WORLD TRADE G/LIC/N/3/SGP/1
22November 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-4977)
Original: English Committee onImport Licensing
REPLIES TOQUESTIONNAIRE ONIMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES
Notification under Article 7.3ofthe
Agreement onImport Licensing Procedures
SINGAPORE
Thefollowingnotification,dated21October1996,hasbeenreceivedfromthePermanentMission
ofSingapore.
_________________
Outline ofSystem
1. Singapore strade policy objective istokeepimport licensing toaminimum. Import licensing
procedures aremaintained forthepurpose ofdischarging Singapore sobligations under international
agreements orforpublic health, public safety, environmental orsecurity reasons. Singapore doesnot
impose anyrestrictions byvalue orvolume onproducts thataresubject toimport licensing.
Purposes andCoverage ofLicensing
2. Thefollowing tableshows theproduct coverage ofSingapore simport licensing procedures,
classified asautomatic andnonautomatic:
Product Coverage ofSingapore sImport Licensing Procedures:
Non-Automatic Licensing
Artificial sweetening agents
Irradiated food
Plants, flowers, seeds, fruits and
vegetables from selected Latin American
countries
Fruit orjackpot machine
Hazardous substances (poisons)Radioactive materials andirradiating
apparatus
Medicines, poisons anddrugs
Controlled telecommunication equipment
Fullcolour copying machines
RiceG/LIC/N/3/SGP/1
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Automatic Licensing
Fresh fruits andvegetables
Plants andplants produce
Meat andmeatproducts
Animals/birds/eggs/biologies
Medicaments, veterinary
Endangered species
Ornamental andother fish
Milkpowder -skimmed (coloured foranimal
feed)
Amusement machines, coins ordisc-operated,
including pin-tables, shooting galleries &
cinematography machines
Scrambler orencryption hardware orsoftware
capable ofre-arranging thesigns, signals,
writing, sounds orintelligence forthepurpose
ofsecrecy
Articles ofasbestos
PublicationsGramophone records
Paintings andprints
Films, video tapes andvideo discs
Cellulose Nitrates
Matches
Axes
SOSShrill Alarms
Handcuffs
Christmas crackers
Pocket lighters, pistol orrevolver shaped,
gasfuelled, non-refillable
Table lighters, pistol orrevolver shaped
Pocket lighters, pistol orrevolver shaped other
thangas
Articles ofclothing intended asprotection
against attack, including bullet-proof vests
Helmets, Steel
Toygunsincluding pistols andrevolvers
3. Thesystemappliestogoodslistedintheabovetableoriginatinginandcomingfromallcountries,
except asspecified inthetable.
4. Singapore simport licensing procedures arenotintended torestrict thequantity orvalue of
imports. Theyaremaintained forthepurpose ofdischarging Singapore sobligations under international
agreements orforpublic health, public safety, environmental orsecurity reasons. Depending onthe
product, aproduct licence oradealer orimporter licence orbothmayberequired priortoimportation.
5. Allimport licensing procedures arestatutorily required andpublished ingovernment gazettes.
Specifically these are1:
-Films ActanditsRegulations
-forfilms, videos tapes andvideo discs
-Undesirable Publications Act
-forpublications, gramophone records, painting andprints
-Regulation ofImports andExports Regulations 1995
-forrice,encryption software andhardware
-Radiation Protection Act(Chapter 262)anditsRegulations
-forradioactive materials andapparatus
-Food Regulations
-forartificial sweetening agents andirradiated foods
-Private Lotteries Act
-forfruitorjackpot machines
-TelecommunicationAuthoritySingaporeAct1992andtheTelecommunication(Dealers)Regulations
1994
-forcontrolled telecommunication equipment
1Available forconsultation intheSecretariat (Market Access Division) (English only).G/LIC/N/3/SGP/1
Page3
-Control ofCurrency (Full Colour Copying Machines) 1996 andCurrency (FullColour Copying
Machines) Regulations 1996
-forfull-colour photocopying machines
-Arms andExplosives ActCap13andrelated Rules
-forarms andexplosives
-Medicines Act
-formedicines
-Poisons Act
-forpoisons andother hazardous substances
-Misuse ofDrugs Act
-fordrugs
-Controlled Plants Actandrelated rules
-forplants, plant produce, fresh fruitandvegetables
-Animals andBirds Actandrelated rules
-forliveanimals, meatandmeatproducts
-Fisheries Actof1966 andrelated rules
-forornamental andother fish
-Endangered Species (Import andExport) Act(Chapter 92A) andrelated Rules
-forCITES floraandfauna
Whiletheadministrationofthelicensingsystemisundertakenbythevariouslicensingauthorities
fordifferent products, thedesignation ofproducts tobesubjected tolicensing isnotlefttoadministrative
discretion. Thelatter requires legislative approval. Similarly, legislative approval must beobtained
beforethegovernmentabolishesthelicensingsystem.Thelicensingrequirementsapplicabletostipulated
goods cover bothimports andlocalproducts. Licensing requirements pertaining toimporters alsoapply
todomestic manufacturers.
