G/LIC/N/1/AFG/1  
 
10 August 2016  
(16-4308) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
  
AGREEMENT ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES  
NOTIFICATION UNDER A RTICLE 1.4(A)i AND/OR 8.2(B )ii OF THE AGREEMENT  
AFGHANISTAN  
The following notification, dated 30 July 2016 , is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of Afghanistan.  
 
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In accordance with Articles 1.4(a) and 8.2(b) of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures, 
the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan hereby notifies the publications in which its 
regulations may be found as well as its legislation governi ng import licensing.  
 
ARTICLE 1.4(A): SOUR CES WHERE INFORMATIO N IS PUBLISHED  
Jarida -e-Rasmi/Rasmi Jarida  (Official Gazette) - available on the website of the Ministry of Justice 
of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( http://www. moj.gov.af) .  Copies of the publication 
(in Dari/Pashto) are available at the following address:  Directorate for Publications an d Public 
Relations, Ministry  of Justice, Wazir Akbar Khan, Street No. 15, La ne 3, Kabul, Afghanistan, 
(+93)  78 31 1 70 80; (+93); e -mail:  moj_complaints@yahoo.com . 
 
ARTICLE 8.2(B): LEGI SLATION  
1. Procedure for the Import and Use of Armo ured Vehicles, Tools , Equipment  and 
Modern Technology which have Military and Security Use, issued by the Ministry of 
Interior Affairs o n 4 May 2011, entered into force on 4 May 2011  
Imports of armo ured vehicles and tools and equipment and modern technologies which have 
military and security use originating in and coming from all countries require an import license 
issued by the Ministry o f Interior Affairs (MoIA).   The Commission on Issuing Licenses under MoIA 
reviews the need for the applicant to have armo ured vehicles, tools, equipment and modern 
technology which have military and security use based on the nature of its activities and ri sks 
involved.  Purpose of the licensing system is to conduct background check of importing persons for 
security purposes.  
  
2. Decree of the President No. 1971 on Security Implementation Measures in Order to 
Prevent Terrorist Attacks of 10 March 2010  
The Mini stry of Interior Affairs (MoIA) - specifically the D irectorate of Counter -Terrorism,  has legal 
authority for this licensing system, which aims to ensure that military equipment (excluding arms 
and ammunition) is imported by the appropriate entities accordi ng to the nature and risk of their 
activities.  
 
3. Environmental Law, published in Official Gazette No . 912 on 25 January 2007, 
entered into force on 27 December 2006, and Convention on International Trade in 
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES ) – Appendices II and III  G/LIC/N/1/AF G/1 
 
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  A permit from the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) is required for imports of 
endangered species listed under Appendices II and III of the Convention on International Trade in 
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Fl ora (CITES), which A fghanistan joined on 
30 October  1985.  Purpose of the licensing system is to ensure that international trade in 
specimens of wild animals and plants (whether they are traded as life specimens, furs coats or 
dried herbs) does not threate n their survival, and to protect Afghanistan’s wild flora and fauna 
from the danger of extinction. The system is not intended to restrict the quantity or value of 
imports.  NEPA retains no administrative discretion regarding the designation of products to be 
subjected to import permit - the Environmental Law specifically refers to the list of endangered 
species under CITES Appendices II and III.  
 
4. Regulation on Import and Show of Films and Monitoring of Cinema, published in 
Official Gazette No . 681 on 5 Janua ry 1989, entered into force on 18 November 1988, as 
amended by Presidential Decree No . 24 of 18 January  2005, entered into force on 
18 January 2005, and Ministerial Act on Import, Distribution and Show of Films and 
Monitoring of Cinema /other Cassettes and Discs of 23 March 2010  
Purpose of the licensing system is to ensure that imported movies for projection in cinema 
theatres as well as movies on cassettes and discs observe Afghan moral and cultural norms as well 
as quality requirements.  The Afghan Film De partment has the authority to issue import licenses 
and determine the number of films per applicant.  
 
5. Law Against Intoxicating Drinks and Drugs as well as Controlling Them, published 
in Official  Gazette No . 1025 of 14 June 2010, entered into force on 14 J une 2010, and 
Procedure for the Management and Control of Precursors of 30 January 2016  
The licensing system applies to strictly controlled and controlled plants and substances with a 
medical use and to substances frequently used in the manufacture of narc otic drugs and 
psychotropic substances (chemical precursors) originating in and imported from all countries - see 
Tables 2 -4 annexed to the Law on Campaign against Intoxicants, Drugs and their Control ( "the 
Law").  The licensing system is intended to preve nt illicit use of narcotics and chemicals used in 
illicit production of drugs, and import licenses are issued to facilitate medical, industrial production 
and scientific research purposes only.   The import control system set out in the Law reflects the 
provisions of relevant United Nations conventions on drugs (Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 
1961; Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971; Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic 
Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988).  Only applicants w ho hold a license to engage in 
importing of medicines obtained from the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MoCI) can apply 
for a quota to import medicines from the Committee on Drug Regulation.  
 
6. Regulation on Controlling Materials Destructive to the Ozon e Layer, published in 
Official Gazette No . 894 of 6 August 2006, entered into force on 17 July 2006  
Purpose of the licensing system is to protect the ozone layer by taking precautionary measures to 
control the total emissions of substances that deplete it,  with the ultimate objective of their 
elimination, taking into account technical and economic considerations and bearing in mind the 
developmental needs of Afghanistan.   As a signatory of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that 
Deplete the Ozone Layer of 16 September 1987, Afghanistan is required to establish and 
implement a system for licensing the import of new, used and recycled controlled substances listed 
in the relevant annexes to the Montreal Protocol.   The Ozone Unit of the National Environmental 
Protection Agency (NEPA) has responsibility for registration and issuance of import permits.  
 
