G/LIC/N/3/BFA/9  
 
29 June 2023  
(23-4433) Page: 1/3 
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)  
BURKINA FASO 
The following communication, dated 15 June 2023, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Burkina Faso.  
 
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Pursuant to Article 7.3 of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures and in response to the 
request from the WTO Central Registry of Notifications, the Government of Burkina Faso hereby 
informs the Committee on Import Licensing that the import licensing procedures notified in 2020 
were not amended in 2022. The replies to the questionnaire on import licensing procedures are 
attached.  
  
 
1 See document G/LIC/3, Annex, for questionnaire.  G/LIC/N/3/BFA/9  
 
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  In Burkina Faso, import formalities are limited to the issuance of a prior import declaration (DPI), 
which is an import document required for all imports of goods of an f.o.b. value of CFAF 500,000 or 
more.  
This DPI is issued immediately by the Directorate  of the Single Trade and Investment Window 
(DGU/CI) of the Ministry of Trade on the basis of a pro forma invoice.  
For certain products, the issuance of a special import authorization (ASI) is a prerequisite for the 
issuance of a DPI. Products requiring import licences include:  
- Regulated substances listed in the Montreal Protocol and products or appliances 
containing or functioning with these substances, chemicals and non -biodegradable 
plastic bags and packaging  
For these products, an automati c licence is issued in the form of an ASI subject to a technical opinion 
from the National Ozone Office, in the case of regulated substances, or the Directorate -General of 
Environmental Conservation, in the case of chemicals and non -biodegradable plastic b ags and 
packaging intended specifically for sanitary and scientific and experimental research activities or for 
national safety and security measures.  
Information on eligibility is available from the Ministry of Industrial Development, Trade, Crafts and 
Small and Medium -Sized Enterprises and the Ministry of the Environment, Energy, Water and 
Sanitation.  
Applications containing the technical opinion of the offices of the Ministry of the Environment, Green 
Economy and Climate Change are received by the Direct orate of the Single Trade and Investment 
Window of the Ministry of Trade, which issues the automatic licence within a maximum of 24 hours.  
This automatic licence is applicable on a permanent basis and helps to protect the ozone layer and 
the environment.  
- Explosives and by -products, arms, ammunition and military articles  
For these products, a non -automatic licence is issued in the form of an ASI subject to prior 
authorization and the issuance, by the Ministry responsible for security, of a certificate stat ing the 
final destination, and, in the case of arms and ammunition, of an ECOWAS exemption certificate. 
For explosives, a technical opinion in the form of an authorization from the Ministry responsible for 
mining is a prerequisite for issuing the ASI.  
This non-automatic licence was introduced to enable the authorities to control imports of these 
products in view of their extreme sensitivity.  
Applications containing all of the required authorizations and opinions are received by the Directorate 
of the Single  Trade and Investment Window, which issues the ASI within a maximum of 24 hours.  
The need to control the importation of arms and explosives requires the application of this procedure 
to be of unlimited duration.  
- Sugar, cottonseed, edible oil, tyres and i nner tubes for two -wheeled vehicles, 
wheat flour, potatoes and onions  
For these products, non -automatic licences are issued in the form of an ASI by the Ministry of Trade.  
Any information on eligibility is available from the Ministry of Trade.  
Application s accompanied by pro forma invoices are received and processed by the Directorate of 
the Single Trade and Investment Window, which issues the licence within a maximum of 24 hours.  G/LIC/N/3/BFA/9  
 
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  The need to protect the health of consumers and to supply the country with e ssential foodstuffs that 
comply with prevailing quality standards requires the application of this procedure to be of unlimited 
duration.  
- Rice, wheat flour, fruit juices, cement and solar equipment  
For these products, an automatic licence is issued in th e form of an ASI subject to a technical opinion, 
in the case of solar equipment, from the National Agency for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency 
(ANEREE).  
Information on eligibility is available from the Ministry of Industrial Development, Trade, Crafts and 
Small and Medium -Sized Enterprises or, in the case of solar equipment, from the ANEREE.  
- Animals, animal by -products, fishery and other veterinary produ cts and medical and 
pharmaceutical products  
The importation of these products is subject to the issuance of a non -automatic licence in the form 
of an ASI by the Directorate of the Single Trade and Investment Window upon receipt of a technical 
opinion from the Directorate -General of Veterinary Servic es. 
The purpose of this procedure is to control health risks linked to imports of animal, medical and 
pharmaceutical products.  
- Plant seeds, pesticides and fertilizers  
The importation of these products is subject to the issuance of a non -automatic licence  in the form 
of an ASI by the Directorate of the Single Trade and Investment Window upon receipt of a technical 
opinion from the seed, pesticide and fertilizer department of the Ministry of Agriculture.  
The aim of this procedure is to control information o n the flows and actors involved in this sector of 
national interest in terms of protecting human health.  
Applications containing all of the required authorizations and opinions are received by the Directorate 
of the Single Trade and Investment Window, whic h issues the ASI within a maximum of 24 hours.  
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