Procedures
6. Thisquestion isnotapplicable toanyproducts listed inthetableatquestion 2,except forrice.
Tomeetemergency requirements, Singapore maintains astockpile scheme ofrice,astaple food, of
which there isnodomestic production. Aspecial import licensing system isapplied toriceimported
fromallcountries. There aretwocategories ofimport licences, thestockpile licence andtheordinary
licence. Thestockpile licence seeks toensure thattheimporters stockpile thestipulated types and
minimum quantities ofriceinproportion totheirtotalimports toensure aconsistent andadequate supply
fordomestic consumption. Licences fornon-stockpile grades ofriceareissued automatically.
I. Information ispublished bymeans ofnotices issued bytheTrade Development Board (TDB)
oftheMinistry ofTrade andIndustry. Copies ofthenotices areavailable atTDB soffice
premises andontheInternet.
II. Notapplicable.
III. Please seeresponse citedatparagraph 6above.
IV. NotApplicable.
V. Theprocessing timeforlicences iswithin theperiod stipulated inArticle 3.5(f) oftheAgreement
onImport Licensing Procedures.
VI. Notapplicable.G/LIC/N/3/SGP/1
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VII. Ricelicence applications areprocessed byasingle administrative organ, theTDB.
VIII. Please seeresponse citedatparagraph 6above.
IX. Notapplicable.
X. Notapplicable.
XI. Please seeresponse citedatparagraph 6above.
7.(a)Therange ofprocessing timetaken forthevarious licence applications fallwithin thestipulated
periods provided inArticle 2a(iii) forautomatic licensing andArticle 3.5(f) fornon-automatic licensing.
Depending ontheproducts, applications forimport licences maybesubmitted asfarinadvance as
1working dayprior toimportation. Itisalsopossible forcertain products toarrive ataportwithout
alicence.
Inthecaseofartificial sweetening agents andirradiated foods, itispreferable thatimport licence
applications aresubmitted 1or2months inadvance toallow ample timeforamendments/ adjustments
should theproducts notmeet thestipulated labelling requirements. Animporter ofpoisons without
alicence willhavetotemporarily storethehazardous substances intheportareapending theapproval
oftheimport licence.
(b) Generally import licences canbegranted immediately upon request when applications are
submittedinappropriateandcompleteforms.Forcasessuchasarmsandexplosives,radioactivematerials
andirradiating apparatus, import licences canbeimmediately granted iftheimporter already hasa
dealer slicence. Licence applications forimports offullcolour photocopying machines maybegranted
immediately onlyinexceptional cases.
(c) Inallcases, there arenolimitations astotheperiod oftheyearduring which application of
licence and/or importation maybemade.
(d) Inallcases, consideration ofalicence application iseffected byasingle administrative organ
asspecified intherespective legislation citedinresponse toQuestion 5.Theimporter doesnothave
toapproach more thanoneadministrative body.
8. Anapplicationforanimportlicenceisusuallygrantedifitmeetsthestipulatedcriteria.Licensing
authorities willprovide thereason(s) intheevent ofrefusal. Avenues forappeal existinallcases.
Eligibility ofImporters toApply forLicence
9.(a) Notapplicable.
(b) Generally, allpersons, registered firms andinstitutions areeligible toapply forlicences.
Applicants fortheproduct categories below must meetadditional criteria:
(i) foralicence toimport, make, distribute orexhibit films andvideos, anapplicant mustbea
private limited company ofatleastS$100,000 paid-up capital;
(ii) forlicence todealinorimport armsandexplosives, applicants mustnothavecriminal records
oradverse security attention;G/LIC/N/3/SGP/1
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(iii) forlicence toimport largeandwildanimals, theapplicant mustconvince thelicensing authority,
iethePrimary Production Department oftheMinistry ofNational Development thatheorshe
issuitably equipped tohouse andcarefortheanimals;
(iv) foralicence toimport hazardous substances, applicants should preferably beaprofessional
orasenior management staffwhohavethenecessary knowledge onhowtohandle thehazardous
substances safely andhavepassed anoraltestconducted bythelicensing authority, iethe
PollutionControlDepartmentoftheMinistryoftheEnvironment,coveringtechnicalknowledge
onthesafehandling ofthehazardous substances andonthePoisons ActanditsRules;
(v) foralicence todealintelecommunication equipment, theapplicant must beinthebusiness
ofselling electrical/ electronic/ computer orspecialist telecommunication, orsupplying and
installing telecommunication equipment foraircraft, vessels andvehicles. Dealers mustalso
havetechnical staffwhoknow TAS-type approval requirements andknowledge oftheirproducts
inorder toadvise andguide consumers;
(vi) applicants forlicence toimport product containing PartIpoisons orcontrolled drugs must
bequalified persons suchasregistered pharmacists;
(vii) applicants forlicence todealinfishorfishproducts must beafisherman, fishfarmer, fish
dealer orconnected tofishing orthefishing industry.
