G/LIC/N/3/MLI/9  
 
10 July 2017 
(17-3695) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: French  
 
  
REPLIES TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES1 
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 7.3 OF THE AGREEMENT  
ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES (2017) 
MALI 
The following communication, dated 4 July 2017, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Mali . 
 
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Outline of system s 
1. Mali no longer maintains a licensing system, but a system of certificates of intention to import 
(II) has  been introduced purely for statistical and planning purposes. This system of certificates 
of intention to import was established by Decree No.  00-505/P -RM of 16 October  2000 on the 
regulation of foreign trade and Implementing Order No.  09-788 of 7  April 2009. The system is 
administered by the Directorate -General of Trade, Consumer Affairs and Competition (DGCC).  
 
Purposes and coverage of licensing  
2. Trade is free with all countries and foreign trade is governed by the following two regimes : 
 
(a) Free-trade regime  
 
Certificates of intention to import are issued automatically for all products covered by this regime , 
i.e. products not under  the prohibition regime .  
 
Quotas are not applied in terms of either value or quantity. The import document, known as  the 
certificate of intention to import , is issued automatically . 
 
(b)  Prohibition regime  
 
There are two forms of prohibition : 
 
- absolute prohibition; and  
- restrictive prohibition . 
 
(i) Absolute prohibition concerns : 
 
- narcotic  drugs and psychotropic substances ; 
- potassium bromate not intended for laboratory use ; 
- all food products containing potassium bromate ; 
- bovine meat and bovine meat products ; 
- meat, blood or bone meal for animal feed ; 
- unregistered pesticides ; 
- oil and equipment containing polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) ; 
                                                
1 See G/LIC/3, Annex, for the questionnaire . G/LIC/N/3/MLI/9  
 
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  - hazardous chemical substances: aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, chlordane, 
hexachlorobenzene, mirex, toxaphene, polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) ; 
- natural or manufactured foreign products carrying a t rade mark, brand name, 
sign or indication of any kind such as might suggest that they were manufactured 
in Mali or are of Malian origin, either directly on the product itself or on packaging, 
crates, packs, envelopes, tape or labels, etc. ; 
- food and medicinal products for human and veterinary use that are past their 
use-by date; 
- alcoholic beverages in plastic sachets . 
 
(ii) Restrictive prohibition concerns : 
 
- medicines for human use : authorization from the ministry responsible for health ; 
- medicines for veterinary use : joint authorization from the  ministries responsible for 
health and for livestock ; 
- live bovine animals and bovine ova and embryos : authorization from the ministry 
responsible for livestock ; 
- potassium bromate for laboratory use: authorization from the ministry responsible for 
health ; 
- meat other than that of bovine animals and game : presentation of a permi t or a 
health certificate of origin ; 
- food additives: list to be drawn up by the ministry  responsible for health ; 
- non-iodized salt not intended for human consumption : authorization from the ministry 
responsible for trade ; 
- cigarettes, tobacco and other tobacco products : authorization from the 
ministry  responsible for trade ; 
- transit  of cattle and importation of live animals other than bovine animals: 
presentation of an animal health certificate;  
- animal semen : registration in the official national catalogue of the importing country 
and presentation of an animal health certificate ; 
- plants : presentation of a permi t or a phytosanitary certificate of origin ; 
- plant seeds : presentation of a permi t or certificate of origin ; 
- motor vehicles with a GVW of 3.5 tonnes or more : authorization from the relevant 
departments of the Ministry  of Transport ; 
- ozone -depleting substances : list to be drawn up by the ministry responsible for 
the environment ; 
- dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT): authorization from the relevant departments of 
the ministry  responsible for the  environment ;  
- cyanide: authorization from the relevant departments of the ministries  responsible for 
mining and for health ;  
- arms and ammunition: authorization from the ministry  responsible for defence ; 
- explosives  and detonation equipment : authorization from the ministry  responsible for 
defence and the relevant departments of the ministry responsible for mining ; 
- HF radios : authorization from the ministry responsible for defence;  
- VHF radios : authorization from the ministry responsible for defence ; 
- UHF ground -to-air radios : authorization from the ministry responsible for defence ; 
- radio-relay station s: authorization from the ministry responsible for defence ; 
- satellite communication equipment : authorization from the ministry responsible for 
defence ; 
- electronic and  electromagnetic jamming  systems : authorization from the ministry 
responsible for defence ; 
- observation  drones : authorization from the ministry responsible for  security ; 
- ground surveillance radars : authorization from the ministry responsible for defence ; 
- air surveillance radars : authorization from the ministry responsible for defence ; 
- direction -finding systems : authorization from the ministry responsible for defence ;  
- electromagnetic wave capture  systems : authorization from the ministry responsible  
for security ;  
- night vision binoculars  and goggles : authorization from the ministry responsible for  
security ; 
- laser range finder s: authorization from the ministry responsible for security ; 
- metal detectors : authorization from the ministry responsible for security ; G/LIC/N/3/MLI/9  
 
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  - single -cab and double -cab pickup trucks with engines of six cylinders or more : 
authorization from the ministry responsible for security ; 
- portable magnetic detector s: authorization from the ministry responsible for security ; 
- demining kit s: authorization from the ministry responsible for security ;  
- demining  suits: authorization from the ministry responsible for security ; 
- electric and pyrotechnic detonators : authorization from the ministry responsible for 
security ; 
- detonating cords : authorization from the ministry responsible for security ; 
- safety  fuses: authorization from the ministry responsible for security ; 
- fabrics, clothing  and accessories for military use (fatigues and camouflage  clothing ): 
authorization from the ministry responsible for defence ; 
- spare parts for military equipment : authorization from the ministry responsible for 
defence ; 
- berets, hoods , hats, helmets , caps, kepis and other  headgear for military use : 
authorization from the ministry responsible for defence .  
 
