G/LIC/N/3/LCA/6  
 
17 September 2013  
(13-4910)  Page: 1/4  
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES1 
 
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 7.3 OF  
THE AGREEMENT ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES  
SAINT LUCIA 
The following communication, dated 16 July 2013, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Saint Lucia. 
 
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Outline of system 
1.  The Import Licensing System is regulated by the External Trade Act Chapter 13.11 of the 
Revised Laws of Saint Lucia and the External Trade (Restricted Imports) (Amendment) 
Order 2012. The Ministry of Commerce administers the licensing system in relation to trade in goods. In addition, the following agencies are responsible for the administering of licences as 
outlined below:  
 
 Ministry of Agriculture – Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures: 
o (Plant Protection Act No. 21 of 199; Animals (Diseases and Importation) Act 
Chapter 7.17 0f the Revised Laws of Saint Lucia. 
o Animal (Diseases and Importation) Act Chapter 17.7 of the Revised Laws of Saint 
Lucia.  
 
 Pesticides Control Board -  Pesticides: 
o Pesticides and Toxic Chemical Control Act Chapter 11.15 of the Revised Laws of 
Saint Lucia. 
 
 Ministry of Health – Controlled Drugs: 
o Drugs (Prevention and Misuse) Act Chapter 13. 02 of the Revised Laws of Saint Lucia. 
 
 Commissioner of Police – Fi rearms and Ammunitions: 
o Firearms Act Chapter 14.12 of the Revised Laws of Saint Lucia. 
 
Purpose and coverage of licensing 
2.  The External Trade (Restricted Imports) (Amendment) Order 2012 details the schedule for 
goods requiring license.  
 3.  The system applies to goods originating outside of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and/or the Caribbean Common Market (CARICOM) - Second Schedule - ; products 
originating from the OECS and CARICOM (Third Sc hedule); and goods originating from any country 
which is not a member of the OECS (Fourth Schedule).  
                                               
1 See document G/LIC/3, Annex, for the Questionnaire. G/LIC/N/3/LCA/6 
 
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  4.  The Saint Lucia Import Licensing Regime was adopted to facilitate the regulation and 
monitoring of imports. Automatic licenses are used for statistical purposes whereas non-automatic licenses are used the following purposes:   
 National Security; 
 Public Health Concerns; 
 Public Safety; 
 Plant and Animal Health Concerns; 
 Development Factors; 
 Financial Needs; 
 Moral Issues. 
 
5.  The External Trade Act Chapter 13.11 and the External Trade (Restricted Imports) (Amendment) Order 2012 are the legal instruments for the import licensing regime in Saint Lucia. 
The various goods and products are classified in the schedules to the Order and therefore 
administrative discretion is unnecessary. However goods such as controlled substances, firearms and ammunition which require non-automatic licences may become subjected to administrative 
discretion. A list of all items which require an import licence may be obtained from Her Majesty's 
Customs, or from the Ministry of Commerce. The legal instruments were published in the Official Gazette prior to implementation as required by law.   
Procedures 
6.  For restricted products: 
 
a)  Information regarding quotas and other related formalities is advertised by the Ministry of 
Commerce in the Local Press and in the Official Gazette. 
 
b)  Quotas (when and where applicable) are determined annually. 
 
c)  Licences are allotted on a non-discriminatory basis, first come first served. 
 
d)  Import Licences are usually for one month duration from date of issue and must be utilized 
in its entirety. No part may be transferred to other shipments. 
 
e)  Applications are usually processed within 48 hours. 
 
f)  Applications are usually presented within 24 hours of arrival of goods, but in several 
instances it has been observed that applications are presented before clearing customs. 
 
g)  All applications for trade import licences covered under the External Trade Act are 
processed by the Ministry of Commerce. However, other applications for import licenses 
are processed as follows:  
 
 Plants and Animals - Ministry of Agriculture;  
 Weapons and Ammunition - Ministry of Internal Security (Police Commissioner);  
 Drugs and Public Health - Ministry of Health. 
 
 
h)  Licences are allocated on a first come first served basis. Applications are examined on 
receipt. 
 
i)  There are no bilateral quotas or export restraint arrangements. Export permits are 
required from country of origin when importing plants and animals into Saint Lucia. 
 
j)  Importers are asked to advise exporters of national requirements. 
 
k)  No licences are issued on condition that goods should be exported and not sold in the 
domestic market. 
 G/LIC/N/3/LCA/6 
 
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  7.  For all products requiring an import licence 
 
a)  Importers are asked to submit applications prior to arrival of goods. Licences are on most 
occasions processed within 48 hours of receipt by the Ministry of Commerce. Licences can 
be obtained over a shorter period  for goods already on the docks. 
b)  In special circumstances a licence can be granted on request.  
c)  There are no limitations as to the period of the year during which applications for licence 
and/or importation may be made.  
d)  Licences related to the External Trade Act are all processed by the Ministry of Commerce.  
Conversely, applications for licences/permits for the items listed below require the intervention of the corresponding government departments. In effect, an importer would 
have to interface with at least two Government departments before obtaining clearance. 
However plans to limit the involvement of multiple administrative bodies in the final approval of those import licenses are at an advance stage.  
 Meat and meat products, plant and plant material - Ministry of Agriculture; 
 Weapons and Ammunition - Ministry of Internal Security (Police Commissioner); 
 Motor Vehicles – Ministry of Transport; 
 Medical Supplies – Ministry of Health. 
 
8.  All applications are approved automatically except for those that fail to meet the normal criteria. Applicants are informed of the reason for refusal. Applications may appeal to the 
Permanent Secretary or directly to the Minister of Commerce. Applicants may seek representation 
through one of the following:  
 St. Lucia Manufacturers Association;  
 St. Lucia Small Business Association;  
 St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce.  
 
Applicants may also seek redress through the Civil Court, and ultimately through the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) if the infringement is in contravention of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramus, which presents the rules governing the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, 
CSME. 
 Eligibility of importers to apply for a licence 
9.  All persons, firms and institutions are eligible to apply for licences.  
 Documentation and other requirements for application for license 
10.  A sample of is attached for reference. A copy of the relative commercial or proforma invoice is 
required with each application.  11.  In the case of goods originating out of the CARICOM, a Certificate of Origin is required.   
 
12.  No licensing or administrative fees are charged.  
13.  There is no deposit or advance payment requirement associated with the issuance of licences.   
 Conditions of licensing 
14.   A licence is valid for one month from date of issue. The validity may be extended to facilitate   
the delivery of goods, if required.  15.  There is no penalty for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of it. 
 
16.   Licences are non-transferable.  
17.   There are no conditions attached to the issuance of a licence. Licenses are issued at no cost 
to the applicant. G/LIC/N/3/LCA/6 
 
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Other procedural requirement 
18.  There are no other administrative procedures  apart from import licensing required prior to 
importation. 
 
19.  Foreign Exchange is automatically provided by the banking authorities to pay for imported goods. There are no domestic restrictions to obtain foreign exchange to settle invoices, whether 
payable at sight or on other trade terms.  
   
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