G/LIC/N/3/ZAF/7  
 
19 December 2018  
(18-8045) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
REPLIES TO QUESTIONN AIRE ON IMPORT LICEN SING PROCEDURES1 
NOTIFICATION UNDER A RTICLE 7.3 OF THE  
AGREEMENT ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES  (2018) 
SOUTH AFRICA 
The following communication, dated 3 December 2018, has been received from the Permanent 
Mission of South Africa.  
 
_______________  
 
Outline of Systems  
1. The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) has one licensing 
system. This system makes provision for the granting of permits to meet reasonable requirements 
of merchant and manufacturers. Licences are issued upon written application by proposed importers. 
The International Trade Administration Commission of SA, Directorate: Import and Export Control 
is the issuing authority.  
 
Purposes and Coverage of Licensing  
2. Goods su bject to import control and for which licences are granted are listed in Government Notice 
No. R 91 published in Government Gazette No. 35007 dated 10 February 2012, which was amended 
by Government Notice No. R. 292 published in Government Gazette No.   36372 of 19 April 2013, 
Government Notice No. R. 1290 published in Government Gazette No. 39567 of 31 December 2015 
and Government Notice No. R. 1601 published in Government Gazette No. 40520 of 
22 December 2016 . 
 
3. Licences are valid for the importation of goods from any country; the choice of the country of 
supply is left entirely to the importing party.  
 
4. Licensing is not intended to restrict the quantity or value of goods imported. The purpose is to 
comply with international agreements, health, environm ental, safety requirements and public 
interest.  
 
5. Import control is applied pursuant to powers conferred on the Minister of Economic Development 
by Section 6 of the International Trade Administration Act, Act 71 of 2002. The licensing is not 
statutorily required, i.e. the legislation is permissive, not mandatory. The legislation leaves the 
designation of products to be subjected to licensing to administrative discretion. It is possible for 
the Government to abolish the system without legislative approval.  
 
Procedures  
6. N/A 
 
7. (a) Applications must be made prior to the shipment of goods . 
 
(b) Yes. 
                                                
1 See G/ LIC/3, Annex, for the Questionnaire.  G/LIC/N/3/ZAF/7  
 
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  (c) No. 
 
(d) Applications for import licences are considered by the International Trade Administration 
Commission of SA (ITAC):  Import and Export Control.  
 
 In the case of some goods, import applications are also required to be recommended by other 
administrative organs such as the SA Police Service (Narcotics Bureau) for the importation of 
narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in terms of the 1988 United  Nations Convention, 
the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications for homologation of tyres for vehicles to 
ensure that required safety specifications are met, the Department of Environment Affairs in 
terms of the Basel Convention and the Montreal Protocol, Department of Energy for fossil 
fuels, Department of Health (Radiation Control) for radioactive chemical elements and isotopes 
and the SA Police Service (Firearm Register) for arms and ammunition.  
 
 In all instances, the obligation is on the pro spective importer to approach these administrative 
organs for the required recommendation. It is not necessary to approach more than one 
administrative organ for recommendation, over and above ITAC.  
 
8. No application for import licensing meeting the crite ria is refused.  
 
Eligibility of Importers to Apply for Licence  
9. All persons, firms and institutions who comply with the requirements are eligible to apply for 
licences  
 
Documentational and Other Requirements for Application for Licence  
10. Importers ar e required to complete application forms, which are, together with explanatory 
notes, available on the website.  The following general information is required:  
 
- name and business address of applicant;  
- quantity and description of goods to be imported as  well as the custom tariff heading and the 
value of goods to be imported;  
- customs code number of the importer;  
- indication whether the goods to be imported are new or used;  
- country of origin;  
- copy of SA Revenue Services (SARS) tax clearance certific ate. 
 
11. Normal customs documents and, where applicable, an import permit is required upon actual 
importation.  
 
12. There are no deposits or advance payments associated with the issue of licences.  
 
13. There are currently no licensing or administrative charges.  
 
Conditions of Licensing  
14. A licence is valid for 12 months from the date of issue. The validity of the licence is not extended.  
 
15. There is no penalty for non -use of a licence or portion of a licence.  
 
16. Licences are not transferable betwee n importers.  
 
17. Conditions may be attached to the issue of a licence for instance in cases where imported  
goods must comply with provisions of international agreements.  
 
Other Procedural Requirements  
18. There are no other administrative procedures req uired prior to the importation.  
 
19. Foreign exchange has never been refused by the banking authority provided that an import 
licence is produced or evidence is furnished that an import licence is not necessary.  G/LIC/N/3/ZAF/7  
 
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  ANNEX  
IMPORT AND EXPORT CO NTROL:  GOODS SUBJEC T TO IMORT CONTROL M EASURES  
Description  Tariff heading  Purpose of control  
Used goods, waste and scrap  Various  Health, environmental reasons, public 
interest and in terms of the Basel 
Convention  
Fish, fresh or frozen, 
crustaceans and molluscs  03.02 to 03.08  Environmental reasons  
Asbestos  25.24  Environmental reasons  
Mineral fuels, mineral oils and 
products of their distillation  27.07 -27.15  Strategic reasons  
Radioactive chemical elements 
and radioactive isotope s 28.44, 28.45  Health and environmental reasons  
Chemicals applicable in the use 
of drug manufacturing.  
Salt and optical isomers of 
substances included in the 
table.  2806.10, 2807.00, 2841.61, 
2902.30, 2909.11, 2914.11, 
2914.12, 2914.31, 2915.24, 
2916.34, 2922.43, 2924.23, 
2932.91, 2932.92, 2932.93, 
2932.94, 2933.32, 2939.41, 
2939.42, 2939.44, 2939.49, 
2939.61, 2939.62, 2939.63  1998 Convention against chemicals used 
in illegal drug manufacturing  
Rubber and Articles thereof 
including  new and used 
pneumatic tyres 40.03, 40.04, 40.11, 40.12  Monitoring for quality specification  
Used clothing and rags  63.09, 63.10  Public interest  
Cobalt, cadmium antimony, 
manganese, beryllium, 
chromium, germanium, 
vanadium, gallium, hafnium, 
indium, niobium, rhenium and 
thallium 81.05, 81.07, 81.10, 81.11, 
81.12  Health and environmental reasons  
Road wheels fitted with tyres  8708.70, 8716.90.20  Monitoring for quality specification  
Revolvers and pistols, other 
firearms, parts, ammunition 
and parts  9302 - 9306 Security reasons  
Gambling machines  9504.30  Quality specifications and public interest  
Ozone -depleting substances  2903.19.10, 2903.39, 2903.7, 
3808.91.1, 3808.92.3, 
3808.93.8, 3808.94.8, 
3808.99.1, 3813.00.29, 
3813.00.31, 3813.00.33, 
3813.00.35, 3813.00.37, 
3813.00.39, 381 3.00.41, 
3813.00.43, 38 14.00.1, 
3814.00.2, 3814.00.3, 3824.71, 
3824.72, 3824.73, 3824.74, 
3824.75, 3824.76, 3824.77, 
3824.78, 3824.79  
 Montreal Protocol  
 
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