WORLD TRADE G/LIC/N/3/NZL/1
21November 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-4944)
Original: English Committee onImport Licensing
REPLIES TOQUESTIONNAIRE ONIMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES
Notification under Article 7.3ofthe
Agreement onImport Licensing Procedures
NEW ZEALAND
Thefollowingnotification,dated25October1996,hasbeenreceivedfromthePermanentMission
ofNewZealand.
_______________
Outline ofSystem
1. There isonlyoneimport permit system operated inNewZealand. Thiscovers ozone-depleting
substances andwasinstituted in1988 soastofulfil theobligations under theMontreal Protocol on
Substances thatDeplete theOzone Layer. Theinitial regulations wereimplemented under theImport
Control Actbutcurrently fallunder thepowers intheOzone Layer Protection Act1996.
Purposes andCoverage ofLicensing
2. Ozone-depletingsubstancesarecontrolledundertheMontrealProtocolonSubstancesthatDeplete
theOzone Layer. Theimport permit system wasinstituted soastofulfil theobligations under the
Montreal Protocol.
Theproducts covered are:
- chlorofluorocarbons
- hydrochloroflurocarbons
- methyl chloroform
- carbon tetrachloride
- methyl bromide
- aerosol sprays containing CFCs andHCFCs
- fireextinguishers containing ozone-depleting substances
- certain plastic foams containing ormanufactured using CFCs
- dry-cleaning machines thatcontain oraredesigned touseanyozone-depleting substance
- certain specified goods fromcountries notincompliance withtheMontreal Protocol:
- automobile andtruck airconditioning units(whether incorporated invehicles
ornot)
- refrigerators
- freezers
- dehumidifiers
- water coolersG/LIC/N/3/NZL/1
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- icemachines
- airconditioning andheatpump units
- otherdomestic andcommercial refrigeration andairconditioning orheatpump
equipment
- aerosol products (other thanmedical aerosols)
- portable fireextinguishers
- insulation boards, panels andpipecovers
- pre-polymers (areactive mixture ofisocyanate andpolyoll towhich CFCs are
added tomanufacture rigidplastic foams).
Note: Controls exclude packaging andrecycled substances.
3. With theexception ofcontrols thatapply tocountries notincompliance withtheMontreal
Protocol, theregulations apply tosubstances andgoods from allsources.
4. Thelicensing isintended torestrict quantities, forthepurpose oftheprotection oftheozone
layer asrequired bytheMontreal Protocol. Various alternative approaches wereconsidered butnone
could guarantee thatobligations toreduce and/or eliminate substances would bemet.
5. Thepermit system ismaintained under theOzone Layer Protection Act1996, which replaces
earlier legislation. Permits arerequired bystatute. Designation ofproducts tobesubjected tolicensing
ismandated bylegislation; itisnotlefttoadministrative discretion. Itisnotpossible fortheAct
tobeamended orabolished without legislative approval.
6. Allinformation ispublicly available andthelegislation wassubject towidespread consultation
before introduction. Quotas areannual, tradeable andissued onthebasisofuseprior to1996(except
forthose substances suchasCFCs which theProtocol hasnowbanned). TheMinistry ofCommerce
istheadministrative body.
7. Permits canbeapplied forandissued ahead oftherelevant period forwhich theyarevalid.
Applications leftuntilsubstances havearrived receive nospecial consideration andaredealtwithas
resources allow.
8. Consideration oflicence applications areeffected bytheMinistry ofCommerce andenforced
byCustoms. Theimporter needonlyapproach theMinistry ofCommerce togetapermit.
Iftheapplicant meets thecriteria, apermit isgranted. Methyl bromide permits forquarantine
andpreshipment purposes aregranted automatically. Alladverse decisions aretobecommunicated
inwriting totheapplicant, informing thatperson ofthegrounds fortheproposed decision. Ifan
application isdeclined, thedecision maybeappealed under Section 44oftheOzone Layer Protection
Regulations 1996 totheHigh Court. Anappeal shallbebrought bywayoforiginating application
within 20daysofbeing notified ofthedecision appealed against.
Eligibility ofImporters toApply forLicence
9. There arenoregistration requirements, feesorusercharges. Permits areissued subject to
clearcriteria being met. There isnopublished listofauthorized importers asallpermits, except in
thecaseofmethyl bromide where there areonlytwowholesalers, areheldbyusers withtheright
toimport. Lists ofpermit holders areavailable from theMinistry ofCommerce onrequest.G/LIC/N/3/NZL/1
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Documentational andOther Requirements forApplication forLicence
10. Anapplication should include:
- thename andaddress ofapplicant;
- typeandamount ofcontrolled substance proposed toimport;
- specify theODP tonnage theapplicant isentitled toimport during theyear;
- specify country ofsource ofsupply.
Asample copyoftheapplication form isattached.1
11. Production ofanappropriately authorized permit forthespecific substance concerned.
12. No.
13. No.
Conditions ofLicensing
14. Permits arevalid foraspecific calendar yearperiod, noextensions arepossible.
15. Non-use ofapermit, orfailure totrade thiswhen theholder hasnofurther useforit,may
result inthepermit being cancelled andreallocated.
16. Permitsaretransferablebetweenusersand/orimporters.Nolimitationsorconditionsareattached
tosuchatransfer.
17. Permits aresubject tostrict quantitative andtimelimits.
18. No.
19. NewZealand hasnoexchange controls andusual banking andpayment processes apply.
1Available forconsultation intheSecretariat (Market Access Division) (English only).