G/LIC/Q/IDN/42  
22 October  2020 
(20-7299) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original:  English  
 
  
IMPORT LICENSING SYSTEM OF INDONESIA  
REPLIES FROM INDONESIA TO JAPAN REGARDING  
THE IMPORTATION OF JAPONICA RICE  
The following communication, dated  16 October 2 020, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Indonesia . 
 
_______________  
 
 
No. Questions  Responses  
1. Does Indonesia have any plan to notify the rice 
import licensing system to WTO, and if yes, when 
will it be notified ? If not, could Indonesia explain 
the reason why?  On the issue of notification,  Indonesia is still under 
coordination among government agencies on 
preparing regulations to be notified to WTO.  
 
2. Japan would like to request Indonesia to provide 
the following information on the import licensing 
system of japonica rice in accordance with the 
Regulation of the Ministry of Trade No. 1 of 2018.  
 
a. The average/general size of the quota for each 
license, and maximum limit size, if any.  
 
 
 
b. The length of time for process ing applications, 
i.e. duration from applications received to 
import permissions issued (average/standard 
processing time, the rules of procedure if any, 
and the possibility of immediate issuance on 
request).  
 
c. Limitation in application period, i.e. whether  
there is any period of the year when the 
application cannot be made/accepted. If any, 
please explain.  
 
d. Under what circumstances an application may 
be refused. If any, please explain.  
 
 
e. The complaint procedure against the decision of 
non-permission or significant delay of the 
issuance of permit. If any, please explain.  
 
f. The requirements for importers to apply for 
import permission.  
 
 
g. Documents or information required for 
application.  
  
 
 
 
 
a. There is no general size or maximum limit for 
import allocation of rice. Import permit will be 
assessed based on applications made by 
importers.  
 
b. Normally, the length of time for processing 
import approval applications is 3 (three) days as 
long as the applications meet the requirements.  
 
 
 
 
c. There is no limitation in the application period.  
 
 
 
 
d. The application may be refused if the documents 
do not meet the requirements (both invalid 
and/or incomplete).  
 
e. All procedures related to import permit 
applications are done online through INATRADE 
website.  
 
f. Related to Rice Importation for certain purposes, 
importers require a Business Identification 
Number as Importer Identity Number (API)  
 
g. Importer should attach an import 
recommendation and certain information related 
to the type of rice, the volume of rice 
importation in each port destination, HS code, 
broken rice level, the origin countries, etc.  G/LIC/Q/IDN/42  
- 2 - 
  No. Questions  Responses  
2. h. Whether there is any application fee, the 
amount if any, and whether such fee is 
refunded in case of refusal (i.e. no permission 
issued).  
 
i. The length of validity of the import permission, 
and the possibility of its extension.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
j. Is the following understanding correct ? The 
length of the validity of import permission is 6 
months in general, but it will be expired at the 
end of the year if issued in the la tter half of the 
year. 
 
k. Whether there is any penalty for the non -
utilization of the quota allocated.  
 
l. Documents or information required for 
importers to provide upon actual importation, if 
any, other than import permit.  h. There are no fees or charges for application.  
 
 
 
 
i. The import approval  is valid for 6 (six) months in 
general, but it will expire at the end of the year 
(31 December  in the current year) if issued in 
the latter half of the year . The import approval 
can be extended b y a maximum of 30 (thirty) 
days, as long as it does not exceed the 3 1 
December  in the current year . 
 
j. Yes 
 
 
 
 
 
k. There is no penalty for non -utilization  of the  
import allocation.  
 
l. An importer should also attach the Surveyor 
Report (LS) and Import Declaration.  
3. In the import licensing procedure for japonica rice, 
Indonesia does not seem to properly follow the 
5(f) of the Article 3 of the Agreement on Import 
Licensing Procedures of the WTO. Please explain 
Indonesia's view on this matter. Also, please 
explain the reason why the import permit of 
Japanese rice has not been issued since January 
2020.  Indonesia is not violating the Article of 3.5.(f) on 
the Import Licensing Agreement, although 
Indonesia admits that COVID -19 pandemic and the 
so-called new no rmal have made a serious impact 
on how the government supports businesses. Since 
we are still conforming with the work from home 
policy situations that remain in effect since months 
ago, we would not deny that it is affecting several 
businesses supports se rvices, including the release 
on import approvals.  
 
Relating to import approvals on japonica rice, 
Indonesia has already released 3 (three) import 
approvals dated 26 February 2020, 11 March 2020, 
and 26 June 2020 originating from Japan, Viet 
Nam, Thailand,  China, US, and India, with the total 
of 6.850 tons. Based on our data, the import  
utilization relating to those 3 import approvals are 
about 1.393 tons or 20.33%, and all originating 
from Viet Nam.  
 
Indonesia never restricts the importation of 
Japonica ri ce, including those originated from 
Japan. Indonesia views that the utilization of import 
approvals relating to Japonica rice is purely based 
on business to business decisions from the business 
entity/importer.  
 
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