on the basis of the export documents in his possession. The duplicate of any such certificate or licence so issued shall bear the endorsement 'duplicata'.2. The duplicate must bear the date of the original export licence or certificate of origin.TITLE VADMINISTRATIVE COOPERATIONArticle 17The Community and China shall cooperate closely to implement the provisions of this Agreement. To this end, contacts and exchanges of views (including on technical matters) shall be facilitated by both Parties.Article 18In order to ensure that the Agreement is properly applied, the Community and China assist each other in checking the authenticity and accuracy of export licences and certificates of origin isued or declarations made under this Protocol.Article 19China shall send the Commission of the European Communities the names and addresses of the governmental authorities competent for the issue and verification of export licences and certificates of origin together with specimens of the stamps used by these authorities. China shall also notify the Commission of any change in this information.Article 201. Subsequent verification of certificates of origin or export licences shall be carried out at random, or wheneverthe competent Community authorities have reasonable doubt as to the authenticity of the certificate or licence or as to the accuracy of the information regarding the products in question.2. In such cases the competent authorities in the Community shall return the certificate of origin or export licence or a copy thereof to the competent governmental authority in China giving, where appropriate, the reasons of form or substance for an enquiry. If the invoice has been submitted, such invoice or a copy thereof shall be attached to the certificate or licence or its copy. The authorities shall also forward any information that has been obtained suggesting that the particulars given on the said certificate or licence are inaccurate.3. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall be applicable to subsequent verifications of the declarations of origin referred to in Article 3 of this Protocol.4. The results of the subsequent verifications carried out in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be communicated to the competent authorities of the Community within three months at the latest. The information communicated shall indicate whether the disputed certificate or licence applied to the goods actually exported and whether these goods are eligible for export in accordance with the arrangements established by this Agreement. The information shall also include, at the request of the Community, copies of all documentation necessary to determine the facts fully and in particular the true origin of the goods.Should such verifications reveal systematic irregularities in the use of declarations of origin, the Community may subject imports of the products in question to the provisions of Article 3 paragraph 1 and 2 of this Protocol.5. For the purpose of subsequent verification of certificates of origin, copies of the certification as well as any export documents referring to them shall be kept for at least a period of two years by the competent governmental authority in China.6. Recourse to the random verification procedure specified in this Article must not constitute an obstacle to the release for home use of the products in question.Article 211. Where the verification procedure referred to in Article 20 or where information available to the Community or to China indicates or appears to indicate that the provisions of this Agreement are being contravened, both parties shall cooperate closely and with appropriate urgency to prevent such contravention.2. To this end China shall, on this own initiative or at the request of the Community, carry out appropriate enquiries or arrange for such enquiries to be carried out concerning operations which are or