WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/LIC/N/3/NAM/2
13 October 1999
(99-4379)
Committee on Import Licensing Original:  English
REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES1
Notification under Article 7.3 of the Agreement on
Import Licensing Procedures
NAMIBIA
The following notification has been received from the delegation of Namibia.
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1. Namibian Agronomic Board permit
Outline of the system
1. The Namibian Agronomic Board utilises an import permit system for the importation of
agronomic crops – white maize and wheat as well as wheat flour and maize meal.
Purpose and coverage of licensing
2. There is a single permit system and the system applies to products as outlined in the
paragraph above.
3. The system is non-country specific.
4. The permit system is intended as an instrument to manage the uptake of domestic production
following which permits for imports are granted on an unlimited basis.
5. The Agronomic Industry Act, 1992 (Act 20 of 1992) gives powers to the Namibian
Agronomic Board to issue permits with respect to the importation or exportation of controlled crops.Controlled crops are defined by Government Notice No. 293 of 1996.
Procedures
6.1 Information on the issuing of permits is available on request from the Board.  In addition, the
Board publishes its annual report which outlines the functions of the Board including the issuing of
permits.
II. There is no quota system in place.
                                                     
1 See G/LIC/3, Annex, for the Questionnaire.G/LIC/N/3/NAM/2
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III-IV. Not applicable.
V. Imports permits are issued daily.
VI. Recipients of a permit are allowed to import immediately.
VII. An importer must be in the possession also of a Phytosanitary permit from the Ministry of
Agriculture, Water and Rural Development and an import permit from the Ministry of Trade and
Industry.
VIII-X. Not applicable.XI. No.7(a) No time-limit.
(b) Yes.
(c) Permits are granted freely following take-up of  the local crop.  Permit restriction has applied
for three months during the last 36 months.
(d) See VII above.
8. Applicants have the right of appealing a permit refusal or withdrawal to the Minister of
Agriculture, Water and Rural Development.
Eligibility of importers to apply for licence
9. Importers/Exporters of controlled agronomic products must register with the Board.  There is
a registration fee of N$100.  The list of importers is not published but is available on request from the
Board.
Documentation and other requirements for application of licence
10. Quantity and type of products to be imported, town and country of origin, port of entry.11. None.
12. N$35 per licence issued.  In addition, an administrative fee is charged at a rate of N$2.10 per
tonne of commodity imported.
13. No.
Conditions of licensing
14. Three months, which may be extended upon request.
15. No.16. Licences are non-transferable.17. No.G/LIC/N/3/NAM/2
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Other procedural requirements
18. Import permits must be obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Rural
Development and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
19. Foreign exchange is automatically provided on production of import licences.
2. Meat Board of Namibia permit
Outline of the system
1. The Meat Board of Namibia utilises an import/export permit system for monitoring the
importation/exportation of live animals (cattle, sheep, goats and pigs) and meat derived therefrom.
Purpose and coverage of licensing
2. A separate licence system is used for imports/exports of live animals and meat.3. The system does not differentiate by country.4. The system is designed to monitor the imports and exports of the commodities mentioned.
5. The licensing system is maintained under the statutory provisions of the Meat Industry Act of
1981.  The implementation of licences requires the approval of the Minister of Agriculture, Water and
Rural Development and thus may be abolished at the Minister's discretion.
Procedures
6. Not applicable.7(a) 1 to 7 days.
(b) Yes.
(c) No.
(d) An importer must be in possession also of a veterinary import permit from the Ministry of
Agriculture, Water and Rural Development, a permit from the Livestock Improvement Board
in the case of stud animals, a permit from Wildlife and Tourism in the case of protected
species and an import permit from the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
8. Applicants have the right of appealing a permit refusal or withdrawal to the Minister of
Agriculture, Water and Rural Development.
Eligibility of importers to apply for licence
9. No restriction on eligibility and no registration required.Documentation and other requirements for application of licence
10. Quantity and type of products to be imported, town and country of origin, port of entry (see
7(d) ).
11. Import permit.G/LIC/N/3/NAM/2
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12-13. No.
