WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/LIC/N/3/MAR/3
28 mars 2003
(03-1774)
Committee on Import Licensing Procedures Original:  French
REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES1
Notification under Article 7.3 of the Agreement
on Import Licensing Procedures
MOROCCO
The following communication, dated 25 March 2003, has been received from the Permanent
Mission of Morocco.
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Outline of systems
1. 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 interm ediary, 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 i ndenture.  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 comme rcial 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 re fuse 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 insix copies and is valid for a maximum of six months from the date of issue by the Ministry of Foreign
Trade.
                                                     
1 For the questionnaire, see the annex to document G/LIC/3.G/LIC/N/3/MAR/3
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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 pri ce, the quantity in appropriate units and the trade
description of the imported goods.
Purposes and coverage of licensing
2. 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 quantitativ e 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 us ed and retreaded 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 retreaded tyres and used chassisfor motor vehicles.  Other products have also been a dded 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.
A detailed list of the goods subject to  import licensing is annexed hereto.
3. 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.
4. 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, exceptin the case of certain goods (see reply to question No. 6).
5. Law No. 13-89 on foreign trade and the Order No. 1308-94 of the Minister for Foreign Trade,
Foreign Investment and Handicrafts.
The list of goods subject to quantitative import restrictions is established by order of the
minister responsible for foreign trade after consultation with the minister or ministers concerned.
Procedures
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 retreaded tyres, however, are not granted
for public health and safety reasons.
7. The maximum time-limit for issuing import licences is 30 days from the date of lodging the
application.  No time-limit has been fixed for lodging licence applications.
8. If an import licence application is rejected, the reasons for refusal are communicated to the
applicant within a maximum period of 30 days from the date of the application.  Importers may
resubmit licence applications.G/LIC/N/3/MAR/3
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Eligibility of importers to apply for licence
9. Any natural or legal person lawfully resident in Morocco may apply for an import licence.
Documentational and other requirements for application for licence
10. See the annexes to Order No. 1518-94 establishing the procedures for obtaining import
licences.2
11. The form for import 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 expressed in
appropriate units and the trade description of the imported goods.
12-13.  No.Conditions of licensing
14. Import licences are issued by the Ministry of Foreign Trade after consultation with the
ministries concerned.  They are valid for a maxi mum of six months from their date of issue.
15. No.
16. No.
17. No conditions other than those specified in Law 13-89 on foreign trade and its implementing
texts are attached to the issue of a licence.
Other procedural requirements
18. No.
19. Yes.
                                                     
2 See the notification under Article 8:2(b) of the Agreement on import licensing procedures.G/LIC/N/3/MAR/3
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ANNEX
List of Goods Subject to Import Licensing
Tariff heading Product description
29.03.14.00.10 Carbon tetrachloride
29.03.19.00.10 Methyl chloroform
29.03.41.00.00 Trichlorofluoromethane
29.03.42.00.00 Dichlorodifluoromethane
29.03.43.00.00 Trichlorotrifluoromethane
29.03.44.00.00 Dichlorotetrafluorethane
29.03.44.00.00 Chloropentafluorethane
29.03.46.00.00 Chlorobromodifluoromethane
29.03.46.00.00 Bromotrifluoromethane
29.03.46.00.00 Dibromotetrafluoroethane
36 (except 36.05.00, 36.06.90.00.11) Explosives, pyrotechnic products, pyrophoric alloys,
certain combustible preparations (other than matches and
lighter flints)
40.12.10.00.0040.12.20.00
40.12.90.29.00
40.12.90.39.00
40.12.90.90.1940.12.90.40.90
40.12.90.90.90Retreaded tyres; used tyres
63.09.00 Worn clothing and other worn articles
Ex.84.14.30 Compressors of a kind used in refrigerating equipment
using dichlorodifluoromethane, known as R12, or
chloropentafluoroethane, known as R115, on their own or
as an azeotropic mixture with other substances
Ex.84.18.10 Combined refrigerator-freezers fitted with separate
external doors, using dichlorodifluoromethane, known as
R12, or chloropentafluoroethane, known as R115, on
their own or as an azeotropic mixture with othersubstances
Ex.84.18.21 Household-type refrigerators, compression-type, using
dichlorodifluoromethane, known as R12, or
chloropentafluoroethane, known as R115, on their own or
as an azeotropic mixture with other substances
Ex84.18.22 Household-type electrical refrigerators, absorption-type,
using dichlorodifluoromethane, known as R12, or
chloropentafluoroethane, known as R115, on their own or
as an azeotropic mixture with other substances
Ex.84.18.29 Other household-type refrigerators using
dichlorodifluoromethane, known as R12, orchloropentafluoroethane, known as R115, on their own or
as an azeotropic mixture with other substancesG/LIC/N/3/MAR/3
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Tariff heading Product description
Ex.84.18.30 Freezers of the chest type, not exceeding 800 litres
capacity, using dichlorodifluoromethane, known as R12,
or chloropentafluoroethane, known as R115, on their own
or as an azeotropic mixture with other substances
Ex.84.18.40 Freezers of the upright type, not exceeding 900 litres
capacity, using dichlorodifluoromethane, known as R12,
or chloropentafluoroethane, known as R115, on their own
or as an azeotropic mixture with other substances
Ex.87.06.00.00 Used chassis fitted with engines, for the motor vehicles
of headings 8701 to 8705
Ex.87.08.99.98.00 Other used chassis for vehicles of headings 8701 to 8705
Ex.87.08.70.00.99 Wheels fitted with retreaded tyres or used tyres
Ex.8716.90 Wheels fitted with retreaded tyres or used tyres
Source:  Ministry of Foreign Trade.
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