Agriculture and livestock products

Member: 

Basic information

1

Outline of the system

Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) Resolution No. 022-2022 of 7 March 2022 establishing the procedure for granting and administering non automatic import licences for products under the control of the MAG, as specified in Annex I.

The granting and approval of the non-automatic import licence shall not relieve importers of the obligation to satisfy requirements relating to animal and/or plant health, food safety or the like, applicable to agricultural products.

2

Product coverage

Agriculture and livestock products. Please see Products

Nature of licensing

Automatic

3

If Automatic, administrative purpose

Non-Automatic

4

If Non-Automatic, description of the notified Non-Automatic Licensing regime

Non-automatic licensing to collect trade statistics or market surveillance, Quota (including TRQ) administration and Import authorization for agricultural products.

5

Products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports

6

Questions for products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports

7

The system applies to products originating from which country?

8

Expected duration of licensing procedure

Ongoing

Eligibility of applicants

12

Is there a system of registration of persons or firms permitted to engage in importation?

13

What persons or firms are eligible to apply for a licence?

In order to obtain the non-automatic import licence, natural or legal persons must be classified as importers of agricultural products.

14

Is there a registration fee?

15

Is there a published list of authorized importers?

Contact point for information on eligibility

16

Ministry/Authority

Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock / Undersecretariat for Agricultural Marketing

17

Address

Directorate for Agricultural Trade Management

18

Telephone

(+593-2) 3960 100 Ext. 1106

19

Fax

20

E-mail address

22

Contact officer

Submission of an application

23

Administrative body(ies) for submission of an application

Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock / Undersecretariat for Agricultural Marketing

Documentation requirements

24

What information is required in applications?

25

What documents is the importer required to supply with the application?

Window of submission of an application

26

How far in advance of importation must application for a licence be made?

27

Are there any limitations as to the period of the year during which application for licence can be made? If so, explain

As regards procedures for non-automatic import licences in 2022, applications will be received from 1 to 21 March 2022.

Issuing the license

28

Can a licence be granted immediately on request?

29

Can licences be obtained within a shorter time-limit or for goods arriving at the port without a licence

30

Which administrative body is responsible for approving application of licences?

31

Must the applications be passed on to other organs for visa, note or approval?

32

Are there any other conditions attached to the issue of a licence?

Fees and other administrative charges

33

Is there any licensing fee or administrative charge?

34

What is the amount of the fee or charge?

35

Is there any deposit or advance payment required associated with the issue of licences?

36

Amount or rate?

37

Is it refundable?

38

What is the period of retention?

39

What is the purpose of this requirement?

Refusal of an application

40

Under what circumstances may an application for a licence be refused other than failure to meet the ordinary criteria?

41

Are the reasons for any refusal given to applicants?

42

Have applicants a right of appeal in the event of refusal to issue a licence?

43

If so, to what bodies and under what procedures?

Importation

44

Are there any limitations as to the period of year during which importation may be made?

45

What documents are required upon actual importation?

46

Are there any other administrative procedures, apart from import licensing and similar administrative procedures, required prior to importation?

Conditions of licensing

47

What is the period of validity of a licence? Can the validity be extended? How?

The non-automatic import licence shall have a period of validity of 180 days from the date of issue and shall be authorized for a single consignment or shipment, with an ordinary period of 90 days and an extraordinary period of 90 additional days.

48

Is there any penalty for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of a licence?

49

Are licences transferable between importers? If so, are any limitations or conditions attached to such transfer?

Foreign Exchange

50

Is foreign exchange automatically provided by the banking authorities for goods to be imported?

51

Is a licence required as a condition to obtaining foreign exchange?

52

Is foreign exchange always available to cover licences issued?

53

What formalities must be fulfilled for obtaining the foreign exchange?

The following questions are only for products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports (whether applicable globally or to a limited number of countries or whether established bilaterally or unilaterally)

6.1

Where is information on allocation and formalities for licences published? Is the overall amount published? The amount allocated to goods from each country? The maximum amount allocated to each importer? How to request any exceptions or derogations from the licensing requirement?

6.2

Is the size of the quota determined: on yearly, six-monthly or quarterly basis? Are there cases where the size of quota is determined on a yearly basis but licences are issued for imports on a six-monthly or quarterly basis? In the latter case, is it necessary for importers to apply for a fresh licence on a six-monthly or quarterly basis?

6.3

Are licences allocated for certain goods partly or only to domestic producers of like goods? What steps are taken to ensure that licences allocated are actually used for imports? Are unused allocations added to quotas for a succeeding period? Are names of importers to whom licences have been allocated made known to governments and export promotion bodies of exporting countries upon request? If not, for what reason? (Indicate products to which replies relate)

6.4

From the time of announcing the opening of quotas, as indicated in I above, what is the period of time allowed for the submission of applications for licences?

The non-automatic import licence shall be issued prior to the shipment of the goods on the following basis:

(a) Two periods each year – from 1 to 21 December and 1 to 21 June – will be open for the receipt of applications. Applications will be received by the MAG Undersecretariat for Agricultural Marketing.

(b) The MAG Undersecretariat for Agricultural Marketing will review applications taking account of applicants’ import history in the last three years to ensure that imports are used in their entirety and to avoid market distortions in relation to products.

(c) Approved applications must be implemented within the period specified in the respective import licence. However, the use of the import licence may not go beyond 31 December of the year in which the licence is granted.

6.5

What are the minimum and maximum lengths of time for processing applications?

The licence will be granted by the fourth day following the electronic submission of the application via the Single Window for Foreign Trade, provided that the application complies with the established requirements.

6.6

How much time remains, at a minimum, between the granting of licences and the date of opening of the period of importation?

6.7

Is consideration of licence applications effected by a single administrative organ? Or must the application be passed on to other organs for visa, note or approval? If so, which? Does the importer have to approach more than one administrative organ?

6.8

If the demand for licences cannot be fully satisfied, on what basis is the allocation to applicants made? First come, first served? Past performance? Is there a maximum amount to be allocated per applicant and if so, on what basis is it determined? What provision is made for new importers? Are applications examined simultaneously or on receipt?

6.9

In the case of bilateral quotas or export restraint arrangements where export permits are issued by exporting countries, are import licences also required? If so, are licences issued automatically?

6.10

In cases where imports are allocated on the basis of export permits only, how is the importing country informed of the effect given by the exporting countries to the understanding between the two countries?

6.11

Are there products for which licences are issued on condition that goods should be exported and not sold in the domestic market?