WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/LIC/N/3/TTO/4 
10 August 2004 
 (04-3382) 
Committee on Import Licensing Original:   English 
  
 
REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES 
 
Notification under Article 7.3 of the
 
Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures1 
 
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 
  
 The following communication, dated 30 July 2004, is being circulated at the request of the Delegation of Trinidad and Tobago. 
 
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Outline of system
 
 
1. The import licensing system is regulated by  the Imports and Exports Control Regulations 
1941 which is scheduled as part of the Trade Ordinance No. 19 of 1958.  Purposes and coverage of licensing
 
 
2. With the liberalization of the economy, only  the undermentioned goods require a licence to be 
imported into the country:  - Automatic licensing
:  Live poultry, rearing or breeding; live poultry, other than rearing or 
breeding;  fish, fresh (live or dead) chilled or frozen;  (a) shrimp (prawn) fresh (live or dead) 
chilled or frozen;  (b) lobster, fresh (live or  dead) chilled or frozen;  (c) crabmeat, fresh, 
chilled or frozen. 
 - Automatic licensing
:  The following oils and fats of CARICOM origin:  coconuts in all forms 
including coconut seedlings, copra, dessicated coconut, coconut milk and coconut cream, but 
excluding coconut oil;  oilseed cake, meal and other vegetable residues;  copra;  oilseed, 
beans, nuts etc.;  animal oils, fats and greases,  unrefined;  fatty acids and solid residues from 
the treatment of oils and fats;  vegetable fa ts;  miscellaneous manufactured products, ships  
etc. 
 - Automatic licensing
:  Mixtures containing ozone-depleti ng substances (ODS):  tariff heading 
nos. 2903.191, 2903.199, 2903.20, 2903.21, 2903.22, 2903.23, 2903.40, 2903.45, 2903.451, 
2903.452, 2903.453, 2903.454, 2903.455, 2903.456, 2903.457, 2903.458, 2903.459, 2903.4591, 2903.4592, 2903.4593, 2903.4594, 2903.4595, 2903.4596, 2903.47, 2903.49, 2903.491, 2903.492, 2903.499 (reason
:  Montreal Protocol ) 
 
                                                      
1 See document G/LIC/3, Annex, for the Questionnaire. G/LIC/N/3/TTO/4 
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 - Automatic licensing
:  Equipment requiring the use of ozone-depleting substances – except 
those using R11, R12, R113, R114, R115, halo n 1211, 1321, 2402:  compressors and their 
parts;  used refrigerating equipment;  dehum idifiers;  air-conditioning machines and their 
parts for domestic and commercial use, as well as auto air-conditioning units and their parts 
for new or used vehicles – whether mounted or not;  refrigerators, freezers and other 
refrigerating or freezing equipment, heat pumps  and their parts for domestic and commercial 
use;   and portable fire extinguishers and their parts (reason :  Montreal Protocol ) 
 - Non-automatic licensing
:  The following oils and fats of non-CARICOM origin:  coconuts in 
all forms including coconut seedlings, copra, dessicated coconut, coconut milk and coconut 
cream, but excluding coconut oil;  oilseed cake, m eal and other vegetable oil residues;  copra;  
oilseed, beans, nuts etc.;  animal oils, fats  and greases, unrefined;  fatty acids and solid 
residues from the treatment of oils and fats;  vegetable fats (reason :  regional trade 
agreements ) 
 
- Non-automatic licensing :  Road motor vehicles of the follo wing descriptions:  (a) left-hand 
drive vehicles imported under Section 45(2)(4) of the Customs Act Chapter 78:01 as amended;  (b) used right-hand drive vehicles;  and (c) used right-hand garbage compactors exceeding 15 tonnes (15,000 kg.) MGW (reason
:  public safety ) 
 - Non-automatic licensing
:  Paper for wrapping tobacco or cigarettes (reason :  national 
security ) 
 - Non-automatic licensing
:  The following pesticides:  Parathion, ethyl;  dichlorodiphenyl-
trichloroethane (DDT),  chlordimeform;  di bromochloropropane (DBCP);  ethylene dibromide 
(EDB),  pentachlorophenol (PCP);  lead arsenate;  thallium and its salts;  aldrin, dieldrin and 
endrin;  2, 4, 5-trichlorophenyl (2, 4, 5-T) (reason :  health and environment ) 
 - Non-automatic licensing
:  (a) Ozone-depleting substances (ODS);  (b) mixtures containing 
ozone-depleting substances (ODS):  tariff heading nos. 2903.41, 2903.42, 2903.43 and 
2903.44 - Group I chloroflourocarbons - Annex A;  2903.191, 2903.30 Annex E methylbromide;  halons – 1211, 1301, 2402 Annex A-Group II (reason
:  Montreal Protocol ) 
 
