Basic information
Outline of the system
The licensing of plant-protection products is regulated by the Law on Phytosanitary of 16 December 1999 and the Government Resolution No. 599 “On Approval of Vegetable Quarantine Regulations for Import and Export of Goods of Vegetable Origin to and from the Republic Lithuania and their Transit through the Territory of the Republic of Lithuania” of 3 August 1993, and is administered by the State Plant Protection Service under the Ministry of Agriculture. According to the Law on Phytosanitary plant-protection products before the importation shall be registered in the Phytosanitary Register by State Plant Protection Service under the Ministry of Agriculture. Only the registered products can be imported.
Product coverage
Imports of plant-protection products are subject to automatic licensing, registering and quarantine checking. Plant-protection products must be transported through the customs posts where plant quarantine points are operating, where quarantine and customs checking of the products are performed jointly.
The following products are covered:
06.01 bulbs, tubers, tuberous routs, corms, dormant in growth or in flower, chicory plants and roots other than roots of heading No. 12.12
06.02 other live plants (including their rots), cuttings and slips, mushroom spawn*
06.03 cut flowers and flower buds of a kind suitable for bouquets or for ornamental purposes, fresh, dried, dyed, bleached, impregnated or otherwise prepared*
06.04 foliage, branches or other parts of plants, without flowers or flower buds, and grasses, mosses and lichens, being goods of a kind suitable for bouquets or for ornamental purposes, fresh, dried, dyed, bleached, impregnated or otherwise prepared*
*All these products are imported to the Republic of Lithuania in line with the Article 5 of the Government Resolution No. 599 “On Approval of Vegetable Quarantine Regulations for Import and Export of Goods of Vegetable Origin to and from the Republic Lithuania and their Transit through the Territory of the Republic of Lithuania” of 3 August 1993.
Nature of licensing
Automatic
If Automatic, administrative purpose
Non-Automatic
If Non-Automatic, description of the notified Non-Automatic Licensing regime
Products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports
The purpose of the registration, licensing and quarantine checking is to avoid the spreading of agricultural pests, vegetable disease and weeds and to provide the consumers with quality plant-protection products harmless to health.
Questions for products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports
No quantitative or value restrictions.
The system applies to products originating from which country?
The system applies to the products originating in and coming from all countries.
Expected duration of licensing procedure
Legal requirements
Is the licensing statutorily required?
The licensing of imports of plant-protection products is based on and is maintained under the Law on Phytosanitary of 16 December 1999, published in Official Gazette “Valstybes zinios” No. 113-3285, 1999, Government Resolution No. 599 “On Approval of Vegetable Quarantine Regulations for Import and Export of Goods of Vegetable Origin to and from the Republic Lithuania and their Transit through the Territory of the Republic of Lithuania” of 3 August 1993 and published in Official Gazette “Valstybes zinios” No. 35-800, 1993.
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?
All persons, firms and institutions registered in the State Plant Protection Service as importers are eligible to apply for import licences.
Is there a registration fee?
Is there a published list of authorized importers?
Contact point for information on eligibility
Ministry/Authority
Address
Telephone
Fax
E-mail address
Website
Contact officer
Submission of an application
Administrative body(ies) for submission of an application
Documentation requirements
What information is required in applications?
A free-form application for licence should contain the name, address and the enterprise number of the importers, the list of imported plant-protection products with the quantity and HS codes.
What documents is the importer required to supply with the application?
The phytosanitary certificate issued by the plant quarantine or plant protection service of the exporting country shall accompany the application.
Window of submission of an application
How far in advance of importation must application for a licence be made?
It is up to the applicant to decide when to apply for a licence, knowing that the document will be issued within a maximum of 3 working days of receipt of the application.
Are there any limitations as to the period of the year during which application for licence can be made? If so, explain
There are no limitations as to the period of the year during which application for licence and/or importation may be made.
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?
An importer has to approach only one administrative organ in connection with an application, namely State Plant Protection Service under the Ministry of Agriculture.
Must the applications be passed on to other organs for visa, note or approval?
An importer has to approach only one administrative organ in connection with an application, namely State Plant Protection Service under the Ministry of Agriculture.
Are there any other conditions attached to the issue of a licence?
There are no other conditions attached to the issuance 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?
There is no licensing fee or administrative charge.
Is there any deposit or advance payment required associated with the issue of licences?
There is no deposit or advance payment requirement associated with the issuance of licences, registering and quarantine checking.
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?
Under no circumstances other than failure to meet the ordinary criteria may an application for a licence be refused.
Are the reasons for any refusal given to applicants?
Have applicants a right of appeal in the event of refusal to issue a licence?
In the event of refusal to issue a licence, the applicant has a right of appeal pursuant to the procedure provided by law.
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?
Upon actual importation, an importer is required to submit approved import licence and the phytosanitary certificate along with the general documents while conducting customs procedures.
Are there any other administrative procedures, apart from import licensing and similar administrative procedures, required prior to importation?
There are no other administrative procedures, apart from registration, import licensing and quarantine checking required prior to importation of plant protection products.
Conditions of licensing
What is the period of validity of a licence? Can the validity be extended? How?
A licence is a non-recurrent certificate issued for a certain period.
Is there any penalty for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of a licence?
There is no penalty for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of it.
Are licences transferable between importers? If so, are any limitations or conditions attached to such transfer?
Licences are not transferable between importers.
Foreign Exchange
Is foreign exchange automatically provided by the banking authorities for goods to be imported?
Foreign exchange is automatically provided by the banking authorities for the products to be imported.