G/LIC/Q/EGY/4  
 
15 April 2021 
(21-3153) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
 
IMPORT LICENSING SYSTEM OF EGYPT  
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS  FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION TO EGYPT  
The following communication, dated 28 September 2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the European Union . 
 
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The EU thanks Egypt for the replies (G/LIC/Q/EGY/2) to its previous questions (G/LIC/Q/EGY/1). 
However, we would like to request further clarifications and ans wers to our additional questions on 
the new laws adopted by Egypt.  
 
EU additional questions  
 
EU question No 1 : Could Egypt submit the following information on import licensing of ducklings and 
canned meat under Prime Minister 's Decree No. 2080/2018 and Prime Minister 's Decision 
No. 222/2018:  
 
a. Which concrete products are subject to import licensing under each act?  
b. What is the reason for limiting the quantity of imports of products covered by these acts?  
c. Please list all dates on which the two committees created by the above acts met since their 
establishment (separately for each committee)?  
d. What is the procedure to inform importers about the meeting dates of the committees and 
about the outcome of the importers ' requests for import permits?  
e. Under which conditions import permits are approved under each act?  
f. Are there any appeal mechanisms foreseen for importers, in case their import requests are 
rejected?  
g. How many requests for import permits for goods originating from the EU have been reject ed 
since the creation of the two committees and on which grounds (separately for each 
committee)?  
h. When will Egypt submit the notification of these laws to the WTO?  
 
EU question No 2 : Could Egypt submit all relevant information justifying the import prohibi tions 
applied to sugar under Decree 259/2020 and Decree 420/2020 extending the import restrictions?  
 
EU question No 3 : Could Egypt submit the following information on food import licensing under 
Decree 6/2020:  
 
a. Has Egypt notified this new Decree to WTO?  
b. How has Egypt ensured predictability for companies given that the Decree entered into force 
one day after its publication? A 6 -month transition period was provided only for companies 
that have already carried out import activities. What about the rest  of the companies?  
c. Could Egypt clarify under which conditions an importer can be included in the White List?  
d. Could Egypt clarify what happens after the 30 days during which NFSA should take action on 
a license request in case no such action is taken (meani ng the request is neither approved nor 
rejected)?  
e. There is a possible double registration for food products falling under both, Decree 6/2020 
and Decree  43/2016.  It seems that both exporters and importers of the very same food 
articles will need to be reg istered – exporters at General Organization for Export and Import G/LIC/Q/EGY/4  
 
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  Control and importers  at the National Food Safety Authority - creating a substantial and 
unnecessary burden. Could Egypt clarify whether and when NFSA will completely take over 
the registrat ion of food products?  
 
EU question No 4 : Could Egypt explain whether Decree 43/2016 limits the number of suppliers that 
can be registered under one trademark? We have received  information that some EU exporters are 
being refused  registration of new suppl iers on the basis that the number of those already registered 
under a specific trademark is too high.  
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