3. The system applies to goods originating in  and coming from all countries with the exception 
of oils and fats.  4. Automatic import licensing is for statistical purposes.  Non- automatic import licensing is for 
the purpose of administering import restrictions ma intained pursuant to:  bilateral/regional trade 
agreements;  environmental concerns;  national sec urity;  health concerns and under the Montreal 
Protocol.     5. The licensing system is a statutory requirem ent, published as Legal Notice No. 69 of 1999: 
Notice to Importers No. 1 of 1999
2.  This existing requirement is an amendment to Legal Notice 103: 
Notice to Importers No. 1 of 1997 and Legal Notice No. 180, Notice to Importers No. 1 of 1998.  In 
1989, Trinidad and Tobago acceded to the Vienna Convention for the protection of the ozone layer 
and the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplet e the ozone layer.  A country programme for the 
Phase-Out of Ozone-Depleting substances was prepared in 1996 and has been implemented.  Trinidad 
and Tobago met the 1 July 1999 deadline for the freeze on the consumption of chlorofluorocarbons 
(CFC's) at levels of average imports for 1995 an d 1997. Authority exists to suspend the system 
                                                      
2 Copy of Legal Notice 69: Notice to Importers No.1 1999 is available for consultation in the 
Secretariat (Market Access Division) (English only).  G/LIC/N/3/TTO/4 
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 whenever it is determined that such action is appr opriate.  Notice to such action is published in the 
Trinidad and Tobago Gazette.  Procedures
 
 
6. Quantitative restrictions apply solely in respect of ozone-depleting substances as outlined 
below:- 
 (a) In accordance with the dictates of the Mont real Protocol, the Government of Trinidad and 
Tobago agreed to implement the phase out on the consumption of chlorofluorocarbons 
(CFCs):  CFCs 11, 12, 113, 114, 115 at the level of average imports for 1995-1997, effective 
1 July 1999. 
 (b) A quota system was implemented that accommodated only those importers whose historical 
records showed that they imported CFCs during the period 1995-1997. 
 
(c) Quotas are issued to only eight importers.  (d) Phase out of halons – halon 1211, halon 130 1, halon 2402 – Annex A – Group II effective 1 
January 2002.  No quotas considered.  Alternative products used. 
 
(e) Phase out of methylbromide.  Annex E effective 1 January 2002.  Quota set at level of 
average imports for 1995-1998.  Quota issued to only one importer. 
 7. For all goods requiring an import licence:  
(a) Application for a licence must be made at le ast one week in advance of importation.  Licences 
may be obtained within a shorter time-limit or for goods arriving at the port without a licence, 
however the law stipulates and applicants ar e encouraged to obtain licences before goods 
arrive in the country. 
 (b) A licence may be granted immediately on re quest in instances where goods arrive without 
prior knowledge of the applicant. 
 (c) There are no limitations as to the period of  the year during which application for licence 
and/or importation may be made. 
 
(d) An importer has to approach only one admini strative body with an application.  However 
consideration of all licence applications is not  always effected by a single administrative 
body.  The following applications must be passed on to other administrative bodies for recommendations:  Live poultry (rearing and br eeding and other) and fish, crustaceans, 
molluscs – Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Ma rine Resources;  left-hand drive road motor 
vehicles – Ministry of Works and Transport;  ships and boats – Ministry of National Security;  
and ozone-depleting substances – informed by Environmental Management Agency. 
 8. If the Ministry’s policy does not allow, the r easons for refusal are written on the application 
form.  The applicant has a right to appeal to a high er authority, i.e. Permanent Secretary or Minister. 
 
Eligibility of importers to apply for licence
 
 9. All persons, firms and institutions are eligible to apply for licences. 
  G/LIC/N/3/TTO/4 
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 Documentational and other require ments for application for licence
 
 10. A sample form is attached
3.  An importer is required to submit the following documents with 
the application:  covering letter explaining need  for the imported item – non-automatic licences;  
Personal Identification;  Board of Inland Revenue Certificate;  Registration of Business;  and 
Pro-forma invoice of goods, if available. 
 11. Upon actual importation, an importer is require d to submit the Customs copy of the approved 
import licence to the Customs and Excise Division.  
12. Prior to 17 July 2000, an import licence fee of $11.00 TT was applicable.  Effective 
17 July 2000, this fee is no longer applicable.  13. There is no deposit or advance payment requi rement associated with the issue of licences. 
 
Conditions of licensing
 
 14. A licence is valid to the end of the year in which it was issued unless otherwise stated.  The 
validity can be extended if the applicant so re quests;  however extension is not automatic. 
 15. There is no penalty for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of it. 
 
16. Licences are not transferable between importers.  17. Conditions are attached to licences for used motor vehicles. 
 
Other procedural requirements
 
 18. Apart from import licensing prior to importation other administrative procedures may entail:  certification from Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources for live poultry, fish, shrimp, lobster and crabmeat.  
19. Foreign exchange is automatically provid ed by the banking authorities for goods to be 
imported.  No licence is required as a condition fo r obtaining foreign exchange.  Import documents 
must be provided to the banking authorities.  
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3 Available for consultation in the Secretar iat (Market Access Division) (English only).