G/LIC/N/3/MLI/6
23 September 2014
(14-5326)  Page: 1/4
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 
MALI 
The following communication, dated 31 August 2014, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Mali. 
 
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In general terms, Mali's import licensing system, notified in document G/LIC/N/3/MLI/5, remains 
valid for the year 2014. Minor changes have been made to the following points: 2.(b)(i), 2.(b)(ii) and 4. 
 
Outline of system 
1. Mali does not maintain a licensing system, but a system of certificates of intention to import 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 National Directorate for Trade and Competition. 
 
Purposes and coverage of licensing 
Trade is free with all countries and foreign trad e is governed by the following two regimes: 
 
2.(a) Free-trade regime 
 
Certificates of intention to import are issued automatically under this regime. 
 Quotas are not applied in terms of either value or quality. The import document, known as the "certificate of intention to import", is issued automatically. 
 
2.(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; 
                                               
1 See G/LIC/3, Annex, for the questionnaire. G/LIC/N/3/MLI/6 
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  - unregistered pesticides; 
- oil and equipment containing polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs); - hazardous chemical substances: aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, chlordane, 
hexachlorobenzene, mirex, toxaphene, polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs); 
- natural or manufactured foreign products carrying a trade 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: 
 
- Medicinal products for human use: the issue of a certificate of intention to import is 
subject to authorization from the Ministry of Health; 
- medicinal products for veterinary use: the issue of a certificate of intention to import 
is subject to joint authorization from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry 
of Livestock; 
- live bovine animals and bovine ova and embryos: the issue of a certificate of intention 
to import is subject to authorization from the Ministry of Livestock; 
- potassium bromate for laboratory use: the issue of a certificate of intention to import 
is subject to authorization from the Ministry of Health; 
- meat other than that of bovine animals and game: the issue of a certificate 
of intention to import is subject to the presentation of a health certificate from the 
country of origin; 
- food additives: list to be draw n up by the Ministry of Health; 
- non-iodized salt not intended for human consumption: the issue of a certificate 
of intention to import is subject to authorization from the Ministry of Trade; 
- cigarettes, tobacco and other tobacco products: the issue of a certificate of intention 
to import is subject to authorization from the Ministry of Trade; 
- transit of cattle and importation of live animals other than bovine animals: 
presentation of an animal health certificate; 
- reproductive seeds: the issue of a certificate of intention to import is subject to proof 
of registration in the official national catalogue of the importing country and the 
presentation of an animal health certificate; 
- plants: the issue of a certificate of intention to import is subject to the presentation 
of a phytosanitary certificate of origin; 
- plant seeds: the issue of a certificate of intention to import is subject to the 
presentation of a certificate of origin; 
- motor vehicles with a GVW of 3.5 tonnes or more: the issue of a certificate 
of intention to import is subject to authorization from the relevant departments of the 
Ministry of Transport; 
- arms and ammunition: the issue of a certificate of intention to import is subject to 
authorization from the security services; 
- explosives: the issue of a certificate of intention to import is subject to authorization 
from the security services and the relevant departments of the Ministry of Mines; 
- products that deplete the ozone layer: list to be drawn up by the 
Ministry of the Environment; 
- dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT): the issue of a certificate of intention to import 
is subject to authorization from the relevant departments of the Ministry of the 
Environment; and 
- cyanide: the issue of a certificate of intention to import is subject to authorization 
from the Ministry of Mines and the Ministry of Health. 
 
3. The system applies to 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 Order No. 2014-2022/MC-SG of 29 July 2014 establishing the list of prohibited imports and exports. 
 G/LIC/N/3/MLI/6 
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  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 16 October 2000 on the regulation of foreign trade and 
Implementing Order No. 09-788 of 7 April 2009 have been published in the Official Journal of Mali. 
Procedures 
6. No products are under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports. 
 I. There are no import quotas. The formalities for filing applications for certificates of intention 
to import are set forth in the instruments mentioned in point 5(iii) above and in Mali's Trade 
Code. There are no exemptions from these formalities. 
 
II. There are no quotas. 
 III. Certificates of intention to import are issued to all importers regardless of whether they are 
producers of like goods. Given that there are no quotas, 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 in the Official Journal. 
 
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 National Directorate 
for Trade and Competition (Single Window for Foreign Trade). 
 
VIII. The demand for import licences is fully sa tisfied. Applications are examined upon receipt 
on a first-come, first-served basis, provided that all of the necessary conditions are met. 
 
IX. Not applicable.  
X. Not applicable. 
 XI.  Yes, and in the case of products manufactured by free zone enterprises.  
7.(a) There is no time-limit for the submission of applications for certificates of intention to 
import. However, the certificate must be esta blished 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 th e products do not fall under the prohibition 
regime. 
 (c) There is no particular period of the year for the submission of applications for import 
documents. Applications for certificates of intention to import may be submitted at any time 
of year. 
 (d) Importers may approach the central Directorate of Trade and Competition (Single Window 
for Foreign Trade) or its regional representative offices. 
 8. Reasons for refusal are directly stated on the application filed by the applicant. In the event 
of a refusal, the applicant is free to appeal th e decision before any competent body, notably the 
Court of Trade. G/LIC/N/3/MLI/6 
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  Eligibility of importers to apply for licence 
9. Only approved natural or legal persons (i.e. those meeting the requirements under current 
regulations in this area, namely registration in th e Trade and Personal Property Credit Register and 
possession of a valid 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 documents required upon actual importation are:  
- Certificate of intention to import; 
- definitive invoice or bill of lading/airway bill; - 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 intentio n to import is twelve (12) months from the date 
on which it is registered with the National Di rectorate for Trade and Competition. It may be 
extended for a further six (6) months at the impo rter's request. All extension requests must be 
submitted to the National Directorate for Trade an d Competition before the expiry of the original 
period of validity. The 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.  
15. There is no penalty for the non-utilization of the 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 requirements 
18. No other administrative procedures are required prior to importation after obtaining the 
certificate of intention to import.  
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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