Les contingents tarifaires sont ouverts et gérés par la Commission selon différentes méthodes fondées sur l'ordre chronologique d'introduction des demandes (premier arrivé, premier servi), la répartition en proportion des quantités demandées lors de l'introduction des demandes (l'examen simultané), la prise en compte des courants traditionnels ou d'autres méthodes non discriminatoires.
Tariff quotas are opened and managed by the Commission according to a method based on the chronological order in which applications were submitted (first come, first served), a method of distribution in proportion to the quantities requested when the applications were submitted (simultaneous examination), a method based on taking traditional trade patterns into account or other non-discriminatory methods.