WORLD TRADE G/LIC/N/3/NAM/1
18March 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-1078)
Original: English Committee onImport Licensing
REPLIES TOQUESTIONNAIRE ONIMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES
Notification under Article 7.3ofthe
Agreement onImport Licensing Procedures
NAMIBIA
Thefollowing communication, dated 28February 1997, hasbeenreceived fromthedelegation
ofNamibia.
_____________
1. Namibian Agronomic Board Permit
Outline ofSystem
1.1 TheNamibian Agronomic Board utilises animport permit system fortheimportation of
agronomic crops -white maize, wheat, andsunflower seedaswellaswheat flour, maize meal
andsunflower oil.Sunflower seediscurrently intheprocess ofbeing decontrolled asis
sunflower oil.When thisisfinalised thepermit system willnolonger apply tothese products.
Purpose andCoverage ofLicensing
1.2 There isasingle permit system andthesystem applies toproducts asoutlined atparagraph 1
above.
1.3 Thesystem isnoncountry-specific.
1.4 Thepermit system isintended asaninstrument tomanage theuptake ofdomestic production
following which permits forimports aregranted onanunlimited basis.
1.5 TheAgronomic Industry Act,1992(Act20of1992) gives power totheNamibian Agronomic
Board toissue permits withrespect totheimportation orexportation ofcontrolled crops.
Controlled crops aredefined byGovernment Notice No.45of1993. Itisnotpossible toabolish
thesystem without theapproval oftheMinister ofAgriculture, Water andRural Development.
Procedures
1.6 I. InformationontheissuingofpermitsisavailableonrequestfromtheBoard.Inaddition,
theBoard publishes itsannual report which outlines thefunctions oftheBoard including the
issuing ofpermits.
II. There isnoquota system inplace.G/LIC/N/3/NAM/1
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III. Notapplicable.
IV. Notapplicable.
V. Import permits areissued daily.
VI. Recipients ofapermit areallowed toimport immediately.
VII. Animporter mustbeinthepossession alsoofaphytosanitary permit fromtheMinistry
ofAgriculture, Water andRural Development andanimport permit fromtheMinistry ofTrade
andIndustry1.
VIII. Notapplicable.
IX. Notapplicable.
X. Notapplicable.
XI. No.
1.7 (a) Notimelimit.
(b) Yes.
(c) Permits aregranted freely following takeup ofthelocalcrop.
(d) SeeVIIabove.
1.8 Applicants havetherighttoappeal apermit refusal orwithdrawal totheMinister ofAgriculture,
Water andRural Development. Reasons areprovided totheapplicant forsuchrefusal or
withdrawal.
Eligibility ofImporters toApply forLicence
1.9 Importers/Exporters ofcontrolled agronomic products mustregister withtheBoard1.There
isaregistration feeofN$25. Thelistofimporters isnotpublished butisavailable onrequest
from theBoard.
Documentational andOther Requirements forApplication forLicence
1.10 Quantity andtypeofproducts tobeimported, town andcountry oforigin, portofentry1.
1.11 Theholder ofanimport permit isobliged tonotlaterthanthelastdayofeachcalendar month
furnish totheboard astatement regarding thequantities ofcontrolled agronomic products that,
onthestrength oftheauthorization granted bywayofsuchapermit, wereactually imported
during thepreceding calendar month.
1.12 N$25 perlicence issued. Inaddition, anadministrative feeischarged atarateofN$2.10 per
tonne ofcommodity imported.
1Asample application form isavailable forreference intheSecretariat.G/LIC/N/3/NAM/1
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1.13 No.
Conditions ofLicensing
1.14 Three months which maybeextended upon request.
1.15 No.
1.16 Licences arenon-transferable.
1.17 No.
Other Procedural Requirements
1.18 Import permits mustbeobtained fromMinistry ofAgriculture, Water andRural Development
andtheMinistry ofTrade andIndustry.
1.19 Foreign exchange isautomatically provided onproduction ofimport licences.
2. Meat Board ofNamibia Permit
Outline ofSystem
2.1 TheMeat Board ofNamibia utilises animport/export permit system formonitoring the
importation/exportation ofliveanimals (cattle, sheep, goats, andpigs) andmeat derived
therefrom.
Purpose andCoverage ofLicensing
2.2 Aseparate licence system isusedforimports/exports ofliveanimals andmeat.
2.3 Thesystem doesnotdifferentiate bycountry.
2.4 Thesystem isdesigned tomonitor theimports andexports ofthecommodities mentioned.
2.5 ThelicensingsystemismaintainedunderthestatutoryprovisionsoftheMeatIndustryAct1981.
Theimplementation oflicences requires theapproval oftheMinister ofAgriculture, Water
andRural Development andthusmaybeabolished attheMinister 'sdiscretion.
Procedures
2.6 Notapplicable.
2.7 (a) 1to7days.
(b) Yes.
(c) No.
(d) Animporter mustbeinpossession alsoofaveterinary import permit fromtheMinistry
ofAgriculture, Water andRural Development, apermit from theLivestock ImprovementG/LIC/N/3/NAM/1
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Board inthecaseofstudanimals, apermit fromWildlife andTourism inthecaseofprotected
species andanimport permit from theMinistry ofTrade andIndustry.
2.8 There arenocircumstances other thanspecified bytheAct.Applicants havetherighttoappeal
apermit refusal orwithdrawal totheMinister ofAgriculture, Water andRural Development.
Reasons areprovided foranypermit refusal orwithdrawal.
Eligibility ofImporters toApply forLicence
2.9 Norestriction oneligibility.
Documentational andOther Requirements forApplication forLicence
2.10 Quantity andtypeofproducts tobeimported, town andcountry oforigin, portofentry
(see7(d))1.
