G/LIC/N/3/MAC/24  
 
17 September  2021 
(21-6950) Page: 1/7 
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  (2021) 
MACAO, CHINA 
The following communication, dated 3 September  2021, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Macao, China.  
 
_______________  
 
 
Macao, China 's import licensing regime, as notified in document G/LIC/N/3/MAC/23, has not been 
modified and still remains valid for 2021, except for the changes introduced with  regard to 
paragraphs 7(d) under Section 1.1 (Live Animals, Meat, Animal Products, Fish, Crustaceans and 
Molluscs, Vegetables, live plants and mushroom spawn) of Part 1 (Municipal Affairs Bureau); 
paragraphs 1, 2, 5, 7(d) and 10 under Section 2.1 (Narcotic  Drugs And Psychotropic Substances; 
Pharmaceutical Products and Medicines Including Western Medicines And Chinese Proprietary 
Medicines; Modified Milk For Infant Feeding; Diagnostic And Laboratory Reagents; Pesticides; 
Essential Oil; Therapeutic Preparatio ns For Use On The Hair; And Chemicals, Chemical Fertilisers, 
Colouring Matter And Dyes) of Part 2 (Health Bureau); paragraphs 1, 7(d), 8 and 10 under Section 
3.1 (Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco and Petroleum Products; Optical Disc Manufacturing Equipment 
and Raw Materials); paragraphs 1, 6, 8, 10 under Section 3.2 (Ozone -Depleting Substances); 
paragraphs 1, 7(d), 8, 10, 11 under Section 3.3 (Endangered Species of Animals and Plants); 
paragraphs 1, 2, 5 under Section 3.4 (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substa nces (Controlled 
Chemicals of 1988 UN Convention); paragraphs 1, 7(a), 7(d), 8, 11 under 3.5 (Rough diamonds) of 
Part 3 (Economic and Technological Development Bureau);paragraph 1 under section 5.1 
(Telecommunication and Radio -Communication Apparatus) and of part 5 Macao Post And 
Telecommunications Bureau and  paragraph  1 under ANNEX A -I Importation procedures for Group I 
as follows:  
1 MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS BUREAU (IAM)  
1.1 Live Animals, Meat, Animal Products, Fish, Crustaceans and Molluscs, Vegetables, Live 
Plants and Mushroom Spawn  
Procedures  
7(d) Import license is administered by the IAM. However, the Economic and Technological 
Development Bureau is the sole administrative organ to issue import licenses relating to the animals 
and plants listed in CITES (including their readily recognizable parts and derivatives) and medicines 
containing or claiming to contain tiger or rhino ingredients.  
  
