RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE WT/ACC/SYC/5
8January 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-0024)
Original: English
ACCESSION OFTHE REPUBLIC OFSEYCHELLES
Questions andReplies totheMemorandum
ontheForeign Trade Régime
(Document WT/ACC/SYC/3)
Inacommunication dated 31May1995, circulated asWT/ACC/SYC/1, theGovernment of
theRepublic ofSeychelles applied foraccession totheWorld Trade Organization (WTO) under the
provisions ofArticle XIIoftheWTO Agreement. Theterms ofreference oftheWorking Party are
reproduced indocument WT/ACC/SYC/2. Indocument WT/ACC/SYC/3, Members hadbeeninvited
tosubmitquestionsinwritingconcerningtheforeigntraderégimeofSeychelles.Thequestionssubmitted
byMembers andthereplies thereto provided bytheGovernment oftheRepublic ofSeychelles are
reproduced hereunder.
Delegations wishing toraise additional questions concerning theforeign trade régime of
Seychelles might inform thedelegation ofSeychelles (with acopytotheSecretariat) ofsuchquestions
inadvance ofthemeeting oftheWorking Party, sothatconsidered replies canbemade available by
theGovernment ofSeychelles toMembers atthetimeoftheWorking Party meeting.WT/ACC/SYC/5
Pageii
TABLE OFCONTENTS
Page
II. ECONOMY, ECONOMIC POLICIES AND FOREIGN TRADE
2. Economic Policies
(a) Main directions ofongoing economic policies
(ii) Pricing policy 1
(v) Sectorial priorities 2
(c) Foreign exchange payment andcontrol regime 3
(d) Foreign anddomestic investment policies 7
III. FRAMEWORK FOR MAKING AND ENFORCING POLICIES
AFFECTING FOREIGN TRADE INGOODS AND TRADE INSERVICES
(b) Trades taxonimports andrules governing imports 7
(i) Tariff nomenclature 8
(ii) Customs valuation 9
(iv) Anti-dumping, countervailing andsafeguard measures 9
(v) Non-tariff measures 9
(c) Rules governing exports 11
Rules oforigin 11
IV. POLICIES AFFECTING FOREIGN TRADE INGOODS
3. Internal Policies Affecting Foreign Trade inGoods
(a) Industrial policy 11
(b) Technical regulations andstandards 12
(c) Sanitary andphytosanitary measures 12
(e) State-trading practices 12
(f-g) Freezones andfreeeconomic zones 13
4. Policies Affecting Foreign Trade inAgricultural products 13
(a) Market access 14
(b) Non-tariff measures 14
(c) State-trading 14
(d) Domestic support 15
V. TRADE-RELATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RÉGIME
1. General Description 15
2. Substantive Standards ofProtection
(a) Copyright andrelated rights 16
(b) Trade marks relating togoods andservices 16
(c) Geographical indications 16
(d) Industrial Designs 16
(e) Patents forinventions 17
(f) Plants variety protection 18
4. Enforcement 18WT/ACC/SYC/5
Pageiii
VI. TRADE-RELATED SERVICE REGIME
2. Market andregulatory structure oftheprominent services sectors
(a) Financial services 19
(b) Communication services 19
(c) Professional services
(i) Legal services 20
(iii) Architectural, engineering andrelated services
(iv) Management consulting andrelated services,
including accounting services 21
(e) Tourism andrelated services 21
Annex 3 Information onImport Licensing Procedures 21
ANNEXES
ANNEX 1 INFORMATION ONIMPLEMENTATION AND ADMINISTRATION OFTHE
CUSTOMS VALUATION AGREEMENT
ANNEX 2 INFORMATION ONTECHNICAL BARRIERS TOTRADE
ANNEX 3 QUESTIONNAIRE ONSTATE-TRADINGWT/ACC/SYC/5
Page1
II. ECONOMY, ECONOMIC POLICIES AND FOREIGN TRADE
2. Economic Policies
(a) Main directions ofongoing economic policies
(ii) Pricing Policy (WT/ACC/SYC/3, page 5)
Question 1-
Please givedetails ofgoods subject toamaximum mark-up of30percentonimports?
Answer
Allgoods imported intoSeychelles aresubject toamaximum mark-up of30percent,except
forthefollowing goods:
H.SCoding
1)02.01Description OfGoods
Meat ofbovine animals, fresh orchilled
2)02.02 Meat ofbovine animals, frozen
3)02.03 Meat ofswine, fresh, chilled orfrozen
4)02.04 Meat ofsheep orgoats, fresh, chilled orfrozen
5)02.06 Edible offalofbovine animals, swines, sheep, goats, horses, asses,
mules orhinnies, fresh, chilled orfrozen
6)02.07 Meat andedible offalofthepoultry ofheading No.01.05, fresh,
chilled orfrozen
7)02.08 Other meatandedible meatoffal, fresh, chilled orfrozen
8)02.10 Meat andedible meatoffal, salted, inbrine, dried orsmoked;
edible flours andmeals ofmeatormeatoffal
9)03.01 Livefish
10)03.02 Fish, fresh orchilled, excluding fishfillets andother fishmeatof
heading No03.04.
11)03.03 Fish, frozen, excluding fishfillets andother fishmeatofheading
No03.04
12)03.04 Fishfillets andother fishmeat(whether ornotminced), fresh,
chilled orfrozen.
13)03.05 Fish, dried, salted orinbrine; smoked fish,whether ornotcooked
before orduring thesmoking process; fishmealfitforhuman
consumption.WT/ACC/SYC/5
Page2
14)03.06 Crustaceans, whether inshellornot,live,fresh, chilled, frozen,
dried, salted orinbrine; crustaceans, inshell, cooked bysteaming
orbyboiling inwater, whether ornotchilled, frozen, dried salted
orinbrine.
15)03.07 Mollusc, whether inshellornot,live,fresh, chilled, frozen, dried,
salted orinbrine; aquatic invertebrates other thancrustaceans and
mollusc, live,fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted orinbrine.
16)24.01 unmanufactured tobacco; tobacco refuse
17)24.02 Cigars, cheroots, cigarillos andcigarettes, oftobacco oroftobacco
substitutes.
18)24.03 Other manufactured tobacco andmanufactured tobacco substitutes.
19)84.26 Derricks; cranes, including cable cranes; mobile lifting frames,
straddle carriers andworks trucks fitted withacrane.
20)84.27 Fork-lift trucks; other works trucks fitted withlifting orhandling
equipment.
21)84.28 Other lifting, handling, loading orunloading machinery (for
example, lifts,escalators, conveyors, telepherics)
28)84.38 Machinery fortheindustrial preparation ormanufacture offoodor
drink, other thanmachinery fortheextraction orpreparation of
animal orfixed vegetable fatsorsoils
29)84.39 Machinery formaking pulpoffibrous cellulosic material orfor
making orfinishing paper orpaperboard.
30)84.41 Other machinery formaking uppaper pulp, paper orpaperboard,
including cutting machines ofallkinds
31)84.42 Machinery, apparatus andequipment fortypefounding or
type-setting, forpreparing ormaking printing blocks, plates,
cylinders etc.
32)84.43 Printing machinery; machines forusesancillary toprinting.
Forfurther details, please consult theTrades TaxRegulations (available intheAccessions
Division, Room 1126).
(v) Sectorial Priorities (page 7)
Question 2-
Please givedetails ofplans forprivatisation. Which enterprises arestillState-owned?WT/ACC/SYC/5
Page3
Answer
Themain reasons andobjectives ofanyprivatisation programme arebroadly similar across
countries, whether developed ornot. Inthisrespect, oneofthemain objectives oftheSeychelles
privatisation programme istoreduce thesizeoftheState-owned enterprise sector andthefiscal burden
ofloss-making public enterprises inorder tohelpregain fiscal control andmacroeconomic stability.
