G/LIC/Q/MAR/2  
 
12 May 2017  
(17-2552) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: French  
 
  PRELIMINARY REPLIES FROM  MOROCCO TO QUESTIONS  POSED BY THE  
EUROPEAN UNION ON IM PORT LICENSING PROCEDURES  
(DOCUMENT G/LIC/Q/MA R/1 OF  12 APRIL  2016)  
 
The following communication, dated 9 May 2017, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Morocco. 
 
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1  NEW IMPORT LICENCES FOR BLA DED WEAPONS AND AERI AL VEHICLES   
1.  The EU stated that two notices to importers were published on the website of the Ministry of 
Foreign Trade indicating that bladed weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles were subject to the 
import licensing regime . 
2.  The import licensing regime for bladed weapons has been in effect  since 8 May 2009, in 
accordance with  Order  of the Minister of Foreign Trade No. 1174-09 of 8 May 2009, pu blished in 
the Official Journal . Contrary to the EU 's claim , the introduction of the import licensing regime for 
bladed weapons was notified to the Committee on Import Licensing on 9 October 2009 ( document 
G/LIC/N/3/MAR/7/Rev.1).  
3.  It should be noted that the purpose of the se notices  is not to inform i mporters that import 
licensing procedure s have been established  for the products in question. P roducts are made 
subject to the licensing regime through  a regulatory text published in the Official J ournal , not a 
notice to importer s that has  no legal value. The notices play an informative role .  
4.  The two notices were in fact published to inform importers that they have to complete 
information statements when applying for an import licence for bladed weapons or unmanned 
aerial vehicles , so as to facilitate the processing of such applications by the relevant departments  
of the Ministry of Foreign Trade  and the Ministry of the Interior .  
5.  Regarding the procedure for examining applications and granting import licences, it should be 
noted that on 1 July 2015, Morocco  introduced  an electronic procedure for processing and issuing 
import licences , in accordance with Order of the Minister of Foreign Trade  No. 1675 -15 of 19 May 
2015 establishing the procedures for obtaining import and export licences for goods, and the  
relevant model forms .  
6.  Since that date, all import licence applications should be made via the national single window 
for foreign trade, PortNet. This electronic procedure aims to simplify import licensing  formalities . 
7.  As for the EU's specific questions regar ding the procedure for importing bladed weapons and 
unmanned aerial vehicles, please note the following : 
- Licence applications must be made at least 30 days prior to  importation, as the 
administration has a maximum of 30 days to notify importers of the de cision  to grant or 
refuse a licence . 
 G/LIC/Q/MAR/2  
 
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  - Import licences for bladed weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles are issued by t he Ministry 
of Foreign Trade , once the Ministry of the Interior  has examined and given its opinion on the 
matter.  
 
- Licence  application s may be rejected where the opinion of the Ministry of the Interior  is 
unfavourable , following an investigation by the authorities responsible for security within this 
Ministry , or where applications are incomplete .  
 
- Import licences are not subject to an y licensi ng or administrative fee s. 
 
- The period of validity of an import licence  for clearing goods through customs  is six months. 
This period begins on the date of the favourable decision issued by  the Ministry of Foreign 
Trade . Where an import licence is applied only partially during its period of validity, it may 
be possible to apply it again during an  additional six -month period . 
 
2  LAW NO. 91 -14 ON FOREIGN TRADE  
8.  Law No. 91-14 on foreign trade was adopted and published in  Official Journal No. 6454 
of 7 April 2016. It will only enter into force after the p ublication of its implementing texts  (decrees 
and orders), which are in the process of  being adopted. Morocco will notify the law and its 
regulatory texts upon their entry into force , in accordance with Articles 5 and 7 of the Agreement  
on Import Licensing Procedures . 
9.  In response to the EU's specific questions on Chapters II and III of Law No. 91 -14, it should be 
noted that the law's implementing texts have not yet been adopted. The arrangements for 
imple menting the law's provisions on  import restrictions, import procedures, the register of 
importers and exporters, specifications, and tariff quota manag ement have yet to be finalized . The 
provisions of the  previous law, Law No. 13 -89 on foreign trade , and its implementing texts, will 
remain in force for the time being . 
10.  Morocco will provide detailed replies to the EU's questions once Law No. 91 -14 on foreign 
trade has entered into force and its implementing texts have been adopted.  
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