 
1 See document G/LIC/3, Annex for Questionnaire  G/LIC/N/3/MAC/24  
 
- 2 - 
 
  2. HEALTH BUREAU  
2.1 Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; pharmaceutical products and medicines 
(including western medicines and Chinese proprietary medicine s); modified milk for 
infant feeding; diagnostic and laboratory reagents; pesticides; essential oil; therapeutic 
preparations for use on the hair; and chemicals, chemical fertilisers, colouring matter and 
dyes  
Outline of system  
1. The import of narcotic dr ugs and psychotropic substances is subject to licensing control under 
Decree -Law No. 34/99/M and Law No. 17/2009, amended by Law No. 10/2016, Law No. 10/2019, 
Law No. 22/2020 and Law No. 10/2021. Licensing in relation to substances listed in Tables 1 to 4 of 
Law No. 17/2009 is administered by the Health Bureau, whereas the controlled chemicals of 1988 
UN Convention, as listed in Tables 5 to 6 appended to the Law, are administered by the Economic 
and Technological Development Bureau. (Details of the licensin g system of the controlled chemicals 
of 1988 UN Convention are specified in Section D of Part III.) In this regard, narcotic drugs and 
psychotropic substances mentioned in this section refer to substances administered by the Health 
Bureau, as specified in Tables 1 to 4 of Law No. 17/2009.  
The import of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, pharmaceutical products and medicines is 
controlled through (i) licensing of importers and (ii) issuing of import license. An importer of narcotic 
drugs, psychotropic substances, pharmaceutical products and medicines has to be licensed with the 
Health Bureau before applying for an import license to import these products for each consignment. 
Import licenses are also required for import of the other items specified above . Importers of such 
products have to apply for the import licenses from the Health Bureau to import the mentioned 
products for each consignment.  
The licensing system is intended for public health reasons and to fulfil the Macao SAR 's international 
obligati ons. 
Purpose and Coverage of Licensing  
2. An import license issued by the Health Bureau is required for the import of all of the 
above -mentioned products, which are specified in Group B of Table B under Annex II of Chief 
Executive 's Decision No. 487/2016, and Tables 1 to 4 appended to Law No. 17/2009, amended by 
Law No. 10/2016, Law No. 10/2019,  Law No. 22/2020 and Law No. 10/2021.  
5. The import licensing system is statutorily provided under Decree -Law No. 34/99/M; Decree -Law 
No. 58/90/M; Law No. 7/2003, amended by Law No. 3/2016; Administrative Regulation 
No. 28/2003, amended by Administrative Regulation No. 19/2016; and Law No. 17/2009, amended 
by Law No. 10/2016, Law No. 10/2019, Law No. 22/2020 and Law No. 10/2021. Legislation does 
not leave  designation of products subject to licensing to administrative discretion. Legislative 
approval is required when any changes are introduced to the existing system.  
Procedures  
7(d) The Health Bureau is the sole administrative organ responsible for processi ng and authorization 
of application for the import licenses of most of the mentioned medicines and products except those 
medicines covered under CITES. The Economic and Technological Development Bureau is the 
competent authority for issuing import licenses  for those medicines containing ingredients subject 
to CITES protection, and the Health Bureau is meanwhile involved in offering opinions on 
authorization of application for the said import license.  
Documentational and other requirements for application fo r a licence  
10. When applying for a license to deal in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, pharmaceutical 
products and medicines, the importer must provide detailed information, namely personal 
identification, certificate of criminal record and identi fication of the proposed licensed premises.   
The application for an import license for the products mentioned in the above paragraph must be 
supported by the following documents:  G/LIC/N/3/MAC/24  
 
- 3 - 
 
  - Authentic copies of registration certificate issued by the health authority of the manufacturing 
or exporting country and production license issued by the manufacturing country;  
- Authorised import certificate issued by the Health Bureau (for narcotic dru gs and psychotropic 
substances only); and  
- The Prior Authorisation Application Form.  
In addition to that, analytical reports or literatures provided by the manufacturer or exporter and 
the Prior Authorisation Application Form have to be submitted for appl ication of an import license of 
the other items.  
The application for an import license for a drug product containing new chemical or biological entity 
must be supported by the following documents:  
- Official evidence of registration approval of the drug pr oduct (e.g., original or certified true 
copies of registration or free sale certificates) in two of the following countries: Australia, 
Canada;  China;  the European Union;  Japan;  the United States;  Switzerland; and the  
United  Kingdom;  
- Expert evaluation re ports on the safety, efficacy and quality of the drug product;  
- Electronic copy of clinical studies substantiating the use of the drug product in Asian 
populations, or evaluation reports on its clinical experiences in Asian countries or regions;  
- Europea n Union Risk Management Plan (EU -RMP), US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 
Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS), or relevant documents on risk management 
strategy for the drug product.  
The above documents must be provided to the Health Bureau f or evaluation before an import license 
of the drug product may be granted.  
3. ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT BUREAU  
3.1 Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco and Petroleum Products; Optical Disc Manufacturing 
Equipment and Raw Materials  
Outline of system  
1. The import licensing system for alcoholic beverages, tobacco and petroleum products is governed 
by Law No. 7/2003, amended by Law No. 3/2016; and Administrative Regulation No. 28/2003, 
amended by Administrative Regulation No. 19/2016. For optical  disc manufacturing equipment and 
raw materials, the requirements set out under Decree -Law No. 51/99/M are also applicable.  
This licensing system is administered by the Economic and Technological Development Bureau for 
the aforesaid goods that are specifie d in Group C of Table B under Annex II of Chief Executive 's 
Decision No. 487/2016.  
Procedures  
7(d) The Economic and Technological Development Bureau is the sole administrative organ to issue 
licenses for the aforesaid goods.  
8. No application will be refu sed if the ordinary criteria are met. In circumstances where a license 
application is not accepted, the applicant who has the right to appeal to the Economic and 
Technological Development Bureau will be informed of the relevant reasons.  
Documentational and  other requirements for application for a licence  
10.  For each license, a single application form needs to be filled and handed in to the Economic and 
Technological Development Bureau. A sample of the form (import license) is attached in Annex C.  G/LIC/N/3/MAC/24  
 