Other mainobjectives oftheprivatization programme aretogenerate newinvestments, whether national
orforeign, andtopavethewayforthecreation ofanenabling environment fortheprivate sector to
operate more efficiently.
Asthesizeofthepublic enterprises tobeprivatised isrelatively small, thetechniques of
privatisation adopted arepublic auctions or/and direct sales, andthis,withaviewtorealising quick
andlow-cost sales.
ThefollowingenterprisesarestillState-owned:PublicUtilitiesCorporation(P.U.C),Seychelles
Public Transport Corporation (S.P.T.C), Seychelles Petroleum Company (SEYPEC), AirSeychelles
Ltd,CompagnieSeychelloisedePromotionHotelière(COSPROH),SeychellesSavingsBank,Seychelles
InternationalMercantileBankingCorporationLtd,SeychellesMarketingBoard(S.M.B),StateAssurance
Corporation ofSeychelles (SACOS), EauValRiche Company Ltd.
(c) Foreign exchange payment andcontrol régime
Question 3-
There appears tobeadefacto shortage offoreign exchange. What arethereasons forthis?
What steps arebeing taken toalleviate thisshortage?
Theexchange pipeline scheme hasbeenintroduced withtheprimary objective ofensuring amore
equitable allocation offoreign exchange (page 8).Arecommercial banks required totransfer
15percentpercentofgross inflows offoreign exchange totheCentral Bank topayforimports
ofessential goods bytheSeychelles Marketing Board? These goods arebroken down intodifferent
categories (eight arementioned onpage8andseven onpage9).Please identify thegoods ineach
category bytheirHarmonised System Number. What plans hasthegovernment toeliminate these
requirements? What isitstimetable inthisrespect?
Answer
Infact,themain reasons foradefacto shortage offoreign exchange arethecontinuous
deterioration oftheSeychelles Balance ofPayments situation andtheexcessive demand pressures for
imports resulting from thedevelopment process. Seychelles hasnotaccepted toresolve thedefacto
e.gforeign exchange shortage through acurtailment onimports, instead theSeychelles government
isimplementingastrategyaimingatdiversifyingthenationaleconomyandincreasingexportablesupplies.
TheSeychellesGovernmenthastheconvictionthatthemoresuccessfulacountryisinincreasingexports,
thesmaller thepressure onthatcountry todropimports through theimposition oftrade barriers.
Inorder toensure thesecurity ofsupply ofthearchipelago, commercial banks areeffectively
asked totransfer 15percentofgross inflows offoreign exchange totheCentral Bank ofSeychelles
topayimports ofessential goods bytheSeychelles Marketing Board. These goods arebroken down
intodifferent categories asfollows:WT/ACC/SYC/5
Page4
Allocation ofTotal Foreign Currency Receipts
HSChapter Description %oftotal
forex receipts
Allocation 'A' Essential goods 15
2 Meat
4 Dairy produce e.gcheese, butter; birds’eggs;
7 Vegetables
8 Fruit (excluding bananas, mangoes
10 Cereals (including rice)
11.01 Flour
15 Margarine, animal orvegetable fatsandoils
16 Preparations ofmeat, offishorofcrustaceans,
molluscs orother aquatic invertebrates.
17.01 -17.03 Sugar (excluding sugar confectionery)
25.01 Salt
Allocation 'B' Food and(tourism related foodanddrinks) 7.4
3 Crustaceans, molluscs andother aquatic invertebrates (excl fish)
9 Coffee, teaandspices.
11 Products ofthemilling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten.
19 Pasta andpreparations ofcereals, flour, starch ormilk, biscuits (excl
Chessels, twisties andcrisps)
20 Canned vegetables, canned fruit, nutsandfruitjuices
21 Other foodpreparations
22 Wines andspirits.
24. Tobacco andcigarettes.
33.06 Toothpaste andother dental preparations
Allocation 'C' Rawmaterials andpharmaceuticals 8.2
1 Liveanimals
23 Animal feed
27 Petroleum gases andlubricants
28 Inorganic chemicals
29 Organic chemicals.
30 Pharmaceutical products.
31 Fertilizers.
32 Tanning ordyeing extracts; tannins; dyes, pigments, ink
34.01 -34.02 Soap, organic surface-active agents, washing preparations
34.03 -34.05 Lubricating oils,waxes, polishes andcreams
35.05 -35.06 Starches andglues
36.05 Matches
37 Photographic plates, films andemulsions
38.08 Insecticides, fungicides, disinfectants
48 Newsprint, toilet paper, sanitary napkins, tampons
50-56 Textile material (cloth), sewing thread
63.06 Tarpaulins, awnings andsunblinds, sailsandtents
59 Impregnated, coated, covered orlaminated textile fabrics; textileWT/ACC/SYC/5
Page5
articles ofakindsuitable forindustrial use.
60 Knitted orcrocheted fabrics.
90.18 Optical, medical andsurgical instruments andapparatus
96.08 -96.09 Pensandpencils
Allocation 'D' Machinery andspare parts 13.2
84 Machinery andALL spare parts
85 Electrical machinery andequipment andALL parts (excluding
domestic appliances, sound recorders andreproducers, television
image andsound recorders andreproducers)
87.06 Special purpose formotor vehicles
87.08 Spare parts formotor vehicles
90 Scientific, measuring, checking andprecision apparatus
(excluding 90.18 optical, medical andsurgical apparatus)
Allocation 'E' Building materials andtools 12.4
25.15 -25.17 Pebbles, rockandstone
25.23 Cement
32 Paints andvarnishes, putty
39 Plastics inprimary forms andplastic building materials
40 Articles ofrubber (including tyres)
44 Wood (excluding manufactured articles)
45 Cork andarticles ofcork.
63 Industrial andprotective clothing
64 Industrial footwear
68 Articles ofstone, plaster, cement, asbestos, micaorsimilar materials.
69 Ceramic products (excl statuettes andornamental ceramic articles)
70 Glass andglassware
72 Ironandsteel
73 Articles ofironorsteel
74 Copper andarticles thereof
75 Nickel andarticles thereof
76 Aluminium andarticles thereof
78 Lead andarticles thereof
79 Zincandarticles thereof
80 Tinandarticles thereof
81 Other basemetals; cermets; articles thereof
82 Tools
83 Other articles ofmetal
Allocation 'F' Other goods andauthorised transfers 12.4
03.01 -03.06 Fish
5 Products ofanimal origin
6 Livetreesandother plants; bulbs, roots, cutflowers andfoliage.
12 Oilseeds andoleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds andfruit;
industrial ormedicinal plants; straw andfodder.
13 Lac;gums, resins andother vegetable sapsandextracts.
14 Vegetable plaiting materials; vegetable products notelsewhere specified
17.04 Sugar confectioneryWT/ACC/SYC/5
Page6
18 Cocoa andcocoa preparations
1905.5000 Savoury crisps, twisties, cheesels
25 Sulphur earths andstone plastering materials excluding 25.01 salt,
pebbles, rockandstone, 25.23 cement)
26 Ores, slagandash.
33 Perfumery, cosmetics andtoilet preparation (excluding 33.06 toothpaste)
34 Polishes andcreams, candles, modelling pastes (excluding 34.01 -34.05
soap, washing powder, surface active agents
35 Albuminoidal substances, enzymes (excluding starches, glues)
36 Explosives, pyrotechnic goods (excluding 36.05 matches)
38 Miscellaneous chemical products (excluding 38.08. insecticides, disinfectants)
41 Rawhides andskins (other thanfurskins) andleather.
42 Articles ofleather; saddlery andharness; travel goods, handbags and
similar containers; articles ofanimal gut(other thansilk-worm gut).
