G/LIC/N/3/ARG/10  
29 January 2013  
(13-0501)  Page: 1/4  
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: Spanish  
 
  REPLIES TO THE QUESTI ONNAIRE ON IMPORT 
LICENSING PROCEDURES 
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 7.3 OF THE AGREEMENT ON  
IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES 
NOTIFICATION FOR 2012 
ARGENTINA  
The following notification, dated 3 January 2013, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Argentina. 
 
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Outline of systems 
 
1. As stated in the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures, "import licensing is defined as 
administrative procedures used for the operation of import licensing regimes requiring the submission of an application or other documentation (other than that required for customs 
purposes) to the relevant administrative body as a prior condition for importation into the customs 
territory of the importing Member". 
 The Ministry of the Economy and Public Finance,  through the Secretariat of Foreign Trade, is 
responsible for the administration of import licences. 
 
 There are two types of import licence: automatic and non-automatic. Their characteristics and function are consistent with Articles 2 and 3 of the Agreement on Import Licensing 
Procedures, which is incorporated into Arge ntine legislation by way of Law No. 24.425. 
  The automatic import licence currently being administered corresponds to the sworn 
declaration of product composition (DJCP), the prior automatic import licence (LAPI) having been 
repealed pursuant to Ministry of the Economy and Public Finance Resolution No. 505/2012.   Procedures for the DJCP are manual and applications are submitted to the Directorate of 
Imports of the Undersecretariat for Foreign Trade and International Relations of the Secretariat of 
Foreign Trade.  
 Non-automatic import licences correspond to import certificates issued to importers who 
comply with current statutory requirements and submit the corresponding application to the Directorate General of Customs when requesting clearance documents for imports of consumer 
goods. 
 G/LIC/N/3/ARG/10 
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  Purposes and coverage of licensing 
 
2. The automatic licence currently being administered is the sworn declaration of product 
composition (DJCP), which covers textile and clothing industry products not covered by 
non-automatic licences. 
 Non-automatic licences include the following import certificates: 
 
 (a) Import certificate for footwear; 
 (b) Import certificate for paper;  (c) Import certificate for household articles;  (d) Import certificate for toys; 
 (e) Import certificate for bicycle tyres and inner tubes; 
 (f) Import certificate for motor cycles;  (g) Import certificate for balls; 
 (h) Import certificate for textile products; 
 (i) Import certificate for footwear parts;  (j) Import certificate for miscellaneous manufactured articles; 
 (k) Import certificate for metallurgical products; 
 (l) Import certificate for yarns and fabrics;  (m) Import certificate for pneumatic tyres;  (n) Import certificate for miscellaneous products; 
 (o) Import certificate for screws and related products; 
 (p) Import certificate for auto parts and related products;  (q) Import certificate for motor vehicles. 
 
3. The system applies to goods from all countries. 
4. Licensing is not intended to restrict either th e quantity or value of imports. Its purpose is set 
forth in the relevant regulations. 
5. Licensing is maintained under the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures of 
the GATT 1994, which is incorporated into Argentine legislation by way of Law No. 24.425. 
 Licensing is statutorily required for certain types of goods. The Ministry of the Economy and 
Public Finance is the only body to designate, through resolutions, products subject to licensing. 
  The Executive does not need legislative appr oval to abolish the import licensing system. 
 
Procedures 
 
6.I-XI. n/a. 
7.(a) At any time, once the importer has gathered  all the information required for processing the 
licence application. The time-limits for issuing licences are established in Articles 2 and 3 of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures. 
(b) The time-limits for issuing licences are established in Articles 2 and 3 of the Agreement on 
Import Licensing Procedures. 
(c) There are no restrictions. 
(d) The licensing regime is administered by th e Ministry of the Economy and Public Finance 
through the Secretariat of Foreign Trade. It is the only administrative body responsible for examining licence applications. 
8. The only reason for refusal is failure by the applicant to meet the requirements set forth in 
the relevant regulations. In the event of a refusal,  the interested party is notified of the reasons 
therefor. Moreover, all applicants have the right to initiate legal proceedings if they consider that the procedure is not in accordance with existing legal provisions. G/LIC/N/3/ARG/10 
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  Eligibility of importers to apply for licences 
 
9. All importers are eligible to apply for licenc es, the only requirement being their inclusion in 
the Directorate-General of Customs' Register of Importers and in the Integrated Foreign Trade 
System. 
Documentation and other requirements for licence applications 
 
10. The information required in licence applications is set forth in the regulations establishing 
non-automatic licences. 
11. In addition to the customs documentation required for the inward customs clearance of 
goods covered by non-automatic licences (commercial invoice, certificate of origin, transport 
document, etc.), the following documents must be provided: 
-  DJCP: Sworn declaration of product composition; 
-  CIC: Import certificate for footwear; 
-  CIP: Import certificate for paper; 
-  CIAH: Import certificate for household articles; -  CICCNB: Import certificate for bicycle tyres and inner tubes; 
-  CIJ: Import certificate for toys; 
-  CIM: Import certificate for motor cycles; -  CIP: Import certificate for balls; -  CIPT: Import certificate for textile products; 
-  CIPC: Import certificate for footwear parts; 
-  CIMD: Import certificate for miscellaneous manufactured articles; -  CIPM: Import certificate for metallurgical products; 
-  CIHT: Import certificate for yarns and fabrics; 
-  CIN: Import certificate for pneumatic tyres; -  CIPV: Import certificate for miscellaneous products; 
-  CITA: Import certificate for screws and related products; 
-  CIAPA: Import certificate for auto parts and related products; -  CIVA: Import certificate for motor vehicles. 
 
12. The processing of sworn declarations of produc t composition and of import certificates is free 
of charge. 
13. No deposit or advance payment requirement is associated with the issue of licences. 
Conditions of licensing 
 
14. The periods of validity of the import licences are as follows: 
- DJCP: 360 calendar days as from the date of issue; 
- CIC: 60 calendar days as from the date of issue; - CIP: 60 calendar days as from the date of issue; - CIAH: 60 calendar days as from the date of issue; 
- CICCNB: 60 calendar days as from the date of issue; 
- CIJ: 60 calendar days as from the date of issue; - CIM: 60 calendar days as from the date of issue; 
- CIP: 60 calendar days as from the date of issue; 
- CIPT: 60 calendar days as from the date of issue; - CIPC: 60 calendar days as from the date of issue; 
- CIMD: 60 calendar days as from the date of issue; 
- CIPM: 60 calendar days as from the date of issue; - CIHT: 60 calendar days as from the date of issue; - CIN: 60 calendar days as from the date of issue; 
- CIPV: 60 calendar days as from the date of issue; 
- CITA: 60 calendar days as from the date of issue; - CIAPA: 60 calendar days as from the date of issue; 
- CIVA: 60 calendar days as from the date of issue. 
 G/LIC/N/3/ARG/10 
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   Licences may not be extended. A new licence  m a y ,  h o w e v e r ,  b e  i s s u e d ,  f o r  w h i c h  t h e  
importer can commence the application procedures as far in advance as he considers appropriate. 
15. The partial use of a licence is not permitted. There are no penalties for the non-utilization of 
a licence. 
16. Licences are non-transferable and are only delivered to the holders themselves or their 
authorized and duly accredited representatives or agents. 
17.(a)  No products subject to licensing are liable to quantitative restrictions. 
(b)  No, only the requirements set forth in the regulations in force. 
Other procedural requirements 
 
18. No other administrative procedures are required prior to importation. 
19. The banking authorities are not involved in import licensing. 
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