Basic information
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.
Product coverage
Agriculture and livestock products. Please see Products
Nature of licensing
Automatic
If Automatic, administrative purpose
Non-Automatic
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.
Products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports
Questions for products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports
The system applies to products originating from which country?
Expected duration of licensing procedure
Ongoing
Legal requirements
Is the licensing statutorily required?
Instructions for obtaining non-automatic import licences for products under the control of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG)
(Resolution No. 022-2022)
Does the legislation leave designation of products to be subject to licensing to administrative discretion?
Is it possible for the government to abolish the system without legislative approval?
Eligibility of applicants
Is there a system of registration of persons or firms permitted to engage in importation?
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.
Is there a registration fee?
Is there a published list of authorized importers?
Contact point for information on eligibility
Ministry/Authority
Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock / Undersecretariat for Agricultural Marketing
Address
Directorate for Agricultural Trade Management
Telephone
(+593-2) 3960 100 Ext. 1106
Fax
Contact officer
Submission of an application
Administrative body(ies) for submission of an application
Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock / Undersecretariat for Agricultural Marketing
Documentation requirements
What information is required in applications?
What documents is the importer required to supply with the application?
Window of submission of an application
How far in advance of importation must application for a licence be made?
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
Can a licence be granted immediately on request?
Can licences be obtained within a shorter time-limit or for goods arriving at the port without a licence
Which administrative body is responsible for approving application of licences?
Must the applications be passed on to other organs for visa, note or approval?
Are there any other conditions attached to the issue of a licence?
Fees and other administrative charges
Is there any licensing fee or administrative charge?
What is the amount of the fee or charge?
Is there any deposit or advance payment required associated with the issue of licences?
Amount or rate?
Is it refundable?
What is the period of retention?
What is the purpose of this requirement?
Refusal of an application
Under what circumstances may an application for a licence be refused other than failure to meet the ordinary criteria?
Are the reasons for any refusal given to applicants?
Have applicants a right of appeal in the event of refusal to issue a licence?
If so, to what bodies and under what procedures?
Importation
Are there any limitations as to the period of year during which importation may be made?
What documents are required upon actual importation?
Are there any other administrative procedures, apart from import licensing and similar administrative procedures, required prior to importation?
Conditions of licensing
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.
Is there any penalty for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of a licence?
Are licences transferable between importers? If so, are any limitations or conditions attached to such transfer?
Foreign Exchange
Is foreign exchange automatically provided by the banking authorities for goods to be imported?
Is a licence required as a condition to obtaining foreign exchange?
Is foreign exchange always available to cover licences issued?
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)
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?
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?
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)
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.
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.