WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/LIC/N/3/ISR/2 
19 October 2012 
 (12-5716) 
Committee on Import Licensing Original:   English 
  
 
REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES
1 
 
Notification under Article 7.3 of the 
Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures 
 
ISRAEL 
 
 The following notification, dated 16 October 201 2, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Israel.  
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Outline of Systems  
 
1. The import licensing system  is regulated primarily by: 
 
- Free Import Order of 2012 (replacing Free Import Or der of 2006), Article 6, and annexes 1-2, 
for purposes of public security, health and safety, and consumer welfare.  
 - Israeli Customs Tariff and Exemptions and Ta x Order of 2012, Annexes 3-10; for purposes of 
MFN tariff quota management, under the GATT and the Free Trade Area Agreements 
(FTAs).  
  These Orders establish the list of goods s ubject to import licensing. The first Order is 
administered by the Israe li Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labour,  at the Foreign Trade Administration. 
The second Order is administered by the Israeli Tax Authority at the Is raeli Ministry of Finance except 
allocation of quotas which is administered by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labour.  
 
Purposes and Coverage of Licensing  
 
2. Annexes 1 and 2 of the Free Import Order of 2012 list products subject to non-automatic 
licensing.  
 
Israeli Customs Tariff and Exemptions a nd Purchase Tax on Goods Order of 2012, 
Annexes 3-10, regulates the non-automatic  licensing of GATT and FTA MFN tariff quotas. 
 
3. The systems mentioned above apply to goods  originating in and coming from all WTO 
countries and FTA  partners.  
 4. Free Import Order of 2012: Import licenses  are required for imports for safety and security 
reasons.  
                                                      
1 See document G/LIC/3, Annex, for the Questionnaire. G/LIC/N/3/ISR/2 
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  Israeli Customs Tariff and Exem ptions and Tax Order of 2012, Annexes 3-10:  Import licenses 
are required for imports of agricultural products and fresh food for tariff quota management purposes. 
 5. The licensing system is base d on official regulations (second ary legislation promulgated under 
law).  
 
Regarding the Free Import Order of 2012, Annexe s 1-2 list the tariff items that require a 
licensing process. Under special circumstances ther e exists the possibility of granting an exemption 
from these requirements. 
 Regarding the Israeli Customs Tariff and Exempt ions and Tax Order of 2012, Annexes 3-10 no 
administrative discretion (exempti on) is allowed for the government in order to abolish the system 
without legislative approval. 
 
Procedures  
 
6.I. For products under restric tion, according to Israeli Customs Tariff and Exemptions and 
Purchase Tax on Goods Order of 2012 Annexes 3-10.  The quota system is administered by the 
Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Developmen t (for agricultural products and fresh food) 
and Industry, Trade, and Labour (for processed food).  At the end of each calendar year, both 
Ministries announce the opening of the quotas on th eir websites and in two daily newspapers. 
The announcement includes information on source countries, HS codes, and quota volumes.  
 II. Quotas are determined on an annual basis.  All import licenses issued by the Ministry of 
Industry, Trade and Labour and most licenses issued  by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural 
Development, are valid from 1 January to 31 July.
2  In midyear, the Ministries publish another 
notice, inviting importers to submit requests fo r the quantities not utilized. Those licenses are 
valid from 1 September to 25 December.  
 III. Licences are allotted to importers regardless of whether they are produc ers of like products.  
Guidelines determine that licensees that do not ut ilize the licences issued to them cannot submit 
requests for licenses for these products in the fo llowing year.  Unused allocations are not added 
to quotas for the next year.  The list of impor ters to whom licences have been allocated is 
published on the web site of the Ministries.  
 
IV. From the time of announcing the opening of quot as, a period of four weeks is allowed for the 
submission of applications for licences.  
V. Applications for licences unde r preferential and WTO quotas are normally processed within 4 to 
6 weeks. Some applications are processed within a shorter time frame. 
 
VI. Import licences are granted on the date of ope ning of the period of importation. If necessary, the 
licences are extended for another period of time. 
 
VII. In most cases, licence applications are considered by one administrative organ. The specific 
organs which must be approached, relevant to th e product, are specified in Annexes 1 and 2 of 
the Free Import Order of 2012. 
 VIII. Allocation is generally determined accord ing to demand and size of quotas. Specific methods 
of allocation are determined according to size of the quotas and number of applicants. The methods used include- lottery (separate fully automated lotteries for "experienced" importers 
                                                      
2 The validity of some licences issu ed by the Ministry of Agriculture  is shorter.  In these cases, 
importers may submit requests throughout the year.  G/LIC/N/3/ISR/2 
 Page 3 
 
 
  and for new importers), and FCFS. In general-  the quotas are divided into equal portions, for 
allocation between applicants. Maximum alloca tion per importer may not exceed 20 per cent 
of a given quota.  
  Priority is given to local producers, in allocation of raw materials, in proportion to the volume 
of the producers' consumption of materials under quotas. 
  Applications are examined on receipt.   IX. There are no such arrangements.  
 
X. Non applicable.  XI. No.  
7.(a) There is no requirement for a certain period of time between the application for a licence and 
the importation of the goods.  Li cences can be obtained for goods arriving at the port without a 
licence.   
(b) Under certain circumstances, a licence can  be granted immediately on request. 
 
(c) There are no limitations as to the period of th e year during which application for licence and/or 
importation may be made. 
 (d) An importer has to approach only one administra tive organ in connection with an application. 
 
8. None.  The reasons for any refusa l are given to the applicant in wr iting.  In the event of refusal 
to issue a licence, the applicant has a right of  appeal by petitioning the High Court of Justice. 
 
Eligibility of Importers to Apply for Licence  
 
9. All persons, firms and institutions are eligible to apply for licences. 
 
Documentational and Other Requirem ents for Application for Licence  
 
10. A sample application form is attached. There are no standard documents that apply for all products. 
 
11. Upon actual importation, an importer is required to submit the import licence. 
 12. There is no licensing fee or administrative charge, except for standardization tests performed by the Standards Institution of Israel.  
13. No. 
 
Conditions of Licensing  
 
14. The validity of the licences vari es according to the nature of th e goods. It ranges from a licence 
per shipment to a licence for five months from the da te of issue. The extension of the licence will be 
considered if the applicant so requests.  G/LIC/N/3/ISR/2 
Page 4  
 
  15. There is no penalty for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of it. Nevertheless, importer 
who did not utilize a license may not apply for the reserves or the year after.   16. Licences are not transferable between importers, unless otherwise stated in the license.  
17. No. 
 
Other Procedural Requirements  
 
18. There are no other administrative procedures , apart from import licensing, required prior to 
importation. 
 19. Foreign exchange is automatically provided by th e banking authorities for goods to be imported.    
 
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