G/LIC/N/3/SLV/4  
27 August  2020 
(20-5890) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES1 
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 7.3 OF THE AGREEMENT ON  
IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES (2019)  
EL SALVADOR  
The following communication, dated 19 August 2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of El Salvador.  
 
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The Government of the Republic of El Salvador wishes to inform the Committee on Import Licensing 
that El Salvador's import licensing system remained the same in 2018, as set out in document 
G/LIC /N/3/SLV/3, except that boldface was applied to the web address (page 4).  
Outline of systems  
1. In conformity with its commitments under the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture, 
El Salvador has established tariff quotas for certain agricultural commodities. These quotas are 
allocated through an import licensing system, which takes the form of a  public auction held by the 
El Salvador Commodity and Service Exchange (BOLPROS). Quota allocation certificates are delivered 
and subsequently presented by the bearer to the Ministry of the Economy upon application for a 
licence to import under the prefere ntial tariff quota, in accordance with the Regulations on the 
Opening and Administration of Quotas.  
Purposes and coverage of licensing  
2. The administrative provisions under which licensing is maintained in El Salvador are the 
Regulations on the Opening an d Administration of Quotas of 28  October  1999, enacted by Executive 
Decree No.  46, published in Official Journal No.  203, Vol. No.  345, of 29  October  1999. Amendments 
to the Regulations were made by Decree No.  16 of 15  March  2000, published in Official Jou rnal 
No. 73, Vol. No.  347, of 12  April 2000; Decree No.  97 of 16  November  2000, published in Official 
Journal No.  223, Vol. No.  349, of 28  November  2000; Decree No.  15 of 29 January  2004, published 
in Official Journal No.  22, Vol. No.  362, of 3  February  2004; and  Decree No.  23 of 21  April 2005, 
published in Official Journal No.  83, Vol. No.  367, of  4 May 2005. These Regulations govern the 
allocation and administration of the volumes of imports under the tariff quotas granted by El Salvador 
in accordance wit h its multilateral commitments under the World Trade Organization (WTO).  
 
1 See G/LIC/3, Annex, for the Questionnaire.  G/LIC/N/3/SLV/4  
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  The products eligible for quotas accorded by El Salvador in the WTO framework are detailed 
in Schedule LXXXV - El Salvador (Part I - Most Favoured Nation Tariff, Section I - Agricultu ral 
Products, Section I B - Tariff Quotas). However, the only products for which quotas have been 
established from the year 2000 to date are those listed below:  
Product description  Tariff item number(s)  
1 2 
CHEESE AND CURD  
 
- Other  
- - Cheddar type, in blocks or slabs  0406 
 
0406.90  
0406.90.20  
 
3. The preferential tariffs applied to import quotas in the WTO framework are accorded to products 
originating in any WTO Member.  
 
4. Non -automatic licences are not intended to restrict the quant ity or value of imports, but to 
administer the products under World Trade Organization (WTO) minimum access commitments.  
 
The purpose of the mechanism for the administration of import quotas is to ensure strict compliance 
with El Salvador's international obligations as well as full enjoyment of the rights secured as a result 
of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations. This is done by establishing clear and 
efficient rules to ensure that maximum use is made of the quotas, on the b asis of the principles of 
transparency and non -discrimination.  
5. The administrative provisions under which the licensing is maintained are the Regulations on  the 
Opening and Administration of Quotas of 28  October  1999, enacted by Executive Decree  No. 46, 
published in Official Journal No.  203, Vol. No.  345, of 29  October  1999. Amendments to the 
Regulations were made by Decree No.  16 of 15  March  2000, published in Official Journal No.  73, 
Vol. No.  347, of 12  April 2000; Decree No.  97 of 16  November  2000, pub lished in Official Journal 
No. 223, Vol. No.  349, of 28  November  2000; Decree No.  15 of  29 January  2004, published in 
Official Journal No.  22, Vol. No.  362, of 3  February  2004; and  Decree No.  23 of 21  April 2005, 
published in Official Journal No.  83, Vol. No. 367, of  4 May 2005.  
 
Licensing is statutorily required in order to import under the preferential tariff of 0%.  
The products that require licences are those subject to import tariff quotas accorded by El Salvador 
in accordance with its multilateral comm itments under the WTO.  
The Executive is empowered to amend the import licensing procedure without legislative approval.  
Procedures  
6. With regard to the products under restriction:  
 
