WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/LIC/N/3/LCA/2 
31 August 2004 
 
 (04-3600) 
Committee on Import Licensing Original:   English 
  
REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES
1 
 
Notification under Article 7.3 of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures  
 
SAINT LUCIA 
 
 
 The following communication, dated 30 August 2004,  is being circulated at the request of the 
Ministry of External Affairs, Internatio nal Trade and Civil Aviation of St. Lucia. 
 
_______________ 
 
Outline of system  
 1. The import licensing system is regulated by External Trade Act No. 5 of 1968 and by the 
Customs (Management and Control) Act No. 23 of 1990.  The schedules relating to goods subject to import licensing are contained in SI No. 31 of 1996 a nd in the Restricted Items Schedule attached to 
the Customs (Management and Control) Act.  The licen sing system is administered by the Ministry of 
Commerce, Investment and Consumer Affairs.  A sample of the relative application form is attached.
2 
 Purpose and coverage of licensing
 
 
2. See schedules attached to External Trad e (Restricted Imports) Order No. 31 of 1996. 
 3. The system applies to goods originating outside the OECS and/or CARICOM (Second Schedule), products originating from the OECS a nd CARICOM (Third Schedu le), goods originating 
from any country which is not a member of the OECS (Fourth Schedule).  
4. The Saint Lucia import licensing regime wa s adopted to facilitate the regulating and 
monitoring of imports and for the following:  
• national security 
• public health 
• public safety 
• animal health 
• moral issues 
 
5. The External Trade Act and the External Trade (Restricted Imports) Order are the legal 
authorities for the import licensing regime in Sain t Lucia.  The various goods and products are 
classified in the schedules to the Order and ther efore administrative discretion is unnecessary.  
However goods such as controlled substances, fire arms and ammunition whic h require non-automatic 
licences may be subject to administrative discreti on.  A list of all items which require an import 
                                                     
 
 1  See document G/LIC/3, An nex, for the Questionnaire. 
2 The legislation referred to in this notification, as well as the sample application form, are available for 
consultation in the Secretariat (Market Access Division) (in English only). G/LIC/N/3/LCA/2 
Page 2  
 
 licence may be obtained from the Customs and Ex cise Department or from the Ministry of 
Commerce, Investment and Consumer Affairs.  The legal instruments were pub lished in the Official 
Gazette as required by law.  Procedures for restricted products
 
 
6. For restricted products:  I. Information is advised by the Ministry of Co mmerce, Investment and C onsumer Affairs in the 
local press and in the Official Gazette from time to time regarding quotas and other related 
formalities. 
 II. Quotas (when and where applicable) are determined annually.  III. Licences are allotted on a non-discriminatory basis, first come, first served. 
 
IV. Import licences are usually for a duration of one month from the date of issue and must be utilised in their entirety.  No part may be transferred to other shipments.  V. Applications are processed within 48 hours.  
VI. Applications are usually presented within 72 hours prior to arrival of goods, but in several 
instances it has been observed that applications are presented a few hours before clearing customs. 
 VII. All trade licences covered under the External Trade Act are processed by the Ministry of 
Commerce, Investment and Consumer Affairs.  However import licences for plants and animals are 
processed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forest ry and Fisheries.  Weapons and ammunition – 
Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security  (Police Commissioner).  Drugs and public health – 
Ministry of Health, Human Services, Family Affairs and Gender Relations. 
 VIII. Licences are allocated on a first come, firs t served basis.  Applications are examined on 
receipt. 
 
IX. There are no bilateral quotas or export restra int arrangements.  Export permits are required 
from country of origin when importing plants and animals into St. Lucia.  X. Importers are asked to advise e xporters of national requirements. 
 
XI. No licences are issued on condition that goods  should be exported and not sold in the 
domestic market.  7. Where there is no quantitative limit on impor tation of a product or on imports from a 
particular country: 
 
(a) Importers are asked to subm it applications prior to arriva l of goods.  Licences are on most 
occasions processed within 48 hours of receipt by the Ministry of Commerce, Investment and 
Consumer Affairs.  Licences can be obtained over a shorter period for goods already on the docks. 
 
(b) In special circumstances a licence can be granted on request. 
 (c) There are no limitations as to the period of the year during which application for licence 
and/or importation may be made.   G/LIC/N/3/LCA/2 
 Page 3 
 
 
 (d) Licences related to the External Trade Act are processed by the Ministry of Commerce, 
Investment and Consumer Affairs.  However for items such as meat and meat products, plant and 
plant material, permits are processed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries;  weapons 
and ammunition – Home Affairs and Internal S ecurity (Police Commissioner);  motor vehicles – 
Ministry of Communications, Works, Transport and Public Utilities;  medical supplies – Ministry of 
Health, Human Services and Family Affairs.  In a ll of the above an importer would have to interface 
with at least two Government departments before obtaining clearance.  8. All applications are automatically approved excep t those that fail to meet the ordinary criteria.  
Applicants are informed of the reason for refusal.  Applicants may appeal to the Permanent Secretary 
or directly to the Minister of Commerce, Investment and Consumer Affairs.  Applicants may seek 
representation through one of the following:  Th e Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and 
Agriculture, the Saint Lucia Sma ll Business Association or the Manufacturers' Association.  
Applicants may also seek redress through the Civil Court.  
Eligibility of importers to apply for licence
 
 9. All persons, firms and institutions are eligible to apply for licences. 
 Documentational and other require ments for application for licence
 
 
10. A sample of the application form is attached.3  A copy of the relative commercial or pro 
forma invoice is required with each application.  11. In the case of goods originating out of CA RICOM a certificate of origin is required. 
 
12. No licensing or administrative fees are charged. 
 13. There is no deposit or advance payment require ment associated with th e issuance of licences. 
 Conditions of licensing
 
 
14. A licence is valid for one month from date of i ssue.  The validity may be extended to facilitate 
the delivery of goods, if required.  15. There is no penalty for the non-utilisation of a licence or a portion of it.  
16. Licences are non-transferable. 
 17. There are no conditions attached  to the issuance of a licence. 
 Other procedural requirements
 
 
18. There are no other administrative procedures apart from import licensing required prior to 
importation.  19. Foreign exchange is automatically provided  by the banking authorities to pay for imported 
goods. 
 
__________ 
 
                                                     
 
3 Available for consultation in the Secretariat (Market Access Division) (in English only).