Conditions of licensing
14. Up to three months, which may be extended upon request.15. No.16. Licences are non-transferable.17. No.
Other procedural requirements
18. See 7(d).
19. Foreign exchange is automatically provided on production of import permits.
3. Phytosanitary import permit
Outline of the system
1. The Phytosanitary import permit system for plants and plant products was established by the
Agricultural Pest Act, 1973 (Act No. 3 of 1973).
Purpose and coverage of licensing
2. There is a single permit system and it applies to all plants and plant products.3. The system does not discriminate by country.4. The system is designed to ensure that imports are free of harmful pests.5. The licensing system is maintained under the provisions of the Agricultural Pest Act, 1973.
The issuing of the permit is subject to the submission by the importer of a Phytosanitary certificateissued by the country origin.
Procedures
6. Not applicable.7(a) A minimum of seven days before date of importation.
(b) Yes.
(c) No.
(d) Consideration of licence is by a single administrative organ.
8. Refusal only in the case of risk of introduction of pests and diseases.  There is no appeal
procedure.
Eligibility of importers to apply for licence
9. No restriction on eligibility.G/LIC/N/3/NAM/2
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Documentation and other requirements for application of licence
10. Quantity and type of products to be imported, purpose of importation, town and country of
origin, port of entry and expected date of arrival.
11. A Phytosanitary certificate from country of origin and a certificate of origin.
12. None at present but a fee will shortly be put in place.13. No.Conditions of licensing
14. Normally up to three months.15. No.
16. Licences are non-transferable.
17. No.Other procedural requirements
18. No.19. Foreign exchange is automatically provided on production of import permits.
4. Veterinary import permit
Outline of the system
1. The importation of animals and animal products into Namibia is governed by the Animal
Diseases and Parasites Act 1956 (Act No. 13 of 1956) as amended.  A veterinary import permit issued
by the Director, Veterinary Services is required for the importation of all animals and animal productsinto Namibia.  The O.I.E. Animal Health Code  is used as the guideline for setting import
requirements.
Purpose and coverage of licensing
2. Import permits are required for all animals/animal products imported into Namibia.
Conditions of importation are as stated on the import permit.
3. The system does not discriminate by country with the exception that:
- Animals/products from South Africa – a veterinary import permit is required for the
importation of individual consignments of ostr iches, elephants, wild pigs, wildebeest and
buffalo only.  Importation of other animals/products is subject to a veterinary movement
certificate issued by an official veterinarian in South Africa with requirements as set out in the
Namibian/South African bilateral agreement, according to a master import permit.
- SARCCUS member countries – importation of dogs and cats:  a health
certificate/movement permit issued by an official veterinarian in the country of origin isG/LIC/N/3/NAM/2
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required.  All other animals and animal products require a veterinary import permit per
consignment.
4. The system does not restrict quantity except where quarantine is required (space limitations).
The system is aimed at preventing the introduction of disease that could constitute a danger to theanimal population of Namibia.
5. See 1 above.Procedures
6. No restriction as to value or quantity.7(a) Applications should be made well in adva nce to allow for risk analysis.  Import permits
should be obtained prior to importation to allow the certifying veterinary authority to give applicable
health guarantees.  This includes loading and sealing of consignments under official supervision.
(b) Issuance dependent on 7(a).
(c) No.(d) In the case of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs and meat products derived therefrom, the
application for a veterinary permit must be accompanied by a permit from the Meat Board of
Namibia.  Some imports are subject to the approval of other institutions e.g. Ministry of
Environment in the case of protected species and the Register of Livestock Improvement  in
the case of genetic material.  All imports require an import permit from the Ministry of Trade
and Industry.
8. Not applicable.Eligibility of importers to apply for licence
9. No restriction on eligibility.
Documentation and other requirements for application of licence
10. Number and species to be imported, country and farm of origin, place of loading, port of entry
and date of embarkation.  A fist of other requirements by species and commodity is contained in the
application for an import permit2.
11. The original Namibian Veterinary import permit with the original health certification by the
veterinary authority of the exporting country.
12. Proposed fee of N$25 per application in the process of implementation.13. Fee will be payable upon application and will not be refundable.Conditions of licensing
14. Varies according to consignment.
                                                     
2 Available for consultation in the Secretariat (Market Access Division).G/LIC/N/3/NAM/2
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15. No.
16. Licences are non-transferable.17. Not applicable.Other procedural requirements
18. No.19. Foreign exchange is automatically provided on production of import permits.
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