I. Import quotas established in accordance with WTO commitments are allocated  and distributed 
in accordance with the Regulations on the Opening and Administration of Quotas. The Ministry 
of the Economy publishes information concerning the quotas and the formalities for filing 
licence applications in the Official Journal and submits  a copy of the decision to the  El Salvador 
Commodity and Service Exchange (BOLPROS). Once the Exchange receives a copy of the 
corresponding decision, it sets the date on which it will open trading for interested parties, 
which must be within 30 days of the  date of publication of the decision. It is required to make 
this information public no less than 10 working days prior to the date in question.  
The only conditions acceptable for the award of licences are those prescribed in the 
Regulations.  
There are no exceptions to, or derogations from, the regulatory procedure.  
II. Quotas are determined on an annual basis.  G/LIC/N/3/SLV/4  
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  The total quota volume is allocated by means of import licences that are valid for 
ninety  (90) days as of their date of issue. Licence validity may be e xtended at the request of 
the importer, provided that it does not go beyond the annual import quota period. Importers 
may submit a licence application on any working day of the year, provided that the annual 
quota has been made available to interested part ies pursuant to the corresponding executive 
decision. As a general rule, importers submit licence applications in accordance with their 
import schedules.  
III. The system of import tariff quotas is open to all parties interested in participating that fulfil 
the relevant prerequisites under the Regulations. There is no preference whatsoever in respect 
of any type of product for domestic producers of like goods. Tariff quota portions that remain 
unused following the expiry of the period of validity of the licences initially issued in connection 
with that tariff quota are reallocated in time to enable importation before the end of the year 
concerned.  
Quota allocations that are unused by importers may not be accumulated for use in a 
succeeding year. The products are t hose indicated in paragraph 2.  
IV. Licence applications may be submitted immediately as of the date on which the Exchange 
announces the opening of quotas. Importers may apply for licences on any working day of the 
year, provided that the annual quota has been made available to interested parties pursuant 
to the corresponding executive decision and the Exchange has consequently announced the 
opening of the quota.  
V. Licence applications are processed within 10 working days following the date of receipt of the 
application.  
VI. Import licences are valid for a period of three (3) months, during which the imports must be 
made.  
VII. The consideration of licence applications is effected by a single administrative organ.  
VIII.  Licences are issued on a first come, first served basis; there is a maximum amount to be 
allocated per applicant; new importers may participate provided that they meet the 
established statutory requirements; and finally, applications  are examined on receipt.  
IX. In the case of bilateral quotas, the implementa tion procedure is contingent upon the special 
conditions negotiated in the various trade agreements.  
X. No export permits are required.  
XI. Licences are not issued on the condition that the goods should be exported and not sold on 
the domestic market  
7. Not appli cable, given that the Regulations in question apply only to WTO quotas.  
 
8. An application for a licence may be refused if it is incomplete, is submitted in an untimely fashion 
or contains serious errors such as those laid out in the Regulations, namely:  
 
• failure to identify the applicant or to describe the economic activity involved;  
• failure to provide a detailed description of the import quota in which the applicant wishes 
to participate;  
• failure to describe the product or to state the corresponding tarif f heading;  
• failure to indicate the import volume being requested for each tariff heading.  
Applicants are informed in writing of the reasons for any refusal and have the right of appeal before 
the authority that refused to issue a licence, in accordance wit h internal administrative procedures.  G/LIC/N/3/SLV/4  
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  Eligibility of importers to apply for a licence  
9. The system of import tariff quotas is open to all parties interested in participating that fulfil the 
relevant prerequisites under the Regulations.  
 
Documentational an d other requirements for application for a licence  
10. A sample application form is available for consultation on the website of the Ministry of the 
Economy. The importer is required to supply the following information with the application:  
 
 (a) name, address and tax identification number of the importer;  
 (b) description and tariff classification of the product;  
 (c) tentative import date and authorized in quota import volume.  
The quota allocation certificate, issued by the El Salvador Agricultural Commodity Exchange, must 
be supplied with the application.  
The relevant documentation is available on the Ministry of the Economy website, at:  
http://www.minec.gob.sv/descargas/formato -de-solicitud -de-licencia -contingentes/?wpdmdl=1730
&refresh=5efe6b530efce1593731923  
11. Upon actual importation, the importer must present the approved import licence to the relevant 
customs authority during the clearance of the product, along with the standard import documents 
required at customs under Salvadoran customs legislation.  
 
12. No licensing fees or administrative charges are levied by the government.  
 
13. There is no deposit or advance payment requirement associated with the issue of licences.  
 
Licensing conditions  
14. Each licence  is valid for three months from the date of issue. The quota volumes are available 
for that period only and may not be extended.  
 
15. The re is no penalty for the non -utilization of a licence or a portion of a licence.  
 
16. Licences are personal in nature and may not be endorsed, assigned or transferred in any other 
way between importers.  
 
17. There are no other conditions attached to the is sue of import licences.  
 
Other procedural requirements  
18. There are no prior administrative formalities apart from the import licensing procedure described 
in the above replies and any sanitary and phytosanitary requirements.  
 
19. Not applicable. The curr ency in circulation in El Salvador is the United States dollar.  
 
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