Products exempt from licensing*

Member: 

Basic information

1

Outline of the system

Decree-Law 68/2005, of 31 October 2005, which describes Cape Verde’s Licensing Regime, was revised to bring it in conformity with the WTO “Agreement on Procedures on the Matter of Importation Licensing”.
The revised legislation takes the following operation in consideration:

- Imports that are totally exempt from licensing

Under the revised regime, the following are exempt from any kind of licensing:
- Importation of goods without commercial value, under the terms that will be defined in ordinance of the government member responsible for the area of foreign trade;
- Active and passive improvement operations, of temporary importation, reimportation in the state, reexportation and transit;
- Importations of goods subject to the special customs regimes in the modalities of franc stores, bonded warehouses, franc deposit and special customs storage;
- Industrialized goods, destined for consumption in the area of congresses, fairs and international expositions and assimilated events;
- Importation of goods destined for the provisionment of ships and aircrafts, under the terms of the applicable legislation;
- Goods apprehended, abandoned, found at sea or stranded by it or salvaged from shipwreck and sold at auction;
- Importation of goods without expenditure of currency, property of air and maritime navigation companies and destined for their exclusive use.
Export operations in Cape Verde are exempt from licensing, under the terms of Article 9 of law No. 92/IV/93 of 15 December 1993.

2

Product coverage

There are three licensing systems in Cape Verde:
- For imports subject to automatic license;
- For imports subject to non-automatic license;
- For imports exempt from licensing.
The goods exempt from licensing consist of :
(a) Goods without commercial value, under the terms that will be defined in ordinance of the government member responsible for the area of foreign trade.
(b) Goods involved in active and passive improvement operations, of temporary importation, reimportation in the state, reexportation and transit.
(c) Goods subject to the special customs regimes in the modalities of franc stores, bonded warehouses, franc deposit and special customs storage.
(d) Industrialized goods destined for consumption in the area of congresses, fairs and international expositions and assimilated events.
(e) Goods destined for the provisionment of ships and aircrafts, under the terms of the applicable legislation.
(f) Goods apprehended, abandoned, found at sea or stranded by it or salvaged from shipwreck and sold at auction.
(g) Goods that do not require expenditure of currency, property of air and maritime navigation companies and destined for their exclusive use.

Nature of licensing

Automatic

3

If Automatic, administrative purpose

Non-Automatic

4

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

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?

The systems applies equally to all goods, regardless of the country or countries where they originate.

8

Expected duration of licensing procedure

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?

14

Is there a registration fee?

15

Is there a published list of authorized importers?

Contact point for information on eligibility

16

Ministry/Authority

17

Address

18

Telephone

19

Fax

20

E-mail address

21

Website

22

Contact officer

Submission of an application

23

Administrative body(ies) for submission of an application

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

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?

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?