43 Furskins andartificial fur;manufactures thereof.
44 Manufactured articles ofwood (other thanbuilding materials).
46 Manufactured ofstraw, ofesparto orofother plaiting materials
47 Pulpofwood orofother fibrous cellulosic material
49 Printed matter
57 Carpets andother textile floor coverings.
58 Special woven fabrics; tapestries; trimming; embroidery.
61 Articles ofapparel andclothing accessories, notknitted orcrocheted.
62 Articles ofapparel andclothing accessories, notknitted orcrocheted.
63 Bedlinen, towels, curtains andother textile furnishing (excluding industrial and
prospective clothing and63,06 tarpaulins, sails
64 Footwear (excluding industrial footwear)
65 Headgear andparts thereof.
66 Umbrellas, sunumbrellas, walking-sticks, seat-sticks, riding-crops
67 Prepared feathers anddown andarticles made offeathers orofdown;
artificial flowers; articles ofhuman hair.
69.13 Ceramic statuettes
71 Natural orcultured pearls, precious orsemi-precious stones, precious metals,
imitation jewellery; coin
85 Sound recorders andreproducers, television image andsound recorders
andreproducers, accessories ofsucharticles.
86 Railway ortramway locomotives, rolling-stock andparts thereof;
87 Excluding special purpose motor vehicles of87.06 andparts of87.08
88 Aircraft, spacecraft, andparts thereof.
89 Ships, boats andfloating structures
91 Clicks andwatches andparts thereof
92 Musical instruments; parts andaccessories ofsucharticles.
93 Arms andammunition; parts andaccessories thereof.
94 Furniture; bedding, mattresses, mattress supports, cushions andsimilar
stuffed furnishings; lamps andlighting fittings, n.e.s.o.i, illuminated
signs, illuminated name-plates andthelike;prefabricated buildings.
95 Toys, games andsports requisites; parts andaccessories thereof.
96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles (excluding pensandpencils)
97 Works ofart,collectors ’pieces andantiques.
-- Other authorised remittances andtransfersWT/ACC/SYC/5
Page7
Allocation 'G' Remittances andtransfers 8.2
Re-insurance premiums
Suppliers ’remittances,
Transfers tothefollowing:
-Seychelles Embassies abroad
-Seychelles Tourist Information Offices
-Payments foroverseas students
-Payments ofinsurance premiums
Allocation 'F' Foreign travel, including travel agency payments 8.2
Discretionary Grand Total ofForeign Exchange receipts 100%
payments
However, witheffect from 1January 1997, theforeign exchange pipeline scheme willbe
abolishedandresidentsearningforeigncurrencyfromgoodssuppliedandservicesrenderedinSeychelles
tonon-residents shallrepatriate proceeds ofthose transactions intoSeychelles within 90daysfollowing
theshipment ofgoods ortheperformance ofservices.
(d) Foreign anddomestic investment policies (page 13)
Question 4-International business companies must beregistered
What conditions areattached toregistration ofcompanies wishing toimport andforexport?
Arethese conditions thesame forforeign companies anddomestic companies. Areobjective
conditions laiddown inalaworregulation, ordoesthegovernments haveamargin ofdiscretion?
Arefeespayable fortheright toimport and/or export?
Answer
International Business Companies (IBCs) arecompanies registered inSeychelles tocarry on
business exclusively outside Seychelles. However, thosecompanies arenotallowed toconduct banking,
insurance andreinsurance business, aswellastrustactivity. Theregistration mustbemade through
alocally licensed registered agent. Thelatter would normally submit thename ofthedesired tothe
Registrar ofIBCforapproval. Once theMemorandum andArticles ofAssociation ofthecompany
arepresented totheRegistrar andthese comply withtheIBCAct,acertificate ofincorporation may
beissued. Theconditions ofregistration, which arelaiddown intheInternational Business Companies
Actof1994, apply bothtoforeign anddomestic companies. There arenofeespayable fortheright
toimport and/or export.
III. FRAMEWORKFORMAKINGANDENFORCINGPOLICIESAFFECTINGFOREIGN
TRADE INGOODS AND TRADE INSERVICES
(b) Trades Tax
Question 5-
Please provide fulldetails ofthetrades taxonimports (customs tariffs). Arethesame ratesapplied
toimported anddomestically produced goods? Ifnot,please specify therates applicable toeach.
Please correct table onpage 22.Please givethead-valorem equivalent ofspecific duties.WT/ACC/SYC/5
Page8
Arethere anyother taxes, charges orfeesapplied toimported goods which arenotapplied to
imported goods which arenotapplied todomestically produced goods? Ifso,please givedetails.
Please provide information ontariff concessions, inparticular theconditions attached toobtaining
suchconcessions. Dothese depend onthepurchase oflocally produced goods ortheexport of
goods? Arethese concessions available toallcompanies?
Answer
Please notethatacopy oftheTrades TaxRegulations of1995, inwhich alldetails onthe
Seychelles 'customs tariffareoutlined, isavailable intheSecretariat (Accessions Division, Room 1126)
forconsultation byWTO members. Except forgoods produced intheInternational Trade Zone,
domestically produced goods arenotliable totrades taxonimports. TheInternational Trade Zones
produced goods imported intoSeychelles areliable totrades taxonimports inthesame manner as
goods imported from abroad.
Given thatthere arenointernal taxes (VAT orSales Tax)onconsumption inSeychelles, the
imported goods aresubject onlytocustoms duties.
Tariff concessions areoneofthefundamental components oftheGovernment policies aiming
todiversify theSeychelles 'economy anditssources offoreign exchange. Inthisrespect, these
concessions areeffectively available toallexport-oriented companies, whether foreign ornot.However,
those companies must comply withthefollowing conditions:
(i) notlessthan50percentum oftheannual turnover oftheirproducts orservices mustbedirectly
exported;
(ii) thetotalproceeds oftheexports must beremitted toSeychelles inforeign currency; and
(iii) notlessthan50percentum oftheremittance mustbeconverted intothecurrency ofSeychelles.
(i) Tariff Nomenclature
Question 6-
Wewould liketoknow whether Seychelles willconsider thereduction oftariff peak.
WilltheGovernment ofSeychelles continue toreduce thepercentage ofcustoms dutyrevenues
within thefinancial revenues?
Weconsider thatthetaxaimed atincome redistribution andthetaxongoods suchastobacco
which maydoharm tohuman health, should beprimarily collected byinternal taxinstead of
through customs duties. What istheposition oftheGovernment ofSeychelles onthispart?
Answer
TheSeychelles Government hasalready embarked onamajor exercise aiming tobring customs
tariffs backtoanaverage of15percent. However, thisreduction doesnottouch items suchasspirits,
tobacco, motor andvehicles.WT/ACC/SYC/5
Page9
ItistheSeychelles Government ’spolicy tocontinue toreduce thepercentage ofcustoms duty
revenues inthefinancing oftheGovernment budget inorder toreduce thelevel oftaxation on
international trade.
Itisfurther important tonotethatcustoms duties aretheonlytaxes paidonforeign goods
imported intoSeychelles because there arenointernal taxes, whether atwholesale orretail level.
Regarding thereplacement ofthecustoms duties byaninternal tax,theSeychelles Government thinks
thatthissubstitution supposes theexistence ofanefficient andsophisticated taxadministration sothat
thatinternal taxbeprofitable.
(ii) Customs Valuation
Question 7-
Please complete Customs Valuation questionnaire. When doestheSeychelles ’Government plan
toapply theWTO rules onCustoms Valuation.
