WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/LIC/N/3/BOL/2
21 April 1998
(98-1588)
Committee on Import Licensing Original:  Spanish
REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING  PROCEDURES
Notification under Article 7.3 of the Agreement
on Import Licensing Procedures
BOLIVIA
The following communication, dated 9 April 1998, has been received from the Permanent
Mission of Bolivia.
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Outline of system
1. The requirement of prior authorization for products affecting public health or State security is
the exception to the system of free importation of goods that has been in force in Bolivia since the
enactment of Supreme Decrees 210601  and 22407 of 29 August 1985 and 11 January 1990,
respectively, and Law 1182 of 17 September 1990.
The "general provisions of the import and te mporary admission customs regimes" Article 9,
adopted by Supreme Decree 24440 of 13 December 1996, established the regulations governing the
prior authorization procedure.
Purposes and coverage of licensing
2.-3. The products subject to prior authorization are treated without discrimination on grounds of
origin or provenance;   the procedure is thus automatic, under the responsibility of the corresponding
ministries:
Nandina tariff headings Description
Ministry of Defence
9302.00.00
9304.00.009306.00.009307.00.00Firearms, projectiles, ammunition, explosives and material and machinery for their production
3601.00.00 Gunpowder, gelignite, dynamite and other explosives
3604.00.00 Detonating caps and detonators for such pyrotechnic articles and materials, devices and machinery for
their manufacture
8479.89.90 Other
8802.00.00 Airships:  helicopters, aeroplanes and other aircraft
                                                     
1Available for consultation in the Secretariat (Market Access Division) (Spanish only).G/LIC/N/3/BOL/2
Page 2
Nandina tariff headings Description
Ministry of Finance
7118.10.00 Coins for issue
4907.00.10 Notes for issue
4907.00.20 Machinery and devices for their manufacture
4907.00.30
4907.00.10 Debenture bonds, stamps, mortgage notes, share paper and paper with defined fiscal value
49.07.00.90 Insurance policies, securities and other fiduciary assets for the exclusive account of the issuing
institutions or entities.
Ministry of Education and Culture
4901.00.00 Reading books for the basic education curriculum
Ministry of Economic Development
Vice-Ministry of Transport, Communications and Civil Aviation
8525.10.00, and
8525.20.00Transmission apparatus and transmission apparatus incorporating reception apparatus for radio-
broadcasting or television.
8526.10.00 Radar apparatus
8526.91.00
8526.92.00
Ministries of Health and Welfare, Government Ministry - Vice-Ministry of Social Defence
Psychotropic drugs and alkaloids in general and their pharmaceutical derivatives, only for approved
establishments under conditions stipulated by Law No. 1008.
Chemical products and controlled substances in accordance with Law No. 1008 of 19 June 1988 on theregime for coca, controlled substances and related provisions.
Ministries of Health and Welfare and Government Ministry, according to their areas of responsibility
2939.00.00* Vegetable alkaloids, natural or reproduced by synthesis, and their salts, ethers, esters and other
derivatives.
