Goods subject to quantitative restrictions

Goods and services are freely exportable and importable, subject to the limits established by Law No. 13-89 on foreign trade and any other legislation in force designed to safeguard public morals, health, safety, law and order, protect fauna and flora and the national historical, archaeological and artistic heritage or maintain Morocco's external financial position.

To this end, quality control on the basis of predetermined standards may be carried out and quantitative restrictions on both imports and exports of goods may be implemented in exceptional cases.

Imports require an import indenture ("engagement d'importation") made out in five copies and arranged directly with an approved banking intermediary, selected by the importer. The indenture is valid for six months from the date of signature.
However, goods imported under the special regimes provided for in Chapter 1 of Title VI of the Customs and Excise Code do not require an import indenture. These are goods which may be imported free of import duties and taxes, such as shipments to embassies and diplomatic and consular services, charity shipments, exceptional shipments of no commercial value and goods returning to the national territory that are of Moroccan origin or have been cleared for home use.
An import licence is required for the customs clearance of goods subject to quantitative restrictions. The licence is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Trade after consultation with the ministry or ministries concerned. The decision to grant or refuse the import licence is notified to the applicant by the Ministry of Foreign Trade within 30 days from the date of application. The licence is made out in six copies and is valid for a maximum of six months from the date of issue by the Ministry of Foreign Trade.

The licences must be accompanied by the pro forma invoices made out in five copies. The invoices must show at least the ex-factory unit price, the quantity in appropriate units and the trade description of the imported goods.

TITRE VI.pdf

In accordance with the provisions of Article 17 of Law No. 13-89 on foreign trade, an import licence is required for goods subject to quantitative restrictions, with a view to safeguarding public morals, safety, health, law and order. Such licences authorize customs clearance and financial settlement of the imports concerned. Import licences are issued by the Ministry of Foreign Trade after consultation with the ministries concerned. They are valid for a period of six months from their date of issue.
Products covered:

In addition to explosives, worn clothing and used and re-treaded tyres, other goods have been added for health and safety reasons to the list of products subject to import licensing, in accordance with Article 1 of Law No. 13-89 on trade, namely wheels fitted with used or re-treaded tyres and used chassis for motor vehicles. Other products have also been added to the list of goods subject to import licensing in accordance with the provisions of the Montreal Protocol of 16 September 1987 on the marketing and use of substances that deplete the ozone layer and to the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993.

Please see Products for a detailed list of the goods subject to import licensing.

The import licensing system is applied for public health and safety reasons and for environmental protection. Its objective is in no way to restrict the quantity or value of imports, except in the case of certain goods (see reply to question No. 6).

Import licences for products subject to quantitative restrictions are issued as applications are lodged, on a non-discriminatory basis and with complete transparency, in accordance with the principles of the WTO Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures. As they are applied for health and safety reasons, they do not in any way restrict the value or quantity of imports.
Licences for the import of worn clothing and used or re-treaded tyres, however, are not granted for public health and safety reasons.

Licences are required for imports from any source. Therefore, any natural or legal person carrying out import operations is free to choose the country of origin.