Answer
Please seeAnnex 1forreplies toCustoms Valuation questionnaire.
TheSeychelles Government iscontemplating toimplement theWTO rulesoncustoms valuation
immediately afterouradmission totheWTO.
(iv) Anti-dumping, Countervailing andSafeguard Measures
Question 8-
Does theSeychelles ’Government plantousethese measures intheforeseeable future? Ifso,
willtheyprovide theWorking Party withthedraft oftheprovisions thatwould govern theiruse.
Answer
Forthemoment, theSeychelles ’Government hasnoplantoputinplace anduseany
anti-dumping, Countervailing andSafeguard Measures.
(v) Non-tariff Measures
Question 9-
Please listthegoods theimport ofwhich isprohibited orrestricted orforwhich animport permit
isrequired (with therelevant H.S. definition), themeasure applied toeach andtheWTO
justification. Does theSeychelles atpresent impose import restrictions tosafeguard itsbalance
ofpayments?
Please specify thefeespayable forimport licences, permit, etc.Arethese inconformity with
Article VIIIofGATT 1994?
Please complete theimport licensing questionnaire.WT/ACC/SYC/5
Page10
Answer
Regarding information onimport licensing procedures, please seeAnnex 3totheMemorandum
onForeign Trade Regime, document WT/ACC/SYC/3.
Goods, theimport ofwhich isprohibited orrestricted, arethefollowing:
(a) Prohibited
- Arms andAmmunitions H.S.Coding 93.01 to93.07;
- Pornographic literatures, Videos, Films andother seditious materials;
- Dangerous drugs.
(b) Restricted forwhich anImport Permit isrequired
- Meat andEdible Meat Offal, H.S.Coding 02.01 -02.10;
- FishandCrustaceans, H.S.Coding 03.02 -03.07;
- Dairy Produce, H.S.Coding 04.01 -04.10;
- Fruits, H.S.Coding 08.01 -08.14;
- Coffee andTea,H.S.Coding 09.01 -09.02;
- Vegetables, H.S.Coding 07.01 -07.14;
- Animal orVegetable OilsandFats-H.S.Coding 15.01 -15.22;
- Fruit Juices, H.S.Coding 20.09;
- Mineral Fuels, H.S.Coding 27.01 -27.15;
- Explosives, Pyrotechnic products. H.S.Coding 36.01 -36.06;
- Nuclear reactors, H.S.Coding 84.01;
- Vehicles, Aircrafts andVessels, H.S.Coding 86.01 -86.09 and87.01 -87.16.
Yes,inorder toaddress asudden balance ofpayments deterioration, Seychelles imposes at
present some temporary restrictions onimports.
Nofeesarecharged forimport permits. Regarding import licences, please seeAnnex 3to
thedocument WT/ACC/SYC/3.
Question 10-
TheGovernment ofSeychelles issaidtoberationalising andsimplifying theImport Licensing
System inorder toimprove thebusiness environment.WT/ACC/SYC/5
Page11
Could Seychelles specify which current Import Licensing procedures itconsiders unnecessary?
Could Seychelles indicate thefuture process aimed atrationalising andsimplifying these Import
Licensing procedures?
Answer
Inlinewiththeeconomic andtradeliberalisation process initiated bytheSeychelles Government
toensure theintegration ofSeychelles intotheworld economy andthemultilateral trading system,
theGovernment isfocusing onsome keyissues suchasdesigning newtradepolicies inorder toquickly
move inthedirection ofmultilateral rulesandeliminate barriers totrade atregional andinternational
level. Inthiscontext, theGovernment feelsthatsome documentation andrequirements arenolonger
necessary forobtaining animport licence oranimport permit. Infact,themainobjective ofthisprocess
istoestablish thenecessary consistency between trade andmacro-economic policies andavoid the
systematic useoftrade-policy measures fornon-trade objectives.
(c) Rules governing exports
Question 11-
Please listgoods forwhich anexport permit orlicence isrequired (with therelevant H.S.
definition), themeasure applied toeachandtheWTO justification.
Answer
Export ofgoods isnotsubject toexport permit orlicence.
Rules ofOrigin
Question 12-
Certificates oforigin arementioned inthesection dealing withRules governing export. Please
listthedifferent purposes forwhich rules oforigin areusedandexplain current practice. Isthe
Seychelles Government ready toimplement theUruguay Round Agreement onRules ofOrigin?
Answer
Forthemoment, theonlyrules oforigin being usedarethose ofLomé IVConvention. We
havenoobjection toimplement theUruguay Round Agreement onrules oforigin when webecome
afullmember oftheWTO.
IV. POLICIES AFFECTING FOREIGN TRADE INGOODS
3. Internal Policies Affecting Foreign Trade ingoods
(a) Industrial Policy
Question 13-
Please specify themeasures taken to"stimulate localproduction andtopromote export-oriented
industries"?WT/ACC/SYC/5
Page12
Answer
Themeasures taken bytheSeychelles Government tostimulate local production arepurely
fiscal. Forexample, rawmaterials imported areeither exempted from customs duties orsubject to
reduced rates. Regarding export-oriented industries, thelatter areexempted fromcustoms duties on
rawmaterials imported intoSeychelles formanufacturing orprocessing. Inaddition, under the
Investment Promotion Actexport-oriented entities paycorporate taxatreduced rate,andthisfollowing
thepercentage oftheirproduction designed toexports.
(b) Technical Regulations andStandards
Question 14-
Please complete TBT questionnaire
Would Seychelles haveanyproblems inimplementing theAgreement onSPS,e.gwithatransition
period?
Answer
Please seeAnnex 2forreplies toTBTquestionnaire.
Yes, Seychelles willhave some problems tofully implement thisAgreement andneed
consequently technical assistance from theWTO oritsdeveloped Member States.
(c) Sanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
Question 15-
Please complete SPSquestionnaire
Does Seychelles follow theprocedures laiddown intheSPSAgreement? Ifnot,when willitbring
itsmeasures andprocedures intolinewiththese requirements?
Answer
Yes. SPSAgreement procedures arefollowed. However, weneedsome technical assistance
tofullyandefficiently implement thisagreement.
Replies tothequestionnaire onSPSwillfollow atalaterdate.
(e) State-trading Practices
Question 16-
Please complete theState trading questionnaire.
Which enterprises, whether ornotowned bytheState, have been granted exclusive orspecial
rights orprivileges inthesense oftheUnderstanding ontheinterpretation ofArticle XVII of
GATT 1994? Which entities doestheGovernment intend tonotify under Article XVII ofGATT
1994? What steps have been taken orplanned bytheGovernment toensure thatthese entities
conform totheprovisions ofArticle XVII?WT/ACC/SYC/5
Page13
DoestheGovernment intend towithdraw these rights and/or privileges from anyofthese entities?
Ifso,when?
Answer
Please seeAnnex 3forreplies totheState-trading questionnaire.
Thefollowing public enterprises havebeengranted exclusive orspecial rights orprivileges
inthesense oftheUnderstanding ontheInterpretation ofArticle XVII ofGATT 1994:
- Seychelles Marketing Board. (S.M.B.);
- Public Utilities Corporation (P.U.C);
- Seychelles Public Transport Corporation (S.P.T.C.);
- Seychelles Petroleum Company (SEYPEC).
Please notefurther thattheSeychelles Government intends tonotify thefourfirst-mentioned
entities under Article XVII ofGATT 1994.
Infact,theGovernment hasnoplantowithdraw theserights and/or privileges fromtheseentities
intheforeseeable future. However, theGovernment would withdraw these rights and/or privileges
atanytimeiftheeconomic environment requires thatmove.