2807.00.00* Sulphuric acid
2806.10.00* Hydrochloric acid
2915.21.00* Acetic acid (ethanoic acid)
2915.24.00* Acetic anhydride (acetic oxide)
2916.31.10* Benzoic acid (benzenocarboxylic acid)
2915.90.10* Acetyl chloride
2916.32.10* Benzoyl chloride
2815.11.00** Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda)
2815.20.00** Potassium hydroxide (caustic potash)
2825.90.90** Calcium hydroxide (lime, slaked lime)
2814.20.00** Ammonium hydroxide (aqueous ammonia)
2836.20.00** Sodium carbonate (soda, soda ash)
2836.40.00** Potassium carbonate (potash)
2836.50.00** Calcium carbonate (chalk)
2836.30.00** Sodium bicarbonate (sodium acid carbonate)G/LIC/N/3/BOL/2
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Nandina tariff headings Description
2814.10.00** Anhydrous ammonia (liquid ammonia gas)
2841.60.10xPotassium permanganate
2828.90.10xSodium hypochlorite
2710.00.41x+Carocine
2710.00.60x+Petroleum spirit (gasoline, diesel oil)
2710.00.30x+Petroleum ether (petroleum benzin)
3805.10.10x+Gum turpentine oil (essence of turpentine)
2914.11.00x+Acetone (2-propanone)
2914.12.00x+Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)
2914.13.00x+Methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK)
2903.13.00x+Chloroform (trichloromethane)
2903.12.00x+Methylene chloride (dichloromethane)
2903.14.00x+Carbon tetrachloride (tetrachloromethane)
2903.22.00x+Trichloroethylene
2903.23.00x+Perchloroethylene (tetrachloroethylene)
2909.11.00x+Ethyl ether (diethyl ether)
2813.10.00x+Carbon disulphide
2901.10.00x+N-Hexane
2902.20.00x+Benzene (benzol)
2902.30.00x+Toluene (toluol, methylbenzene)
2902.44.00x+Xylenes (xilol, dimethylbenzene)
2911.05.00x+Ethyl alcohol (methanol)
2207.10.00x+Undenatured ethyl alcohol (undenatured ethanol)
3814.00.00++ Composite industrial solvents and/or thinners
Ministry of Sustainable Development and Planning
Vice-Ministry of Sustainable Development and the Environment
Substances, products or goods which cause or threaten damage to human health or the environment
* Aqueous solutions containing one or more of the products marked with an asterisk in a
proportion exceeding 15 per cent.
** Aqueous solutions containing one or more of the products marked with a double asterisk in a
proportion exceeding 10 per cent.
x Aqueous solutions containing one or more of the products marked with an (x) in a proportion
exceeding 10 per cent.
x+ Mixtures of solvents and/or thinners of one or more of the products marked with an (x+) in a
proportion exceeding 15 per cent.G/LIC/N/3/BOL/2
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Finished products
Only those products for which recovery of the thinners, solvents and solutions comprised in
the products marked with (*;  **;  x;  +;  ++) is technically feasible.
Not the finished products containing a solute which prevents the extraction or distillation of
the above-listed solvents, thinners and solutions such as;  plastic resins in general, inks in general,
paints, cellulose esters, fats, silicones, water/oil repellent essences, colourings and pigments, graphicbaths, etc.
4. Automatic licensing is not applied for statistical purposes, and restrictions on importation are
in conformity with Articles XX and XXI of the GATT 1994.
5. The licensing system is legally compulsory, as it affects public health and State security.
Procedures
6. Not applicable.7. All prior authorizations must be obtained before the goods are shipped in the country of
provenance.
8. Any refusal is notified to the applicant in writing.
Eligibility of importers to apply for authorization
9. There is no restriction on applications which may be made by firms, institutions and legal
entities, whether national or foreign, which comply with the statutory trade rules.
Documentational and other requirements for application for authorization
10. There is no single application form for prior import authorization, but the importer is required
to submit:
- An authorization application containing the following information:
- Name or business name;
- product to be imported;
- quantity, physical and technical details;
- means of transport;
- any other particulars considered appropriate.
- commercial invoice (original pro forma invoice);- photocopy of taxpayers' registration (RUC);
- trade register.
11. The prior authorization resolution issued will be valid for customs clearance purposes, and
will indicate the period of validity, which in no event will modify the time-limits provided for in the
general provisions governing each customs operation.G/LIC/N/3/BOL/2
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12. No authorization fee is payable.
13. Issue of the authorization is not conditional on payment of a deposit or an advance.
Conditions of licensing
14. The period of validity of a prior authorization varies according to the product.  In the case of
products authorized by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Defence, they are valid once only
and for the volume and quantity authorized by the Ministerial Resolution, with possibility ofextensions subject to technical study.
15. To obtain an extension, it is necessary to follow the procedures for a new application, and
there is no penalty for the non-utilization of all or part of an authorization.
16. Authorizations are not transferable between importers.  Importation must be effected
personally by the party concerned.
17. Issue of an authorization is not made subject to any condition.
Other procedural requirements
18. Imports are not subject to other prior administrative procedures, apart from the import
authorization procedure.
19. There are no foreign exchange restrictions.
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