3. The system applies to all goods originating in and coming from all countries . 
 
4. Certificates of intention to import serve statistical purposes. Non -automatic certificates  
of intention to import are used to  administer restrictions on the importation of products that are 
subject to restrictive prohibition under Interministerial Order No. 2015-1535/MCI -MEF-SG of 
5 June 2015 establishing the list of prohibited imports and  exports . 
 
5. (i) The system of certificates of intention to import is not a statutory requirement . 
(ii) Yes, the Government may suspend or even abolish the system without 
legislative  approval . 
(iii) Decree  No. 00-505/P -RM of 1 6 October 2000 on the regulation of foreign trade and 
Impleme nting Order No. 09-788 of 7  April 2009 were published in the 
Official  Journal  of Mali. 
 
Procedures  
 
6. No products are under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports into Mali . 
 
I. There are no import quotas . With regard to the f ormalities for filing applications for 
certificates of  intention to import , information concerning the absence  of import quotas  was 
made known to the public in the instruments mentioned in point 5(iii) above . There are no 
exemptions from these formalities .  
 
II. There are no quotas  or established  volume.   
 
III. Certificates of intention to import are issued to all importers  legally entered  in the Trade and 
Personal Property Credit Register regardless of  whether  they are producers of like goods. 
Given that there are no q uotas, importers are free to use their certificates of intention to 
import as they wish. The certificates are issued individually . The list of certificate holders is 
not published .  
 
IV. There are no quotas; certificates of intention to import are issued automatically . 
 
V. Certificates of intention to import are issued automatically within 24  hours of the application 
being filed . 
 
VI. There is no minimum length of time in respect of certificates of intention to import. 
Once granted, they may be applied immediately . 
 
VII. Applications for certificates of intention to import are registered by the Directorate -General 
of Trade, Consumer Affairs and Competition (Single Window  of the  Sub-Directorate of 
Foreign Trade ).  
 
VIII. The demand for import licences is fully satisfied. Applications are examined upon receipt 
on a first-come, first -served basis, provided that all of the necessary conditions are met . 
 G/LIC/N/3/MLI/9  
 
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  IX. Not applicable . 
 
X. Not applicable . 
 
XI. Yes, and in the case of products manufactured by enterprises established  in free zones . 
 
7.(a) There is no time -limit for the submission of applications for certificates of intention to 
import. However, the certificate must be established by the importer before the goods are 
shipped, for inspection reasons . 
 
(b) In all cases, certificates of intention to import are issued automatically provided that the 
importer meets the necessary conditions and the products do not come  under the prohibition 
regime . 
 
(c) There is no particular period of the year for the submissio n of applications for import 
documents. Applications for certificates of intention to import may be submitted at any time 
of year . 
 
(d) Importers may approach either the Directorate -General of Trade, Consumer Affairs and 
Competition (Single Window of the Sub -Directorate of Foreign Trade) or its regional 
representative offices  in the  Regional Directorates of Trade, Consumer Affairs and 
Competition . 
 
8. Reasons for refusal are stated directly on the application filed by the applicant. In  the event 
of a refusal, the applicant is free to appeal the decision before any competent body, notably the  
Trade  Tribunal .  
 
Eligibility of importers to apply for licence  
 
9. Only approved natural or legal persons (i.e.  those meeting the requirements und er current 
regulations in this area, namely registration in the Trade and Personal Property Credit Register and 
possession of a valid import or import -export trading licence and a tax identification number) are 
authorized to engage in import operations . 
 
Documentational and other requirements for application for licence  
 
10. A sample application form is available from the Single Window and from regional 
representative offices. Applicants must attach a pro -forma invoice to their application . 
 
11. The documen ts required upon actual importation are : 
 
- a certificate of intention to import  or import  authorization;  
- a definitive invoice or bill of lading/airway bill ; 
- a preshipment  inspection certificate from the inspection company in cases where the 
f.o.b.  value of the goods is three  million (3,000,000) CFAF  or four  thousand five  hundred 
and seventy -four euros (€4,574) or more, and for all containerized goods . 
 
12. The importer pays 0.75% of the f.o.b. value as a contribution to the Import Inspection 
Programme . This contribution is used to cover the cost of inspection company services . 
 
13. No deposit or advance payment is required for the issue of a certificate of intention to  import , 
other than the contribution mentioned in point  12 above . 
 
Conditions of licensing  
 
14. The period of validity of a certificate of intention to import is twelve (12)  months from the 
date on which it is registered with the  Directorate -General of Trade , Consumer Affairs and 
Competition . It may be extended for a further six (6)  months at the importer's request . All 
extension requests must be submitted to the Directorate -General of Trade, Consumer Affairs and 
Competition before the expiry of the original period of validity . A certificate of intention to import 
may only be extended once. A  special extension of a maximum period of one (1)  month may be 
granted to allow for financial transfers to suppliers .  G/LIC/N/3/MLI/9  
 
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15. There is no penalty for the non -utilization of a certificate of intention to import or a portion 
thereof . 
 
16. Certificates of intention to import are personal and cannot be transferred . 
 
17. No particular conditions are attached to the issue of a certificate of intention to import . 
 
Other procedural r equirements  
 
18. No other administrative procedures are required prior to importation once the certificate of 
intention to import  has been obtained . 
 
19. All import transactions must be domiciled with an authorized bank which is responsible for the 
transfer of the required foreign exchange .  
 
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