- 4 - 
 
  3.2 Ozon e-Depleting Substances  
Outline of system  
1. An import license is required for the import of ozone -depleting substances. Import controls are 
governed by Decree -Law No. 62/95/M and are primarily exercised by the Economic and 
Technological Development Bureau in accordance with Chief Executive 's Decision No. 425/2009.  
Procedures  
6. Import of ozone -depleting substances is subject to quantitative restrictions in the form of an 
overall limit monitored by the Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA - Direcção dos Serviços de 
Protecção Ambiental). With regards to quota allocation to individual importers, 60% is based on 
their past performance and the remaining 40% is allocated equally among importers who have 
submitted explicit requisitions.  
I. Information concernin g the annual quotas and their allocation is gazetted as Chief Executive 's 
Decision No. 425/2009 in Macao SAR Official Gazette dated 9 November 2009.  
II. The size of the quota is determined in accordance with the provisions in the Montreal Protocol.  
III. To ensure that licenses issued are actually used for imports, the Economic and Technological 
Development Bureau is confirmed and apprised by the Macao Customs Service of the actual 
quantities imported.    
IV. The submission of applications for licenses may  be made at any time.  
V. All applications are processed within six working days from the day all necessary documents 
are received.  
VI. Not applicable.  
VII. Two authorities, namely the Environmental Protection Bureau and the Economic and 
Technological Devel opment Bureau, are involved in the processing of license applications. 
Application for licenses should first be submitted to the Environmental Protection Bureau for 
opinions. Then the application, with the attached opinions if any, is forwarded to the Econ omic 
and Technological Development Bureau for approval. Licenses are issued by the Economic and 
Technological Development Bureau.  
VIII. Not applicable.  
IX. Not applicable.  
X. Not applicable.  
XI. No. 
8. No application will be refused if the ordinary criteri a are met, subject to the availability of quota 
allocated to the applicant. In circumstances where a license application is not accepted, the applicant 
who has the right to appeal to the Economic and Technological Development Bureau will be informed 
of the  relevant reasons.  
Documentational and other requirements for application for a licence  
10. Application forms for licenses should first be submitted to the Environmental Protection Bureau 
for opinions. Then the application, with the attached opinions, is forwarded to the Economic and 
Technological Development Bureau for approval. A sample of the import license application form is 
attached in Annex C.  G/LIC/N/3/MAC/24  
 