Documentational andOther Requirements forApplication forLicence
10. Theapplication foradealer slicence requires suchinformation as:particulars ofimporter,
company registration certificate issued bytheSingapore Registry ofCompanies, product description,
product quantity, mode ofshipment, portofshipment/transport, product brand/ serial number/ model/
make andcountry oforigin. Additional requirements intheapplication forcertain dealers licence
include:
(i) applications forlicence toimport hazardous substances require documents toshow thatthe
applicant hasanapproved storage andhandling facilities tohandle hazardous substances safely;
alayout plantoshow areas forstoring hazardous substances; andanemergency action plan
toindicatehowachemicalreleasefromthestorageareawillbecontained,detoxifiedandcleaned
up;
(ii) applications toimport artificial sweetening agents andirradiated foodmust besubstantiated
withdocuments tosupport theuseoftheproducts, andsample labels;
(iii) applications todealinornamental fishmusthavegovernment approved premises withfacilities
forholding, quarantining, andpacking ofornamental fish;
(iv) applications todealinfruitmachines must ensure thattheyareforuseinlicensed clubs;
(v) applicationstodealinrice,telecommunicationequipment,armsandexplosivesrequiredocuments
ontechnical specifications oftheproducts. Inaddition, applicants forlicence todealinarms
andexplosives must ensure thefollowing:
- commercial andIndustrial Security Cooperation (CISCO) Constable(s) tobeengaged
toescort thetransportation ofgoods;G/LIC/N/3/SGP/1
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- allpyrotechnics aretobestored atwharves designated bythePortofSingapore
Authority (PSA).
(vi) applications todealinfullcolour copying machines aresubject tothefollowing conditions:
- importer mustensure thatthemachine isnotusedtoreproduce currency notes, financial
negotiable documents, passports, postage stamps, lottery tickets;
- importer must inform thelicensing authority, ietheBoard ofCommissioners of
Currency (BCCS) oftheMinistry ofFinance ifthecolour copying machine issold
orleased out;
- iftheimporter orthesubsequent userdecides togiveuptheuseofthemachine either
byscrapping itorbyhaving itre-exported, hemustnotify theBCCS inwriting and
surrender thepermit totheBCCS;
- theimporter orusershallatallreasonable times permit authorised officers from the
BCCS toinspect themachine andtoallow specimen copies ofreproductions andcopies
oftheregister tobemade andshallonrequest furnish whatever additional information
thatmayberequired.
(vii) applications todealinradioactive materials andirradiating apparatus aresubject tothefollowing
conditions:
- thecompany must possess alicence tohandle andtransport radioactive materials if
itundertakes itsowntransportation. Inaddition, theimporter must ensure thatthe
vehicletransportingradioactivematerialsdisplaysaproperplacardshowingtheradiation
signandthatitisnotleftunattended;
- theimporter, ifheisanend-user, must possess alicence thatspecifies thetypeand
quantity ofradioactive materials thatcanbepossessed andanother licence foruse,
handling andtransport ofradioactive materials;
- iftheimporter istheend-user ofirradiating apparatus, thecompany musthavealicence
foreachmachine itpossesses.
11. Upon actual importation, importers arerequired tomake anInward Declaration showing the
correct description andquantities ofeachconsignment made electronically through theTradeNet system.
Shipping documents suchasBillofLading/Airway Billandinvoice arealsorequired.
Additional requirements fortheimportation ofcertain products include:
(i) forpublications, theirlanguage havetobespecified;
(ii) forarmsandexplosives, imports mustbeproduced forinspection attheArms andExplosives
Branch immediately aftercustoms clearance;
(iii) formedicines, poisons anddrugs, clinical data,manufacturing quality control procedures and
FreeSaleCertificates must befurnished toascertain thesafety, efficacy andquality ofthe
products;G/LIC/N/3/SGP/1
Page7
(iv) forplant andplant produce, phytosanitary certificates orsimilar official statement issued not
more than14dayspriortodateofshipment ofconsignment byacompetent government agency
oragricultural authority arerequired. Imports ofplant andplant produce aresubject toplant
quarantine inspection requirements;
(v) formeatandmeatproducts, imports should beshipped direct andmustbederived fromsources
approved bythelicensing authority iePrimary Production Department oftheMinistry of
National Development. They must beaccompanied byaveterinary health certificate issued
bytheapproved sources intheexporting country andinspected upon importation;
(vi) forliveanimals, importers arerequired toshow thedealers licence issued bythePPDtogether
withtheveterinary health certificate from sources intheexporting country approved bythe
PPD. Thedeclaration from master/captain ofship/aircraft mayalsoberequired depending
onthetypeofanimal andcountry oforigin;
(vii) forfresh fruitandvegetables, eachconsignment must:
- besubject toinspection andsampling upon importation;
- beaccompanied byadocument relating totheimportation ofanyfresh fruitand
vegetables forsaleorsupply inSingapore;
- notcontain levels ofpesticide residues exceeding levels prescribed under Rule13of
theControl ofPlants (Import ofFresh Fruits andVegetables) Rules 1994; and
- beincontainers which, atthetimeofimportation, must bearthename andaddress
oftheirproducer.