(f)-(g) FreeZones andFreeEconomic Zones
Question 17-
What steps hastheGovernment taken toensure thatgoods imported intotheSeychelles from
theInternational Trade Zones aresubject tothenormal import régime?
Answer
Allthedeclared International Trade Zone arefenced andallmovement ofgoods from those
zones must becleared bytheCustoms Office installed inthesaidzones.
4. Policies Affecting Trade inAgricultural Products
Question 18-
Could Seychelles explain concretely about theroleoftheGovernment ofSeychelles inthe
agricultural sector andagricultural regulation inthesector?
Could Seychelles alsoexplain what kindofmeasures itisplanning totakeintheprivate sector
inorder toincrease agricultural production?
Please indicate concretely eachofthesubsidy intheagricultural sector provided bytheGovernment
ofSeychelles.
Answer
InlinewiththeeconomicandtradeliberalisationprogrammeonwhichtheSeychellesGovernment
hasembarked since thebeginning ofthe1990’s,allState-owned farms havebeenprivatised. Forthe
moment, theGovernment isconfined totheroleoffacilitator byproviding taxincentives tofarmers,WT/ACC/SYC/5
Page14
facilitating access tonewtechnology, granting concessionary loans through theAgricultural Fund
managed bytheDevelopment BankofSeychelles etc.Apart fromtheabove incentives, theGovernment
doesnotprovide anyfurther support totheagricultural sector. Please notethatSeychelles isanet
importer ofagricultural products andthemain andprimary objective oftheSeychelles 'agricultural
policy istomake Seychelles lessdependent upon imports inthisfield.
(a) Market access
Question 19-
Could Seychelles explain inmore detail howtheprice control system forimported agricultural
commodities operate? (Weunderstand thatthere isamaximum mark-up of30percentbutwhat
istheexact mark-up percommodity atpresent? Does theGovernment giveanysubsidy toreduce
prices onimported goods?
Please should provide alistofallcurrently applied import taxes/rates (whether atvalorem, specific
ormixed) forallagricultural tariff headings.
Answer
Please notethatprices arenotsetbytheGovernment butbytraders, whether wholesalers or
retailers. They areinfactsubject tothevalue ofeachindividual shipment.
Forthelistofallcurrently applied import taxes/rates, please consult Chapter 11toChapter 15
oftheTrades TaxRegulations 1995 available intheSecretariat (Accessions Division, Room 1126).
(b) Non-tariff measures
Question 20-
Some imports aresubject toimportant restrictions forhealth reasons, eg.infected food
commodities. Dothemandatory standards testing andquality certification forimports alsoapply
todomestic produce?
CanSeychelles confirm thatnoother NTM isapplied toimports ofagricultural products?
Answer
Yes,themandatorystandardstestingandqualitycertificationapplybothforimportedandlocally
produced goods. There arenoother NTM which areapplied toimports ofagricultural products.
(c) State-trading
Question 21-
Does Seychelles haveanyintention toeliminate themonopoly totheSeychelles Marketing Board
(SMB) forimports, marketing andproduction oftheseven essential products sugar, rice,milk,
oil,margarine, fruits andvegetables andmeat?
Ifso,willitalsobepossible foranyindividuals and/or private companies toimport thesame
products without anyrestrictions?WT/ACC/SYC/5
Page15
Answer
TheSeychelles Marketing Board (SMB) hasnomonopoly intheproduction andretailing of
these seven products. Infact,itsmonopoly isonlyconfined toimports andwholesaling. However,
asthemainandonlyreason behind thismonopoly issecurity supply ofthismicro-state, theGovernment
iscontemplating toputontender theimports ofthese products ortoreduce theirnumber inorder to
make possible forprivate companies toimport thesame products.
(d) Domestic support
Question 22-
Themain objectives ofthecurrent Seychelles 'agricultural policy are:"tostrengthen andexpand
theagricultural productivity....... TheMinistry ofAgriculture andMarine Resources isinvesting
heavily ininfrastructure tobetter assist farmers inincreasing theagricultural output ”.
Dofarmers receive other sorts ofsupport, direct orindirect? Export subsidies -CanSeychelles
confirm thatitdoesnotgrant anyexport subsidies toagricultural commodities?
Answer
Inaddition totheimprovement ofinfrastructure tobetter assist farmers, theDevelopment Bank
ofSeychelles provides farmers withconcessionary loans through theAgricultural Fund setupbythe
Government. Alsofarmers arenotliable totaxeswhatsoever. Please notethatstrictly speaking farming
activity inSeychelles ismoreanactivity ofsubsistence rather thananindustrial andcommercial activity.
Regarding export subsidies, please notethatSeychelles isanetimporter ofagricultural
commodities. Consequently, itdoesnotgrant anyexport subsidies toagricultural commodities.
V. TRADE-RELATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RÉGIME
1. General Description
Question 23-
ItissaidthattheSeychelles policy istofocus ontheaccession tointernational conventions. What
conventions dotheSeychelles intend toadhere toandwhat isthetimeframe?
Could theGovernment oftheSeychelles explain itssystem offeesfortheregistration ofintellectual
property rights?
Answers
TheSeychelles Government iscontemplating toapply formembership intheWorld Intellectual
PropertyOrganisation(WIPO)andconsequentlyadheretoallconventionsrelatingtointellectualproperty
rights administered bythatorganisation.WT/ACC/SYC/5
Page16
2. Substantive Standards ofProtection
(a) Copyright andrelated rights
Question 24-
Isthere anyprotection ofcomputer programs? Ifyes,please explain. Ifno,doestheGovernments
oftheSeychelles intend tointroduce suchaprotection?
DoesSeychellois Lawforesee protection ofperformers, producers ofphonograms andbroadcasting
organisations? Please explain.
Itissaidthatworks willbeprotected for25years. That isnotincompliance withtheTRIPS
Agreement. Does theGovernment oftheSeychelles intend toamend itslawsaccordingly upon
accession?
Answer
Forthemoment, computer programs arenotprotected assuchunder theCopyright Actof
1984. However, inorder toencourage transfer oftechnology toSeychelles theSeychelles Government
iscontemplating toapply formembership totheWorld Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and
modernise theSeychelles Patent andCopyright Laws andTrade Mark Lawtobring theminlinewith
international standards, notably theTRIPS Agreement.
(b) Trademarks, including service marks
Question 25-
How arewell-known marks protected?
Answer
Accordingtosection24oftheTradeMarksDecree,whereatrademarkconsistingofaninvented
word orinvented hasbecome sowellknown asrespects anygoods orservices inrespect ofwhich
itisregistered andinrelation towhich ithasbeenusedthattheusethereof inrelation toother goods
orservices would belikely tobetaken asindicating aconnection inthecourse ofbusiness between
those goods orservices, thetrade mark mayberegistered asadefensive trade mark. Consequently,
awell-known trade mark isthusprotected through adefensive registration.
(c) Geographical indications
Question 26-
How aregeographical indications protected? Does Seychellois lawprovide foranyspecific
protection forwines andspirits?
(d) Industrial Designs
Isthere anyprotection ofindustrial designs, including textile designs? Please explain.WT/ACC/SYC/5
Page17
Answer
Asisthecaseofplantvarieties (below), thereisnocomprehensive protection ofgeographical
indications andindustrial designs, however thenewintellectual property protection system willmake
provision fornecessary protection.
(e) Patents forinventions
Question 27-
Itissaidthattheregular termofprotection forpatents is14years. ThePresident oftheRepublic
maygrant anextension of7years andinexceptional cases 14years. Thisisnotinlinewiththe
TRIPS Agreement (Article 33).Does theGovernment oftheSeychelles intend toamend itslaw
accordingly upon accession totheWTO?
