The Chinese garments blocked at the European ports will be released on Sept. 14, the European Commission (EC) announced in Brussels on Thursday.

The European Union (EU) executive body made the announcement by issuing an "important information for importers and traders".

On Wednesday, the EU member states gave the green light to the EU-China deal on unblocking the textiles, the EC is now busy finalizing a regulation based on the deal.

"It is expected that it (regulation) will be adopted very early in the week of Sept. 12, published in all the 20 official languages the next day, and enter into force the following day," said the EC.

From that time on, the EU member states will start to issue import licenses and the blocked merchandise may be released into free circulation.

According to the EC, however, the stockpiles of blocked Chinese garments hit 87 million pieces at the time when Chinese Commerce Minister Bo Xilai and EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson signed the unblocking deal on Sept. 5 in Beijing.

The EC also said the deadline for applying for license to unblock the goods is Sept. 20.

"The deadline for importers to request the issue of import licenses for goods shipped from China before July 20 has been extended till Sept. 20," it said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 9, 2005)