- 5 - 
 
  3.3 Endangered Species of Animals and Plants  
Outline of system  
1. An import license is require d for the import of specimens of endangered species of animals and 
plants (whether alive or dead), their body parts and derivatives. Import controls are governed by 
Law No. 2/2017 and Administrative Regulation No. 19/2017 and are administered by the Econom ic 
and Technological Development Bureau.  
Procedures  
7(d) The Economic and Technological Development Bureau is the sole administrative organ to issue 
licenses for the aforesaid specimens.  
8. No application will be refused if the ordinary criteria are met. I n circumstances where license 
application is not accepted, the applicant who has the right to appeal to the Economic and 
Technological Development Bureau will be informed of the relevant reasons.  
Documentational and other requirements for application for a  licence  
10. For each license, a single application form needs to be filled and handed in to the Economic and 
Technological Development Bureau together with the presentation of the CITES certificate/certificate 
of origin issued by the exporting countries o r territories. A sample of the form (import license) is 
attached in Annex C.  
11. CITES certificates and relevant import licenses issued by the Economic and Technological 
Development Bureau have to be presented upon actual importation.  
3.4 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Controlled Chemicals of 1988 UN 
Convention)  
Outline of system  
1. The import of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances is subject to licensing control under 
Law No. 17/2009, amended by Law No. 10/2016,  Law No. 10/2019,  Law No. 22/2020 and Law 
No. 10/2021. Licensing in relation to substances listed in Tables 5 and 6 appended to the Law is 
administered by the Economic and Technological Development Bureau.  
Purposes and coverage of licensing  
2. This licensing system covers all substances listed in Tables 5 and 6 appended to Law no. 17/2009, 
amended by Law No. 10/2016, Law No. 10/2019, Law No. 22/2020 and Law No. 10/2021.  
5. Licensing for the above -mentioned substances is a statutory requirement maintained under Law 
No. 17/20 09, amended by Law No. 10/2016, Law No. 10/2019,  Law No. 22/2020 and Law 
No. 10/2021.  A regulation detailing on the procedures of licensing is already under way.  However, 
it is clear that legislation does not leave the designation of substances subject t o licensing to 
administrative discretion.  Legislative approval is required before any changes could be made to the 
existing system.  
3.5 Rough diamonds  
Outline of system  
1. The import of rough diamonds is subject to licensing control under Law No. 15/2019 and 
Administrative Regulation No. 29/2019 and  is administered by the Economic and Technological 
Development Bureau.  
Procedures  
7.(a)  A legal/natural person shall obtain an import license from the Economic and Technological 
Development Bureau be fore importing any consignment of rough diamonds.  G/LIC/N/3/MAC/24  
 
- 6 - 
 
  (d)  The Economic and Technological Development Bureau is the sole administrative organ to issue 
licenses for the rough diamonds.  
8. No application will be refused if the ordinary criteria are met. In circu mstances where a license 
application is not accepted, the applicant who has the right to appeal to the Economic and 
Technological Development Bureau will be informed of the relevant reasons.  
Documentational and other requirements for application for a lice nce 
11. A copy of the Kimberley Process Certificate issued by the competent authority of the place of 
provenance and operating license (import & export) issued by the Economic and Technological 
Development Bureau have to be presented upon actual importatio n. While commercial invoices of 
the rough diamonds concerned, manifests of cargo, remittance receipts and other documents need 
to be presented as well if necessary.  
5 MACAO POST AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU  
5.1 Telecommunication and Radio -Communication Ap paratus  
Outline of system  
1. Import controls are primarily exercised by the Economic and Technological Development Bureau. 
However, the Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau is also involved in the system of import 
controls on telecommunication and radi ocommunication equipment.  
_______________  
 
 
  G/LIC/N/3/MAC/24  
 
- 7 - 
 
  ANNEX A -I 
IMPORTATION PROCEDURES FOR GROUP I  
1. IMPORT NOTIFICATION  
Regarding the importation of live animals and live plants, edible vegetable, the Macao SAR requires 
adequate advance notification of origin, the proposed date of entry, the species ' origin, quantity, 
means of transport, name of the frontier post to be used and treatment of the plants.  
With respect to importation of a consignment of meat or products of animal origin destined for 
human consumption, the Macao SAR requires adequate advance notification of the proposed date of 
entry, information on the origin, nature, treatment, quantity and  packaging of the meat or products, 
name of the frontier post to be used. For wholesale importation, products are required to be 
consigned to establishments approved by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM – Instituto para os 
Assuntos Municipais) and under it s supervision.  
The above -mentioned border entry places are:  
Air entry :  Macau International Airport;  
Maritime entry : Ká Hó Port; Inner Harbour Ferry Terminal of Macao; Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal 
of Macao; Taipa Ferry Terminal;  
Land entry : -  Border Gate Frontier Post of Macao;  
 -  Hengqin Port-Macau Frontier Post Zone;  
 -  Macao Port of Hong Kong -Zhuhai -Macao Bridge.   
The frontier Customs staff are under the jurisdiction of the Macao Customs Service (Serviços de 
Alfândega) and they are responsible for t he enforcement of various Macao SAR legislation affecting 
importation and exportation of goods.  
__________