2.11 Thefollowing documents arerequired uponactual importation: import permit fromtheBoard,
veterinary import permit andanimport permit from theMinistry ofTrade andIndustry.
2.12 No.
2.13 No.
Conditions ofLicensing
2.14 Uptothree months, which maybeextended upon request.
2.15 No.
2.16 Licences arenon-transferable.
2.17 No.
Other Procedural Requirements
2.18 See7(d).
2.19 Foreign exchange isautomatically provided onproduction ofimport permits.
3. Phytosanitary Import Permit
Outline ofSystem
3.1 Thephytosanitary import permit system forplants andplant products wasestablished bythe
Agricultural PestAct,1973 (ActNo.3of1973).
Purpose andCoverage ofLicensing
3.2 There isasingle permit system anditapplies toallplants andplant products.
1Asample application form isavailable forreference intheSecretariat.G/LIC/N/3/NAM/1
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3.3 Thesystem doesnotdiscriminate bycountry.
3.4 Thesystem isdesigned toensure thatimports arefreeofharmful pests.
3.5 Thelicensing system ismaintained under theprovisions oftheAgricultural PestAct,1973.
Theissuing ofthepermit issubject tothesubmission bytheimporter ofaphytosanitary
certificate issued bythecountry oforigin.
Procedures
3.6 Notapplicable.
3.7 (a) Aminimum ofseven daysbefore dateofimportation.
(b) Yes.
(c) No.
(d) Consideration oflicence isbyasingle administrative organ.
3.8 Refusal onlyinthecaseofriskofintroduction ofpests anddiseases. There isnoappeal
procedure. Reasons forsuchrefusal areprovided.
Eligibility ofImporters toApply forLicence
3.9 Norestriction oneligibility.
Documentational andOther Requirements forApplication forLicence
3.10 Quantity andtypeofproducts tobeimported, purpose ofimportation, town andcountry of
origin, portofentry andexpected dateofarrival.
3.11 Aphytosanitary certificate from country oforigin andacertificate oforigin.
3.12 None atpresent butafeewillshortly beputinplace.
3.13 No.
Conditions ofLicensing
3.14 Normally uptothree months.
3.15 No.
3.16 Licences arenon-transferable.
3.17 No.
Other Procedural Requirements
3.18 No.G/LIC/N/3/NAM/1
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3.19 Foreign exchange isautomatically provided onproduction ofimport permits.
4. Veterinary Import Permit
Outline ofSystem
4.1 Theimportation ofanimals andanimal products intoNamibia isgoverned bytheAnimal
Diseases andParasites Act1956(ActNo.13 of1956) asamended. Aveterinary import permit
issued bytheDirector, Veterinary Services isrequired fortheimportation ofallanimals and
animal products intoNamibia. TheO.I.E. Animal Health Code isusedastheguideline for
setting import requirements.
Purpose andCoverage ofLicensing
4.2 Import permits arerequired forallanimals/animal products imported inNamibia. Conditions
ofimportation areasstated ontheimport permit.
4.3 Thesystem doesnotdiscriminate bycountry withtheexception that:
- Animals/products from South Africa -aveterinary import permit isrequired forthe
importation ofostriches, elephants, wildpigs,wildebeest andbuffalo only. Importation
ofother animals/products issubject toaveterinary movement certificate issued byan
official veterinarian inSouth Africa with requirements assetoutinthe
Namibian/South African bilateral agreement (i.e.noimport permit isrequired).
- SARCCUS member countries -importation ofdogs andcats: ahealth
certificate/movement permit issued byanofficial veterinarian inthecountry oforigin
isrequired. Allother animals andanimal products require aveterinary import permit.
4.4 Thesystem doesnotrestrict quantity except where quarantine isrequired (space limitations).
Thesystem isaimed atpreventing theintroduction ofdisease thatcould constitute adanger
totheanimal population ofNamibia.
4.5 (a) See1above.
(b) Yes. Theimport permit isstatutorily required.
(c) Itisnotpossible toabolish thesystem without legislative approval.
Procedures
4.6 Norestriction astovalue orquantity.
4.7 (a) Applications should bemade wellinadvance toallow forriskanalysis.
(b) Issuance dependant on7(a).
(c) No.
(d) Inthecaseofcattle, sheep, goats andpigsandmeatproducts derived therefrom, the
application foraveterinary permit must beaccompanied byapermit from theMeatG/LIC/N/3/NAM/1
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Board ofNamibia. Some imports aresubject totheapproval ofother institutions:
eg.Ministry ofEnvironment inthecaseofprotected species andtheRegister of
Livestock Improvement inthecaseofbreeding material. Allimports require animport
permit from theMinistry ofTrade andIndustry.
4.8 Import permits areonlyrefused ifnormal criteria arenotmet: eg.ifitappears thattheimport
constitutes adanger ofintroducing disease toNamibia, orwhen quarantine space (where
applicable) isunavailable. Reasons forrefusal aregiven totheapplicant. Applicants have
therightofappeal totheMinister ofAgriculture, Water andRural Development under the
provisions ofAct13of1956.
Eligibility ofImporters toapply forLicence
4.9 Norestriction oneligibility.
Documentational andOther Requirements forApplication forLicence
4.10 Number andspecies tobeimported, country andfarmoforigin, place ofloading, portofentry
anddateofembarkation. Alistofother requirements byspecies andcommodity iscontained
intheapplication foranimport permit1.
4.11 Thepermits referred toat7(d).
4.12 None.
4.13 Notapplicable.
Conditions ofLicensing
4.14 Varies according toconsignment.
4.15 No.
4.16 Licences arenon-transferable.
4.17 Notapplicable.
Other Procedural Requirements
4.18 No.
4.19 Foreign exchange isautomatically provided onproduction ofimport permits.
1Asample application form isavailable forreference intheSecretariat.