(viii) forselected fishorfishproducts, additional product quality andquarantine requirements apply.
Allornamental fishimported mustbehealthy andfreefromanyclinical signofdisease atthe
timeofimport;
(ix) inaddition torequirements setoutin(iv)to(viii) above, thedateandtimeofarrival of
consignment must beindicated forimports ofthese goods;
(x) forimports ofCITES products, importers arerequired tosubmit aCITES export orre-export
permit issued bytheCITES Management Authority oftheexporting orre-exporting country.
12. Feesarerequired forthefollowing:
(i) Product Licences
- alicence feeofS$6perconsignment ofplant andplants produce. Other feesforand
incidentaltoanyinspectionorexaminationactivitiesarealsospecifiedundertheControl
ofPlants (Importation) Rules;
- alicence feeofS$3per100kilogrammes applies forfreshandfrozen meat, andS$35
perconsignment ofmeatpacked incans;
- alicence feeofS$20 perheadapplies toliveanimals formeatproduction, subject to
amaximum ofS$160 perconsignment; S$45 perheadapplies topetanimals; S$15
perspecies applies fornon-domestic birds andeggs, subject toamaximum ofS$77G/LIC/N/3/SGP/1
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perconsignment. S$20 toS$50 perconsignment applies toother animals, depending
onthetypeofanimal imported. Charges apply forquarantine andrabies vaccination
forcatsanddogs;
- alicence feeofS$12 perscheduled species ofCITES Endangered Species, subject
toaminimum amount ofS$25 orS$50 perconsignment, depending onthespecies.
Forelephant tusks, thefeesareS$1perkgorpartthereof subject toaminimum of
S$50perconsignment.Chargesalsoapplyforsuchprovisionsascertification,inspection
andtransport aslisted intheSchedule oftheEndangered Species (Import andExport)
(Fees) Rules 1991;
- alicence feeofS$30 perconsignment applies toradioactive materials andirradiating
apparatus.
- alicence feeofS$13 perconsignment applies toarms andexplosives.
(ii) Feesfordealers licence
- anannual licensing feeofS$360 forfresh fruitandvegetables;
- anannual licence feeofS$350 forornamental fishandS$70 forother fish;
- anannual licence feeatS$250 orabiennial licence atS$500 forhazardous substances;
- anannual licence feeofS$15 forrice;
- anannual licence feeofS$120 foroperations offruitmachines, renewable atS$25
perannum;
- anannual licence feeofS$60 fordealing inTAStypeapproved equipment andan
annual licence feeofS$400 fordealing inothertypes oftelecommunication equipment;
- abiennial licence feeofS$1,500 andabanker sguarantee ofS$20,000 perlicence
toimport, make, distribute orexhibit films andvideos;
- feesfora5-year ordinary and3-year provisional licences issued under theMedicines
ActareS$240 andS$360 respectively;
- anannual licence feeofS$100 forartificial sweetening agents andirradiated food;
- anannual licence feeofS$180 tomanufacture, possess forsaleordealinirradiating
apparatus orradioactive materials; anannual feeofS$130 tokeeporpossess radioactive
materials orirradiating apparatus other thanforsale;anannual feeofS$120 touse,
handle andtransport radioactive materials orirradiating apparatus.
Thevalidity oflicences canbeextended upon expiry through renewal oflicences.
13. Inallcases, nodeposit oradvance payment isrequired.G/LIC/N/3/SGP/1
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Conditions forLicensing
14. Theperiod ofthevalidity ofdealers licences areasspecified inresponse toquestion 12above.
Thevalidity ofapproved product licences lapses when theimportation oftheconcerned products is
effected.
15. Inallcases, nopenalty exists fornon-utilisation oflicence oraportion ofit.
16. Licences arenottransferable between importers.
17.(a) Notapplicable.
(b) Notapplicable.
Other Procedural Requirements
18. No.
19. Notapplicable.