G/LIC/N/3/LCA/7  
 
3 March  2017 
(17-1286) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
REPLIES TO QUESTIONN AIRE ON IMPORT LICEN SING PROCEDURES1 
NOTIFICATION UNDER A RTICLE 7.3 OF  
THE AGREEMENT ON IMP ORT LICENSING PROCED URES  (2016)  
SAINT LUCIA 
The following communication, dated 17 February  2017 is being circulated at the request of the 
delega tion of Saint Lucia . 
 
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Outline of system  
1.  The Import Licensing System is regulated by the External Trade Act Chapter 13.11 of the     
Revised Laws of Saint Lucia and the Customs (Management and Control) Act Chapter 15.05 of the 
Revised Laws of Saint Lucia. The Ministry of Commerce administers the licensing system in relation 
to trade in goods.  
 
Purpose and coverage of licensing  
2.  The lists of products subject to import licensing are contained in Schedules 2, 3, and 4 attached 
to the E xternal Trade (Restricted Imports) (Amendment) Order - Statutory Instrument No. 118 
of 2012; and in Part 2 (Restricted Imports) of Schedule 3, attached to the Customs (Management 
and Control) Act Chapter 15.05 of the Revised Laws of Saint Lucia.  
 
3.  The system applies to goods originating outside of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean 
States (OECS) and/or the Caribbean Common Market (CARICOM) - Second Schedule - ; products 
originating from the OECS and CARICOM (Third Schedule); and goods originating fro m any country 
which is not a member of the OECS (Fourth Schedule).  
 
4.  The Saint Lucia Import Licensing Regime was adopted to facilitate the regulation and 
monitoring of imports. Automatic licenses are used for statistical purposes whereas non -automatic 
licenses are used the following purposes:  
 
- National Security ; 
- Public Health Concerns ; 
- Public Safety ; 
- Plant and Animal Health Concerns ; 
- Development Factors ; 
- Financial Needs ; 
- Moral Issues . 
 
To date, no other regulatory system has been contempla ted. 
 
5.  The External Trade Act Chapter 13.11 and the External Trade (Restricted Imports) 
(Amendment) Order 2012 are the legal instruments for the import licensing regime in Saint Lucia. 
The various goods and products are classified in the schedules to th e Order and therefore 
                                                
1 See document G/LIC/3, Annex, for the Questionnaire.  G/LIC/N/3/LCA/7  
 
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  administrative discretion is unnecessary. However goods such as controlled substances, firearms 
and ammunition which require non -automatic licences may become subjected to administrative 
discretion. A list of all items which require a n import licence may be obtained from Her Majesty's 
Customs, or from the Ministry of Commerce. The legal instruments were published in the Official 
Gazette prior to implementation as required by law. Government can, with legislative approval, 
abolish the s ystem.  
 
Procedures  
6.  For restricted products:  
 
I. Information regarding quotas and other related formalities is advertised by the Ministry of 
Commerce in the Local Press and in the Official Gazette.  
 
II. Quotas (when and where applicable) are determined annually.  
 
III.  Licences are allotted on a non -discriminatory basis, first come first served.  
 
IV.  Import Licences are usually for one month duration from date of issue and must be utilized 
in its entirety. No part may be transferred to other shipments.  
 
V.  Applications are usually processed within 48 hours.  
 
VI.  Applications are usually presented within 24 hours of arrival of goods, but in several 
instances it has been observed that applications are presented to the appropriate Ministry 
after the arriv al of the goods into the country.  
 
VII. All applications for trade import licences covered under the External Trade Act are processed 
by the Ministry of Commerce. However, other applications for import licenses are processed 
as follows:  
 
- Plants and Anima ls - Ministry of Agriculture;  
- Weapons and Ammunition - Ministry of Internal Security (Police Commissioner);  
- Drugs and Public Health - Ministry of Health;  
- Motor Vehicles – Ministry of Transport.  
 
VIII. Licences are allocated on a first come first se rved basis. Applications are examined on 
receipt.  
 
IX. There are no bilateral quotas or export restraint arrangements. Export permits are required 
from country of origin when importing plants and animals into Saint Lucia.  
 
X. Importers are asked to advise exporters of national requirements.  
 
XI.  No licences are issued on condition that goods should be exported and not sold in the 
domestic market.  
  
7. For all products requiring an import licence  
 
(a) Importers are asked to submit applications prior to arri val of goods. Licences are on most 
occasions processed within 48 hours of receipt by the Ministry of Commerce. Licences can be 
obtained over a shorter period for goods already on the docks.  
 
(b) In special circumstances a licence can be granted on request.   
 
(c)  There are no limitations as to the period of the year during which applications for licence 
and/or importation may be made.  
 
(d) Licences related to the External Trade Act are all processed by the Ministry of Commerce.  
Conversely, applications fo r licences/permits for the items listed below require the 
intervention of the corresponding government departments.  
 G/LIC/N/3/ LCA/7  
 
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  - Meat and meat products, plant and plant material - Ministry of Agriculture ; 
- Weapons and Ammunition - Ministry of Internal Security (Pol ice Commissioner) ; 
- Motor Vehicles – Ministry of Transport ; 
- Medical Supplies – Ministry of Health . 
 
In effect, an importer would have to interface with at least two Government departments 
before obtaining clearance. However plans to limit the involvemen t of multiple 
administrative bodies in the final approval of those import licenses are at an advance stage.  
 
8.  All applications are approved automatically except for those that fail to meet the normal 
criteria. Applicants are informed of the reason for r efusal. Applications may appeal to the 
Permanent Secretary or directly to the Minister of Commerce. Applicants may seek representation 
through one of the following:  
 
- St. Lucia Manufacturers Association ; 
- St. Lucia Small Business Association ; 
- St. Lucia  Chamber of Commerce . 
 
Applicants may also seek redress through the Civil Court, and ultimately through the Caribbean 
Court of Justice (CCJ) if the infringement is in contravention of the Revised Treaty of 
Chaguaramus, which presents the rules governing th e CARICOM Single Market and Economy, 
CSME.  
 
Eligibility of importers to apply for a licence  
9.  All persons, firms and institutions are eligible to apply for licences.  
 
Documentation and other requirements for application for license  
10.  A sample of the a pplication form is attached for reference. A copy of the relative commercial 
or proforma invoice is required with each application.  
 
11. In the case of goods originating out of the CARICOM, a Certificate of Origin is required.   
 
12. No licensing or admini strative fees are charged.  
 
13. There is no deposit or advance payment requirement associated with the issuance of licences.   
 
Conditions of licensing  
14. A licence is valid for one month from date of issue. The validity may be extended to facilitate   
the delivery of goods, if required.  
 
15. There is no penalty for the non -utilization of a licence or a portion of it . 
 
16. Licences are non -transferable.  
 
17. There are no conditions attached to the issuance of a licence. Licenses are issued at no cost to 
the applicant . 
 
Other procedural requirement  
18.  There are no other administrative procedures apart from import licensing required prior to 
importation.  
 
19.  Foreign Exchange is automatically provided by the banking authorities to pay for imported 
goods. T here are no domestic restrictions to obtain foreign exchange to settle invoices, whether 
payable at sight or on other trade terms.  
 
 
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