G/LIC/Q/MMR/2  
 
27 Novem ber 2019  
(19-8144) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
 IMPORT LICENSING SYS TEM OF MYANMAR  
REPLIES  BY MYANMAR TO THE QUEST IONS FROM THE UNITED STATES  
The following communication, dated 1 3 Novem ber 2019, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of  the United States.  
 
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1. Could Myanmar please explain the composition of the MoC Economic Committee and 
how members are chosen?  
 
EC stands for the “Executive Committee”.  
 
The Executive Committee of the Ministry of Commerce is the highest -level committee within the 
Ministry wor king on management issues and trade -related issues (not limited to the licensing 
regime) on a case by case basis.   
 
The Committee is chaired by the Minister and the members are selected depending on internal 
criteria.  
 
2. What is the Economic Committee’s process for granting import permits?  
 
Today, about 60% of products (tariff Lines) can be imported without license. The rest of 40% of 
products are still subject to import license.  
 
Most of the import licenses are approved by the designated officer of the d epartment of trade.  
 
Only for few products (about 8% of all the license issued) have to  be reported to the Export Import 
Coordination Committee (EICC) because of their huge import volume, their new import item nature 
or other factors.  
 
Only those license s which cannot be decided by EICC are reviewed by Executive Committee for final 
decision.  
 
3. When importers are denied an import permit, are they given a reason for denial? Does 
a process of appeals exist following the denial of the import permit? If so, could Myanmar 
please outline this process?  
 
The importers are informed the reason for denial.  
 
Importers can appeal to Ministry for reconsideration of the decision. If their justification is reasonable 
and acceptable, Ministry will consider for approva l.  
 
4. Could Myanmar please provide the list of products that must be reviewed by the MoC 
Economic Committee before import permits are granted?  
 
There is no specific list of products which must be reviewed by MoC Executive Committee.  
 
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  5. Could Myanmar please provide a list of all products that are currently restricted, 
prohibited, or banned for importation?  
 
According to the notification no. 8/2013, the following items have been prohibited : 
• Liquor  
• Beer 
• Cigarette  
• Some Items are restricted for importatio n by existing Laws  
 
According to the Notification No. 1/2017, the importation of pulses and beans has temporarily been 
restricted commencing from 15 September 2017 due to the surplus of pulses and beans in domestic 
market. The notification also mentioned t hat importation of pulses and beans will be reviewed 
according to the needs of domestic demand.  
 
According to the notification no 3/2019, some fruits has been allowed to import during the season 
in which Myanmar side cannot grow and the importation is allo wed only from border for the welfare 
of the poor local residents in border area.     
 
6. Are there any implementing regulations related to the Export and Import Law? If so, 
the United States requests Myanmar notify these additional regulations to the appropriate 
WTO committees as soon as possible.  
 
Myanmar will notify its Annual Questionnaire on Import Licensing Procedures in coming months.  The 
additional decrees relating to the importation will soon to be notified to the WTO Import Licensing 
Committe e. 
 
7. The following is a list of agricultural products subject to import restrictions   
  
No General description of 
the restriction  Detailed Product 
Description  Permanent or 
temporary  
1. Import Restriction  Beans and Pulses  Temporary  
2. Import Restriction  Garlic  Temporary  
3. Import Restriction  Potato  Temporary  
4. Import Restriction  Corn Temporary  
 
 
8. The nature of the import Licensing (automatic or non -automatic) for potatoes, corn,  
grain, poultry and pork. If non -automatic, what is the purpose behind this license?  
 
Non-automatic import licensing is applied for potatoes, corn, grain, poultry and pork. The purpose 
is to monitor the market and to prevent the import serge.  
 
 
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