G/LIC/N/3/MLI/11  
4 August  2022 
(22-5821) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original:  French  
 
  
REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES1 
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 7.3 OF THE AGREEMENT ON  
IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES (2022)  
 
MALI 
The following communication, dated 1  August  2022, is being circulated at the request of the  
delegation of Mali. 
 
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Outline of systems  
 
1. The import licensing system is governed by Decree No. 00 -505/P -RM of 16  October  2000 on the 
regulation of foreign trade, Implementing Order No. 09 -788 of 7 April 2009, and Interministerial 
Order No.  2015-1535/MIC/MEF -SG of 15 June 2015 drawing up the list of prohibited imports and 
exports. The licensing system is administered by the Directorate -General of Trade, Consumer Affairs 
and Competition.  
Purposes and coverage of the licensing  
 
Trade is free with all countries and foreign trade is governed by the following two regimes:  
2.(a) The licensing procedure relates t o the free trade regime provided for in Decree  
No. 00-505/P -RM of 16  October  2000 on the regulation of foreign trade. It covers Article  5: 
- goods to be released for consumption on the domestic market either as a result of a direct 
importation from abroad or a regime providing for conditional relief from customs duties and 
taxes;  
- vehicles for the transport of persons and goods;  
- goods released from warehouses or any other regime providing for conditional relief from 
customs duties and taxes.  
The followin g goods, effects or commodities are not subject to the licensing procedure in accordance 
with Article 6 of Decree No. 00 -505/P -RM of 16 October 2000 on the regulation of foreign trade:  
- goods that have been abandoned at customs and have become state prope rty; 
- animals such as dogs and cats accompanying their owners;  
- fuel contained in vehicle tanks or in cans, canister s or other containers up to a maximum limit 
of 100 litres per vehicle;  
- packages imported or exported full;  
- commercial samples with a v alue below a threshold established in an order issued by the 
Minister of Finance;  
- clothing and personal effects clearly not intended for commercial purposes, imported or 
exported by travellers in their luggage and admitted or exempted under the Customs C ode; 
 
1 See document G/LIC/3, Annex, for the questionnaire.  G/LIC/ N/3/MLI/11  
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  - consignments by post or courier of a non -commercial nature and weighing less than or equal 
to 20 kg, with a value not exceeding a threshold established in an order issued by the Minister 
of Finance;  
- consignments sent to national or international c harities;  
- goods, property and effects, seized and sold by state administrations;  
- furniture with visible signs of use imported as a result of relocation or inheritance;  
- agricultural or industrial equipment with visible signs of use imported as a resul t of relocation 
and business transfers;  
- original works of art imported by their authors;  
- transhumance of animals going to or coming from grazing land subject to the completion of 
the formalities provided for in customs regulations;  
- spare parts supplied free of charge under a guarantee contract, the value of which is below a 
threshold established in an order issued by the Minister of Finance;  
- articles or effects admitted free of duty for members of the diplomatic corps or the like, effects 
or property exported under the same privileges;  
- wedding trousseaux and school outfits;  
- bank notes;  
- postage and revenue stamps;  
- any goods of a non -commercial nature with a value not exceeding a threshold established in 
an order issued by the  Minister of Finance.  
(b) Other products provided for in Interministerial Order No.  2015-1535/MCI/MEF -SG of 
15 June 2015 drawing up the list of products prohibited from importation are subject to the licensing 
procedure. These include:  
Authorization from t he Ministry of Health:  
- medicines for human use;  
- medicines for veterinary use: joint authorization from the ministries responsible for health and 
for livestock;  
- food additives: list to be drawn up by the Ministry of Health;  
- cyanide: authorization fr om the ministry responsible for mining or the Ministry of Health.  
Authorization from the Ministry of Trade:  
- non-iodized salt not intended for human consumption;  
- cigarettes, tobacco and other tobacco products.  
Authorization from the Ministry  of Transpor t: 
- motor vehicles with a GVW of 3.5 tonnes or more: authorization from the relevant departments of 
the Ministry  of Transport.  
Authorization from the Ministry of the Environment:  
- ozone -depleting substances: list to be drawn up by the Ministry of the Env ironment;  
- dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT): authorization from the relevant departments of the Ministry 
of the Environment;  
Authorization from the Ministry of Defence:  
- arms and ammunition;  
- explosives and detonation equipment: authorization from the Ministry of Defence and the 
relevant departments of the ministry responsible for mining;  
- HF, VHF and UHF ground -to-air radios;  
- radio-relay stations;  
- satellite communication equipment;  
- electronic and electromagnetic jamming sy stems;  
- ground surveillance radars;  
- air surveillance radars;  
- direction -finding systems;  G/LIC/ N/3/MLI/11  
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  - fabrics, clothing and accessories for military use (fatigues and camouflage clothing);  
- spare parts for military equipment;  
- berets, hoods, hats, helmets, caps, kepis and other headgear for military use.  
Authorization  from the Ministry responsible for security:  
- observation drones;  
- electromagnetic wave capture systems;  
- night-vision binoculars;  
- laser rangefinders;  
- metal detectors;  
-  single -cab and double -cab pick -up trucks with engines of six cylinders or more;  
- portable magnetic detectors;  
- demining kits;  
- anti-fragmentation demining suits;  
- electric and pyrotechnic detonators;  
- detonating cords;  
- safety fuses.  
 