7. Law on Medicines published in Official Gazette No . 963 of 19 November 2008 
entered into force on 4 November 2008, Law on Public Health published in Official 
Gazet te No . 916 of 24 February 2007 and entered into force on 17 January 2007 and 
Regulation on Production and Import of Medicines and Medical Equipment published in 
Official Gazette No . 916 of 24 February 2007 and entered into force on 19 February 2007  
All per sons wishing to import medicines and medical equipment shall have an activity license for 
engaging in the import of medicines obtained from the General Directorate of Pharmacy Affairs 
(GDPA) under the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and receive an import permit from the GDPA. 
This licensing system aims at protecting human life and health. Only the import of medicines 
(irrespective of their country of origin) registered in the National Licensed Medicines List of G/LIC/N/1/AF G/1 
 
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  Afghanistan available on the General Director ate of Pharmacy Affairs (GDPA) website is allowed 
(http://gdpa.gov.af/en ). 
 
8. Law for Regulating Telecommunication Services published in Official Gazette  
No. 1031 of 17 July 2010, entered into force on 5 May 2010 and the  Procedures for 
Obtaining License of the Telecom Equipment Import and Sale issued by the Afghanistan 
Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (ATRA) of 8 June 2007  
This licensing system applies to all imported telecommunication equipment designated by the 
Afghanistan Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (ATRA), irrespective of origin.  Its purpose is 
to control telecom equipment that could be used in providing unauthorized telecom services.  
To be eligible to apply for a permit to import telecom equipment, applicants m ust hold an 
ATRA -issued license (license for mobile phone services, license for internet service provider, 
license for telecom technology solution provider or importer and seller license).  
 
9. Veterinary Services Law, published in Official Gazette  No. 795 of 8 January 2001, 
entered into force on 15 January 2000  
The following products are covered by the permit system, irrespective of their country of origin: 
veterinary equipment HS Chapter 902221; animal medicines HS Chapters 300230, 300510, 
300590 and 300670; animal vaccines HS Chapters 300210 and 300220; and animal sperms HS 
Chapter 300660.   The licensing system enables the General Directorate for Animal Health (GDAH) 
of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) to know about the  qualification and 
suitability of applicants, require information about the indication, efficiency and safety of the 
chosen products, assure the quality of the products before their importation to Afghanistan and 
reduce possible risks to, and improve, anim al health in Afghanistan. The responsible structures in 
the Government of Afghanistan have drafted a new "Animal Health (Veterinary) Law " which sets 
out the import license requirements . 
 
10. Presidential Decree No . 2342 of 11 February 2016 [dealing with Import  and Export 
Licensing for Printed Books, Brochures, Leaflets and Other Printed Matters, entered into 
force on 11 February 2016, and Law on Mass Media, published in Official Gazette No. 968 
of 6 July 2009 as amended by the Amendment and Addition to the Mass  Media Law, 
published in Official Gazette No. 1167 of 11 March 2015, entered into force on  
28 January 2015  
The importation of printed books, brochures, leaflets and other printed matters is subject to 
approval by the Assessment Commission under the Minist ry of Information and Culture of 
Afghanistan (MoIC). The approval system is not intended to restrict the quantity or value of 
imports into Afghanistan. The purpose of the licensing system is to protect the Country’s moral 
and cultural values by preventing the publishing and distribution of books, brochures and other 
printing matters contrary to the Constitution of Afghanistan and to the principles of Islam and 
offensive to other religions and sects, promoting other religions than Islam as well as leading to  
dishonoring and defamation of individuals.   All importers are eligible for obtaining approval for 
importation of books, brochures, leaflets and other printed materials.  
 
11. Ministerial Act on Licensing, Producing, Importing and Exporting Optical Disks of 
2012, entered into force on 11 November 2013  
Import licenses issued by the Registrar under the Ministry of Information and Culture of 
Afghanistan (MoIC) are necessary to import optical disks , defined as any medium, regardless of 
format, which may be used for  the electronic storage of data in digital form, which is capable of 
being written and/or read by means of a laser or any other means, whether or not any reada ble 
data has been stored on it (including CDs, DVDs , laser discs, mini discs and video compact di scs). 
The licensing system aims at protecting the rights of the holders of copyrights and related rights  
as well promoting legitimate copyright industries that rely on optical disks for distribution .  
 
12. Law on Agriculture Pesticides, published in Official G azette No. 119 0, of 
19 October  2015, entered into force on 26 August 2015  
The Plant Protection and Quarantine Administration at the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and 
Livestock (MAIL) issues one year license (extendable) to individuals having commerci al license to G/LIC/N/1/AF G/1 
 
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  import or export agricultural pesticides. Agricultural pesticides are chemical ingredients or 
substance used to control, prevent or destroy agricultural -related plagues.  The purposes of 
licensing system are to protect plant, environment from  negative implication of pesticides; control 
production, import, export, transport, stockpile, distribution and use of pesticide in the territory of 
the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.  
 
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i "[...] Publication shall take plac e, whenever practicable, 21 days prior to the effective date of the 
requirement but in all events not later than such effective date.  Any exception, derogations or changes in or 
from the rules concerning licensing procedures or the list of products subjec t to import licensing shall also be 
published in the same manner and within the same time -periods as specified above ."   See Article 1.4(a) of the 
Agreement.  
ii "Each Member shall inform the Committee of any changes in its laws and regulations relevant to t his 
Agreement and in the administration of such laws and regulations."