G/LIC/Q/EGY/7  
 
4 May 2021 
(21-3771) 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 3 May 2021, 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/6) to its questions (G/LIC/Q/EGY/5). However, 
we would like to request further clarifications and answers to f ollow-up and additional questions on 
the laws on certain agricultural and processed products adopted by Egypt.  
EU follow -up and 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. Egypt confirmed that the two acts would form part of the regulations to be notified to the 
Import Licensing Committee. Can Egypt provide an indication as to  when  this notification will 
take place?  
b. As regards the implementation of the measures, will Egypt increase the frequency of the 
committee meetings ? According to Egypt 's information, meetings of the committees are 
usually held every three  months and/or according to need. However, the dates listed for 2020 
suggest that both committees met only twice a year , which does not coincide with the 
indicated frequency and is probl ematic in view of the fact that the import licences only have 
a validity of three  months.  
c. Could Egypt make the dates of the meetings available in advance ? The lack of a predictable 
agenda affects the import planning and economic certainty of importers.  
d. Could Egypt introduce an appeal mechanism ? 
e. Could Egypt introduce a system of informing companies in writing  on the approval or rejection 
of their requests?  
f. EU companies reported significant delays in granting import permits, which make the exports 
economicall y not viable due to the high seasonality of the affected products (e.g. ducklings 
are usually exported for specific festivities) . Moreover, certain EU Member States informed us 
several times that their requests to import ducklings had not been approved. Co uld Egypt 
share with the EU information on ducklings ' shipments from the EU that were : (a) approved ; 
(b) not approved ; and (c) delayed, with indication of the respective dates of these requests 
and of their approvals?  
g. Egypt stated that one of the criteria  used to issue licences was the animal health situation of 
the exporting country . Can Egypt elaborate on this criterion? In particular, the EU would be 
interested to know which animal diseases are considered  and how the presence or absence of 
the disease in the exporting country affect the decision to issue or not a licence . Are these 
conditions also part of the veterinary certificate requested by Egyptian authorities?  G/LIC/Q/EGY/7  
 
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  EU question No 2:  Could Egypt submit the following information justifying the im port restrictions 
applied to sugar under Decree  Nos. 259/2020, 420/2020, 606/2020 and 117/2021):  
a. Egypt justified this measure with the need to regulate its national sugar market. Could Egypt 
present an update on its national sugar market situation today? ( in particular regarding the 
temporary surplus  in sugar imports that was mentioned by Egypt at the time the measure 
was first introduced).  
b. Could Egypt please explain how the "import approval " for raw and white sugar imports is 
implemented and administered i n practice? What are the rules and procedures for the 
submission of applications ? To whom (contact point) should the applications be submitted and 
who are the actors in the approval application process that review the applications?  
c. Could Egypt inform the E U where to find information on the measures and the various steps 
of the application procedure? Is the eligibility of the applicants defined and known to economic 
operators? If not, what are the criteria that importers have to fulfil to have their import 
approved?  
d. Could Egypt provide information on the deadlines within which the "import approvals " are 
issued ? 
e. Are there  any fees charged for the "import approval " or any other formalities required?  
f. Could Egypt please present an overview on how many import appr oval requests have been 
lodged , how many requests have been granted since the introduction of the measures as well 
as distribution of such licences among applying countries?  
g. Could Egypt share import statistics (i.e. value and volume) on imports of respecti vely the raw 
and white sugar for the years 2018 -2020?  
h. The EU is of the view that  the import restrictions violate Article XI of the GATT 1994 
(elimination  of quantitative restrictions). Therefore, could Egypt give assurances to the EU 
that the measures will  be abolished without delay?  
EU question No 3 : Could Egypt submit the following information on seed potato import mechanism 
(SPS notification EGY/119):  
a. Why has this import mechanism not been notified in accordance with Articles 1.4 and 5 of the 
Import  Licensing Agreement?  
b. Can Egypt explain why this new system is deemed necessary? Why does Egypt not seem to 
be ready to trust the inspection and certificatio n by the National Plant Protection Organisation 
of the EU Member States carried out in accordance with the International Plant Protection 
Organisation and its relevant international standards for phytosanitary measures?  
c. Could Egypt explain why the date of submission of import applications (with detailed 
information on quantity to be imported, the origin, the varieties, grower numbers, the 
expected date of arrival of the first and last shipment) has been advanced from Sept ember to 
April/May? At that time of the year, many of the requested details are not yet known since 
the potatoes have only been planted.  
d. Could Egypt explain how binding the information provided in the import applications will be, 
since much of it will hav e to be based on estimates (see question above)?  
e. Could Egypt explain how charging a fixed amount per ton of seed potatoes to be imported in 
order to finance  the field inspections is different from imposing a customs duty?  
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