3. The system applies to products originating in and coming from all countries.  
4. The importation of goods under the import licensing system is carried out without restriction on 
quantities and values. The purpose of the licensing procedure in Mali is to ensure the tra ceability 
and predictability of trade for better environmental protection and security management. It also 
provides economic, financial and trade information.  
5.(i)  The licensing system is regulated by regulatory or executive acts. The legislative 
framewo rk includes: Decree No.  00-505/P -RM of 16  October  2000 on the regulation of foreign  trade 
and Implementing Order No.  09-788 of 7 April 2009, as well as Interministerial 
Order  No. 2015-1535/MIC/MEF -SG of 15  June 2015 drawing up the list of prohibited import s and 
exports.  
(ii) Yes, the Government may suspend or even abolish the system without legislative  approval.  
(iii) Decree No.  00-505/P -RM of 16 October 2000 on the regulation of foreign trade, Implementing 
Order No. 09 -788 of 7 April 2009, and Interministerial Order No.  2015-1535/MIC/MEF -SG of 
15 June 2015 drawing up the list of prohibited imports and exports have been published in 
the Official Journal of Mali.  
Procedures  
 
6. No products are under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports.  
7.(a) There is no time limit for the submission of applications for certificates of intention to import. 
However, the certificate must  be established by the importer before the goods are shipped, 
for documentary inspection reasons.  
(b) Certificates of intention to import are issued automatically within 24 hours of the application 
being filed and, in all cases, certificates of intention t o import are issued automatically 
provided that the importer meets the necessary conditions.  
(c) There is no particular period of the year for the submission of applications for certificates of 
intention to import. Applications for certificates of intentio n to import may be submitted at 
any time of year.  
(d) Importers may approach either the Directorate -General of Trade, Consumer Affairs and 
Competition (Single Window for Foreign Trade) or its regional representative offices.  G/LIC/ N/3/MLI/11  
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  8. Reasons for refusal are stat ed directly on the application filed by the applicant. In the event of a 
refusal, the applicant is free to appeal the decision before any competent body, notably the Trade 
Tribunal.  
Eligibility of importers to apply for a licence  
 
9. Only approved natural or legal persons (in other words, those meeting the requirements under 
current regulations in this area, namely registration on the Trade and Personal Property Credit 
Register and possession of a valid import -export trading licence and a tax identi fication number) are 
authorized to engage in import operations.  
Documentational and other requirements for application for a licence  
 
10. A sample application form for certificates of intention to import is available from the 
Single  Window and regional rep resentative offices. Applicants must attach a pro forma invoice to 
their application.  
Other documents to be provided:  
- transit of cattle and importation of live animals other than bovine animals: presentation of an 
animal health certificate;  
- reproductive seeds:  registration in the official national catalogue of the importing country and 
presentation of an animal health certificate;  
- plants: presentation of a permit or a phytosanitary certificate of origin;  
- plant seeds: presentation of a per mit or certificate of origin;  
- meat other than that of bovine animals and game: presentation of a permit or health certificate 
from the country of origin.  
11. The documents required upon actual importation are:  
- certificate of intention to import;  
- declaration of release for consumption;  
- a definitive invoice or bill of lading/airway bill;  
- a preshipment inspection certificate from the inspection company in cases where the f.o.b. 
value of the goods is CFAF  3,000,000 or more.  
12. The importer pays 0.75%  of the f.o.b. value as a contribution to the Import Inspection 
Programme.  
13. No deposit or advance payment is required for the issue of a certificate of intention to import.  
Conditions of licensing  
 
14. The period of validity of a certificate of intention to import is twelve months from the date on 
which it is registered with the Directorate -General of Trade, Consumer Affairs and Competition. It 
may be extended for six extra months at the importer's request. All extension requests must be 
submitte d to the Directorate -General of Trade, Consumer Affairs and Competition before the expiry 
of the original period of validity. The certificate of intention to import may only be extended once. 
However, a special extension of a maximum period of one month ma y be granted to allow for 
financial transfers to suppliers.  
15. There is no penalty for the non -utilization of the certificate of intention to import or a portion 
thereof.  
16. Certificates of intention to import are personal and cannot be transferred.  
17. No particular conditions are attached to the issue of a certificate of intention to import.  G/LIC/ N/3/MLI/11  
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  Other procedural requirements  
 
18. No administrative procedures are required prior to importation once the certificate of intention 
to import has been obtained.  
19. For goods that are to be imported, foreign exchange is transferred from the client's bank to the 
supplier's bank (payment by bank transfer). Foreign exchange may be obtained without an import 
licence (certificate of intention to import) for other payments  not concerning imported goods. 
Foreign  exchange is always available for any licence (certificate of intention to import) issued. 
In order to obtain foreign exchange, it is necessary to contact a financial and/or banking institution 
and any authorized inte rmediary or the postal administration. This leads to the establishment of an 
"exchange authorization" form, which has to be endorsed by the intermediary responsible 
for payment.  
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