CouldtheGovernmentoftheSeychellesexplaininmoredetailtheprovisionsoncompulsorylicences
and/or government procurement?
Answer
Yes,theSeychelles Government intends tointroduce inthenearfuture anewPatents Actin
order tocomply withitsfuture international obligations intheWTO andtheWIPO.
According tosections 32and34ofthePatents Actof1901, anyGovernment Department,
oraperson authorised byitmaymake, use,exercise andvendanypatented invention fortheservices
oftheRepublic orforanypurpose which, under thePatents Actof1901, appears tothedepartment
necessary orexpedient:
(i) forthemaintenance ofsupplies andservices essential tothelifeofthecommunity;
(ii) forsecuring asufficiency ofsupplies andservices essential tothewell-being ofthecommunity;
(iii) forpromoting theproductivity ofindustry, commerce andagriculture;
(iv) forfostering anddirecting exports andreducing imports, orimports ofanyclasses, fromall
oranycountries andofredressing thebalance oftrade;
(v) generally forensuring thatthewhole resources ofthecommunity areavailable foruse,and
areused, inamanner bestcalculated toserve theinterests ofthecommunity; or
(vi) forassisting therelief ofsuffering andrestoration anddistribution ofessential supplies and
services inanyforeign countries thatareingrave distress asaresult ofwar.
Anyuseoftheinvention intheabove cases, shallbemade uponsuchterms asmaybeagreed
uponeither before oraftertheuse,between thePresident oftheRepublic andthePatenty toconfiscate
those items.WT/ACC/SYC/5
Page18
(f) Protection ofplant varieties
Question 28-
Itappears thatthere isnocomprehensive protection ofplant varieties. Does theGovernment
oftheSeychelles intend tointroduce suchasystem?
Answer
Infact,there isnocomprehensive protection ofplant varieties inthecurrent legislation but
thisshould betaken intoaccount inthenewIntellectual Property Legislation thattheGovernment is
contemplating tointroduce shortly.
4. Enforcement
Question 29-
Could theGovernment oftheSeychelles explain inmore detail itssystem ofenforcement of
intellectual property rights with regard tocivilandadministrative procedures andremedies,
provisional measures andmeasures attheborder?
Answer
There arenoseparate intellectual property courts inSeychelles. Under thePatents Actof1901,
anaction forinfringement maybebrought before theSupreme Court bythePatentee orbyanyperson
aggrieved bythatinfringement.
Inanaction forinfringement ofapatent, theplaintiff mustdeliver withhisstatement ofclaim,
or,byorder oftheSupreme Court, particulars ofthebreaches complained of.Thedefendant must
deliver withhisstatement ofdefence, or,byorder oftheSupreme Court, particulars ofanyobjections
onwhich herelies insupport thereof. Thecourt maymake suchorder foraninjunction, inspection
oraccount.
However, where anyperson claiming tobethepatentee ofaninvention, bycirculars,
advertisements, orotherwise, threatens anyotherperson withanylegalproceedings orliability inrespect
ofanyalleged manufacture, use,sale,orpurchase oftheinvention, anyperson orpersons aggrieved
thereby maybring anaction against him,andmayobtain aninjunction against thecontinuance ofsuch
threats, andmayrecover suchdamage ifthealleged manufacture, use,sale,orpurchase towhich the
threats related wasnotinfactaninfringement ofanylegalrights oftheperson making suchthreats.
Regarding trademark, asmentioned earlier inourMemorandum, anapplication forregistration
ofatrademark maybecontested bygiving notice totheRegistrar General oftrademarks ofopposition
totheregistration. Inaddition, theproprietor oraregistered userofaregistered trademark maybring
anaction before theSupreme Court against thealleged infringer where theexclusive righttotheuse
ofatradeisinfringed. Thesame remedies arealsoavailable under theCopyright Actforcopyrights.
Generally speaking, theSeychelles Civil Code andtheCode ofCivil Procedure which arebased on
theFrench onesprocedures which protect rightofproperty andother interests, including intellectual
property rights. However, theSeychelles Government recognises thenecessity toelaborate specific
protection forintellectual property rights andwilldosoinpreparing itsnewintellectual property
legislation.WT/ACC/SYC/5
Page19
Regarding measures attheborder, although theimportation ofcounterfeited goods isprohibited,
therearenocomprehensive provisions intheTrades TaxActandTrades TaxRegulations empowering
customs authorities toconfiscate those goods onapplication made bythelegitimate owners orusers
ofthepatent, trade mark orcopyright.
VI. TRADE-RELATED SERVICES REGIME
2. Market andRegulatory Structure oftheProminent Services Sectors
(a) Financial services
Question 30-
Thedocument indicates onlythatawide range ofbanking activities areavailable. Arethe
Seychelles inaposition toofferthewhole range offinancial services activities aslisted intheGATS
Annex onFinancial Services?
Doanyrestrictions apply totheestablishment ofbranches inbanking orinsurance?
TheMemorandum doesnotrefer tocross-border supply offinancial services. Itispermitted
tosupply financial services without local establishment?
CantheSeychelles confirm thatnodiscriminatory treatment applies totheoperations ofalready
established foreign banks?
Isitpossible toindicate when thesecurities market willbecome operational?
Answer
Yes,theSeychelles Government isready toinclude initsofferregarding financial sector the
whole range offinancial services activities listed intheGATS Annex onFinancial Services. Asa
burgeoningInternationalFinancialandBusinessCentre,Seychellesisalsoinapositiontofullyimplement
anyWTO Agreement inthisimportant field.
Asamatter offact,there arenorestrictions ontheestablishment ofbranches inSeychelles
byforeign banks orinsurance companies. However, theproviders ofbanking andinsurance services
onregular basisneedtohavealocalestablishment through abranch orasubsidiary company. Regarding
theoperationsofalreadyestablishedforeignbanks,thelatteraresubjecttonodiscriminationwhatsoever.
Forthemoment, wearenotinaposition toindicate when theproposed securities market will
become operational because some technical details must befinalised.
(b) Telecommunications services
Question 31-
Have anyadditional private operators been licensed inanyofthetelecom sectors? How isthe
telecom industry regulated? Isthere provision foraneventual framework ofdisciplines inareas
suchascompetition, interconnection andlicensing?WT/ACC/SYC/5
Page20
Answer
Atthepresent time, thetelecommunications services areexclusively provided byaprivate
company, Cable andWireless (Seychelles) Ltd,awholly-owned subsidiary oftheCable andWireless
PLCofUK. Although theSeychelles Government isready toissue newlicences toother private
operators, untilnownoadditional private operators havebeenlicensed. Infact,itisimportant tonote
thatthesmallness ofthedomestic market doesnotencourage newentrants inthisfield.
Please notefurther thattheSeychelles telecommunications industry isregulated bythe
Broadcasting andTelecommunications Actof1988andRegulations thereunder. Thatpieceoflegislation
makes thusprovision forlicensing andsupervising thetelecom industry.
(c) Professional services
(i) Legal Services
Question 32-
TheMemorandum explains theregulations covering theprofession ofattorney-at-law. What is
thesituation regarding other types oflegal Services? Arethere different regulations covering
other aspects oflegal practice, ortheprovision ofadvice onforeign andinternational law.
Answer
Generally speaking, legalservices areregulated bytheLegal Practitioners Actof1994 and
thenewLicences (Professional Services) Regulations of1996. Services which alegalpractitioner or
notary would provide intheordinary course ofitsbusiness comprise ofalltypes oflegal services,
including ofcourse advice onforeign andinternational law.
Question 33-
Areforeign attorneys-at-law allowed toprovide suchservices ascounselling withregard toforeign
laws, which theyareentitled topractice? Ifso,please indicate what kind ofconditions are
required?
