G/LIC/N/2/SAU/2  
 
11 February  2020 
(20-1085) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
AGREEMENT ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES  
NOTIFICATION UNDER A RTICLE 5.1 TO 5.4 OF  THE AGREEMENT1 
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA 
  
The following notification dated 7 February 2020 , is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia . 
 
 Category  Notification details  
1 Notifying Member  Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  
2 Title of new 
legislation/procedure  Amendment of Import Licensing Procedures and Guide  
3 Date of Publication  
 27 December 2019  
4 Date of entry into force  
 26 January 2020  
5 Website link/Official 
publication of the new 
regulation/procedure  https://www.uqn.gov.sa/articles/1577302797444215100/  (IL 
Procedures ) 
 
https://www.uqn.gov.sa/articles/1577302806334216100/  (IL 
Guide)  
 
6 Have you attached a copy of 
the regulation (PDF) to the 
Secretariat  
  Yes. ( Please attach a copy of the regulation to the notification. ) 
 
 No. 
7 Type of notification   (a) New licensing regulation/procedure2; (please answer question 
8 to 14)  
 
 (b) Changes to a regulation/procedure which has be en previously 
notified in document: WT/ACC/SAU/49 and WT/ACC/SAU/53 ; 
(please answer question 15 and 16 ) 
8 List of products subject to 
licensing  Please provide the HS codes and detailed descriptions of the 
products. In case of a long list, please attach the list as an Annex in 
MS WORD document.  
 
9 Nature of licensing  Automatic:  
  
Non-Automatic:  
10 Administrative 
purpose/measure being 
implemented  (a)  Protect public morals;  
(b)  Protect human, animal or plant life and health; protect 
environment;  
 
1 It is understood that the notifying Member has also completed its notification obligations under 
Article  1.4(a) and Article 8.2(b) regarding the relevant law/regulation/procedure notified for by filling this form 
in a full and complete manner.  
2 "New licensing regulation/procedure" is understood to refer to any newly introduced law, regulation or 
procedure, and those which are in force but being notified for the first time to the Committee.  
 G/LIC/N/2/SAU/2  
 
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   Category  Notification details  
(c)  Collect trade statistics or market surveillance;  
(d)  Protection of patents, trademarks and copyrights, and 
the prevention of deceptive practices;  
(e)  Pursue obligations under the UN Charter and other 
international treaties ( i.e. CITES, Basel Convention, 
Rotterdam Convention, UNSC Resolutions etc.)  
(f)  Quota (including TRQ) administration;  
(g)  Regulate imports of arms, ammunition or fissionable 
materials and safeguard national security;  
(h)  Other: ______________ (please specify)  
 
11 Administrative body(ies) for  
submission of applications   
 Ministry/authority and Department: [ ]  
Address: [ ]  
Website: [ ]  
Telephone: [ ]  
E-Mail: [ ]  
12 Contact point for 
information on eligibility  Ministry/authority and Department: [ ]  
Address: [ ]  
Website: [ ]  
Telephone:  [ ]  
E-Mail: [ ]  
 
13 Expected duration of 
licensing procedure   
 
 
14 A summary of the 
notification in one of the 
WTO official languages    
 
 
 
15 In the case of 7(b), please 
indicate the type of new 
change(s)  (a)  Termination  
(b)  Suspension  
(c)  Modification of specific details in existing  
procedures:  
 Product coverage;  
 Administrative purpose;  
 Automatic or Non -automatic;  
 Duration of licensing;  
 Change the nature of quantity/value restriction;  
 Eligibility of applicants;  
 Contact information on eligibility;  
 Administrative body(ies) for submission of application;  
 Documentation requirements (including application form);  
 Period for Application;  
 Administrative body(ies) to issue licence;  
 Processing time for issuing licence;  
 Licence fee/administrative charge;  
 Deposit/advance payment and relevant conditions;  
 Appeal regulations/procedures;  
 Validity of licence;  
 Other conditions of licence (extension, transferability, 
penalty of non -use etc.);  
 Foreign exchange requirements;  
 Other: __________ (please specify).  
 
 
16  Please elaborate the 
changes in detail (in one of 
the WTO official languages)  
 The updated Import licensing procedures and guide Issued by 
Minister of Commerce and Investment decisions  No. 106 and No. 107 
of 7.4.1441H (27 December 2019 ) aim to help the business sector, 
especially small a nd medium enterprises through removing import  G/LIC/N/2/SAU/2  
 
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   Category  Notification details  
  barriers and raising the transparency level for obtaining import 
licenses as well as regulating the importing process. The previous 
Import licensing guide was outdated, as many Government bodies 
either merged under new body, cancelled or newly established;  and 
thus the procedures and the guide had to be modernized.  
 
The basic changes between the old procedures and guide Issued by 
Council  of Ministers decrees No. 84 of 1.4.1421H (3 July 2000) , No. 
88 of 6.4.1423H  (16 June 2002 ) and the updated ones, are as f ollows;  
• New structure, more user friendly.  
• Introduction of new  categories of goods that are subject to 
import licensing requirements in accordance with WTO 
agreement on import licensing procedures.   
• Defined categories of goods tied to the responsible entities, 
for more organization.  
• Clear requirements to ease the pr ocess of issuing the 
licenses.  
• Submitting the requests through electronic means (websites 
and emails), for many categories of goods.  
In case of non -approval of an import license, easy and more flexible 
ways for appeal.  
 
__________