Toobtain alicence, isalegalpractitioner required tomeetconditions suchassupply anddemand,
nationality, anddomicile (residence)?
Answer
TheLegal Practitioner Actof1994, asamended andtheLicences (Professional Services)
Regulations of1996 donotdiscriminate between foreign andSeychellois attorneys-at-law, andthis,
inlinewiththeSeychelles Government 'sstrategy totransform Seychelles intoanimportant International
Financial andBusiness Centre intheIndian Ocean region. Thecondition oflicensing arethesame
forSeychellois andnon-Seychellois legalpractitioners. Although thesupply anddemand maybeapplied
incertain cases, nationality anddomicile arenotconsidered ascriteria forlicensing ofthelegal
practitioners.WT/ACC/SYC/5
Page21
(iii) Architectural, engineering andrelated services
(iv) Management consulting andrelated services andaccounting andauditing services.
Question 34-
Arethere anyquantitative restrictions, suchastheadjustment ofsupply anddemand, when issuing
alicence?
Answer
No.
(e) Tourism andrelated services
Question 35-
Could theSeychelles authorities explain howtheyintend toimprove theprocedures forforeign
involvement inthetourism andgiveanindication ofthetimetable theyareintending tofollow?
Willthese changes beincluded intheSeychelles ’initial offer onservices?
Answer
Foreign operators arealready largely involved intheSeychelles tourism industry because more
than50percentofthehotel establishments intheisland isowned byforeigners. Thisfigure would
probably increase shortly, given thattheGovernment iscontemplating tosellitsremaining hotel
establishments. Under theInvestment Promotion Act,foreign investors arealready allowed tobe
involved inalltourism development activities suchashotels, restaurants, casinos, car-hire operators,
touroperators/travel agents, divecentres, charters, yachts andlive-boards etc.Foreign investors in
tourism sector aretherefore operating onthesame footing liketheirSeychellois counterparts.
Annex 3. Information onImport Licensing Procedures (page 47,WT/ACC/SYC/3)
Question 36-
II. Objectives andScope oftheImport Licence
Theimport licensing system oftheGovernment ofSeychelles isexplaining tobeaimed at
preventing thebalance ofPayments situation from deteriorating following therapid increase of
imports and,therefore, beabolished promptly oncetheBalance ofPayments situation improves.
Doesthismean thatquantitative restrictions onimports arestrengthened ifthebalance ofPayments
situation deteriorate?
How willtheGovernment ofSeychelles ensure thetransparency ofthecriteria formaking the
above judgement?
Answer
Generally speaking, thedeterioration ofBalance ofPayments situation isalways temporary,
consequently thequantitative measures arelimited towhat isnecessary toimprove theBalance of
Payments situation.WT/ACC/SYC/5
Page22
TheSeychelles Government ensures thetransparency ofthecriteria byfixing apercentage
ofimports which isapplicable toallimporters without anydiscrimination. Forexample, in1996any
importer isallowed toimport 75percentofits1995 imports.WT/ACC/SYC/5
Page23
ANNEX 1
INFORMATION ONIMPLEMENTATION AND ADMINISTRATION
OFTHE CUSTOMS VALUATION AGREEMENT
1. Questions concerning Article 1:
(a) Sales between related persons:
(i) Aresales between related persons subject tospecial provisions?
No,onlyiftherelationship hasinfluence ontheprice.
(ii) Isthefactofintercompany prices prima facie considered asgrounds forregarding the
respective prices asbeing influenced?
Yes. Butnotinallcircumstances.
(iii) What istheprovision forgiving thecommunication oftheafore-mentioned grounds in
writing iftheimporter sorequests? (Article 1.2(a))
Yes. Wewillhavenoobjection. Italready exists inourpresent Regulations.
(iv) How hasArticle 1.2(b) been implemented?
Wehavenever fullimplemented allitsmechanisms, butincaseswhere therehasbeenadispute,
suchprocedures havebeenimplemented.
(b) Price oflostordamaged goods:
Arethere anyspecial provisions orpractical arrangements concerning thevaluation oflostor
damaged goods?
These aremainly based onfactsandinformation gathered onInvoices, BillsofLading, Packing
list,mode andtermofpayment. Then thequality, quantity andvalue ofthelostofgoods arecalculated
fordutypurposes.
2. How hastheprovision ofArticle 4toallow theimporter anoption toreverse theorder
ofapplication ofArticles 5and6been implemented?
Incaseswhere theimporter isnotsatisfied withthevalue determined bytheCustoms Authority,
thentheprocedure tofollow willbethatofSection 188ofTrades TaxRegulations 1995.
3. How hasArticle 5.2been implemented?
Wehavenever implemented suchanarticle before, butSeychelles seesnodisadvantage in
safeguarding therevenue ifiteverhastouseit.
4. How hasArticle 6.2been implemented?
Ithasnever beenputinpractice here. Seychelles thinks itwillbeofgreatusetothecountry.
5. Questions concerning Article 7:
(a) What provisions havebeenmade formaking value determinations pursuant toArticle 7?WT/ACC/SYC/5
Page24
None.
(b) What istheprovision forinforming theimporter ofthecustoms value determined under
Article 7?
Theimporter isalways informed ofsuchdecisions taken byCustoms.
(c) Aretheprohibitions found inArticle 7.2delineated?
Yes.
6. Howhavetheoptions found inArticle 8.2beenhandled? Inthecaseoff.o.b. application,
areex-factory prices alsoaccepted?
Seychelles isalready implementing it.Yes,ex-factory prices areaccepted.
7. Where istherateofexchange published, asrequired byArticle 9.1?
Rateofexchange ispublished every Friday andattheCustoms House. Copies aredistributed
toallother locations andbanks andonthepublic notice board.
8. What steps have been taken toensure confidentiality, asrequired byArticle 10?
Allourofficers hassigned aSecrecy ActandalsoanOfficers Code ofConduct.
9. Questions concerning Article 11:
(a) What rights ofappeal areopen totheimporter oranyother person?
Therightofappeal fortheimporter isalready provided forinourRegulations.
(b) How ishetobeinformed ofhisright tofurther appeal?
Inwriting.
10. Provide information onthepublication, asrequired byArticle 12,of:
(a)(i) therelevant national laws;
Published inofficial gazette.
(ii) theregulations concerning theapplication oftheAgreement;
Published inofficial gazette.
(iii) thejudicial decision andadministrative rulings ofgeneral application relating tothe
Agreement;
Published inofficial gazette ifneedtoandinother public newspaper.
(iv) general orspecific lawsbeing referred tointherules ofimplementation orapplication.
Published fortheimporter andpublic atCustoms House.WT/ACC/SYC/5
Page25
(b) Isthepublication offurther rules anticipated? Which topics would theycover?
Yes. Classification andvaluation procedures.
11. Questions concerning Article 13:
(a) How istheobligation ofArticle 13(last sentence) being dealt with intherespective
legislation?
Itisnotinourpresent legislation.
(b) Have additional explanations been laiddown?
Notyet.
12. Questions concerning Article 16:
(a) Does therespective national legislation contain aprovision requiring customs authorities
togiveanexplanation inwriting astohowthecustoms value wasdetermined?
No.
(b) Arethere anyfurther regulations concerning anabove-mentioned request?
No.
13. How have theInterpretative Notes oftheAgreement been included?
Seychelles hasnever implemented thesenotesbefore, butifithasto,thereshould benoproblem
onourside.
14. How have theprovisions oftheDecision of26April 1984 ontheTreatment ofInterest
Charges intheCustoms Value ofImported Goods (Val/6/Rev.1) been implemented?
WedonothavetheDecision of26April 1984.
15. Forthose countries applying paragraph 2oftheDecision of24September 1984 onthe
Valuation ofCarrier Media Bearing Software forData Processing Equipment (Val/8),
howhave theprovisions ofthisparagraph been implemented?
Please seereply toquestion 15.WT/ACC/SYC/5
Page26
ANNEX 2
QUESTIONNAIRE ONTECHNICAL BARRIERS TOTRADE
1. Description ofrelevant laws, regulations, administrative orders, etc.relating to
implementation andadministration oftechnical barriers totrade.
Themain Laws andRegulations arethefollowing:
(a) TheSeychelles Bureau ofStandards Actof1987 which established theSeychelles Bureau of
Standards whose main functions are:
(i) topromote standardisation inindustry andcommerce;
(ii) toprepare draftspecifications andcodes ofpractice andtodeclare thestandard specifications
andstandard codes ofpractice;
(iii) tomake arrangements toprovide facilities fortheexamination andtesting ofcommodities and
anymaterial orsubstance from which orwithwhich theymaybemanufactured, produced,
processed ortreated andforthemanner ofsuchmanufacture, production, processing or
treatment;
(iv) toprovide forthetesting ofcommodities manufactured inSeychelles orimported intoSeychelles
forthepurpose ofdetermining whether thecommodities comply withtheprovisions ofthis
Actoranyother lawdealing withspecifications etc.
(b) ThePlant Protection Actof1996 which makes provision forpreventing theimportation and
spread ofplant pests anddiseases, forbetter protecting theagricultural andforestry resources and
ecological environment ofSeychelles, forregulating theimportation ofbeneficial organisms, for
regulating theexport ofplants andplant products.
(c) TheExport ofFishery Products Actof1996 which makes provision forthecontrol and
management ofestablishments andfactory vessels andofthequality offishery products intended for
export:
2. Information regarding:
(a) Names ofpublications onwork relating todraft technical regulations orstandards and
procedures are:
(i) Seychelles Bureau ofStandards Bulletin
(ii) Official Gazette oftheRepublic ofSeychelles
(b) Thename andaddress oftheinquiry point(s) foreseen inArticles 10.1and10.3ofthe
WTO onTBT withanindication astowhether itis/they arefully operational.
(a) Trade andCommerce Division
Ministry ofFinance andCommunications
P.O.Box313,Victoria
Republic ofSeychellesWT/ACC/SYC/5
Page27
(b) Seychelles Bureau ofStandards (SBS)
P.O.Box953,Victoria
Republic ofSeychelles
BothGovernment bodies arefullyoperational.
(c) Thename andaddress oftheagency dealing withconsultations asforeseen inArticle 14
oftheAgreement.
Trade andCommerce Division
Ministry ofFinance andCommunications
P.O.Box313,Victoria
Republic ofSeychelles
(d) thename andaddress ofagencies thataredealing withother specific functions foreseen
intheAgreement.
Please seeourreplies to(b).
(e) thescope ofresponsibility oftheCentral Government authorities intheareaofnotifications
requirement foreseen inArticle 10.11 oftheAgreement andofindividual government authorities,
iftheresponsibility isdivided among twoormore suchauthorities.
Does notapply.
(f) Measures andarrangements toensure thatnational andsub-national authorities preparing
newtechnical regulations orsubstantial amendments toexisting ones, provide early information
ontheir proposals.
Does notapply.WT/ACC/SYC/5
Page28
ANNEX 3
QUESTIONNAIRE ONSTATE-TRADING
Thefollowing enterprises areautonomous from theSeychelles Government toenter intoall
commercial transactions andtheirfunctions seemtofallintothesphere oftheprovisions ofArticle XVII.
I. Enumeration ofState-Trading Enterprises
(a) Seychelles Petroleum Company (SEYPEC)
H.SCoding Description ofGoods
27.10 Petroleum oilsandoilsobtained from
bituminous minerals, other thancrude.
27.11 Petroleum gases andother petroleum
hydrocarbons
(b) Seychelles Marketing Board (S.M.B)
H.SCoding Description ofGoods
02.01 to02.10 Meat andedible meatoffal
04.01 to04.08 Dairy produce
07.01 to07.14 Edible vegetables andcertain roots and
tubers.
08.03 to08.14 Edible fruits andnuts, peelofcitrus or
melons
10.06 Rice
1101.1000 Plain wheat ormeslin flour
1701.1100 to1701.1200 Rawsugar notcontaining added flavouring
orcolouring matter.
17.01 to9300 Other refined sugars (including brown
sugar)
20.09 Fruit juices andvegetable juices
2103.2000 Tomato ketchup andother tomato sauces
II. Reason AndPurpose ForIntroducing AndMaintained State-Trading Enterprises
(a) Seychelles Petroleum Company (SEYPEC)
SEYPEC maintains astable andadequate supply ofthearchipelago inpetroleum andpetroleum
products. Itisresponsible forensuring national defense andalsoholds petroleum stock against anyWT/ACC/SYC/5
Page29
emergency situations. Forexample, theGulfWarstrengthened thenecessity forSeychelles asasmall
island State tohaveaState-trading enterprise inthissensitive field.
(b) Seychelles Marketing Board (S.M.B)
Themain andonlypurpose oftheS.M.B istolookafterthefoodsecurity requirements of
theremote archipelago. Theother mainpurpose oftheS.M.B istoprovide stability andpredictability
ofprice development through elimination ofexcessive price fluctuations inorder toprotect theless
fortunate oftheSeychelles population.
III. Description OfFunctioning ofState-Trading Enterprises
(a) Seychelles Petroleum Company (SEYPEC)
1. SEYPEC hasexclusive rights toimport andre-export petroleum, petroleum products andgases.
2. Private traders arenotallowed toimport andre-export petroleum andpetroleum products.
3. The quantities tobeimported depending onthesupply-demand situation ofthe
archipelago.
4. Theexport prices arebased onworld market prices. Themark-up onimported petroleum
andpetroleum products arefixed intheTrades TaxRegulations.
(b) Seychelles Marketing Board
1. S.M.B hasexclusive rights toimport andwholesale theessential, andbasic commodities
mentioned at1(b)ofAnnex 3.
2. S.M.B hasnomonopoly inexport field.
3. Private traders arenotallowed toimport theabove products forthemoment. There isfree
competition between private traders andS.M.B attheretailing level.
4. Thequantities tobeimported depend onthedomestic demand.
5. Themark-ups forthese products arefixed intheTrades TaxRegulations.
6. SEYPECandS.M.Bcannegotiatelong-termcontractswithanyforeignsuppliers.State-Trading
methods usedbytheSeychelles Government arenotusedtofulfilcontractual obligations entered into
byit.
IV. Statistical Information.
(a) Seychelles Petroleum Company (SEYPEC)
1992 1993 1994
(Thousand rupees) (Thousand Rupees) (Thousand Rupees)
Mineral Fuels* 168,419 175,554 162,301
*Aviation spirit, motor spirit, jetfuel,gasoil,fueloilandother.WT/ACC/SYC/5
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(b) Seychelles Marketing Board (S.M.B).
1992
(Thousand Rupees)1993
(Thousand Rupees)1994
(Thousand Rupees)
Meat andMeat Preparations 17,493 17,525 10,618
Milk andother diary products 31,273 30,013 28,697
Rice 11,972 9,195 5,017
Sugar 5,379 6,613 5,502
Margarine 2,732 3,055 2,125
Fruit andVegetables 32,685 36,515 44,499
V. Reasons whynoforeign trade hastaken place (Ifthisisthecase) inproducts affected.
Does notapply
VI. Additional Information
None