G/LIC/Q/THA/4  
 
5 April 2018 
(18-2074) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
IMPORT LICENSING SYSTEM OF THAILAND  
QUESTIONS FROM THE E UROPEAN UNION TO THAILAND  
 
The following communication, dated 27 March  2018, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the European Union . 
 
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The EU regrets that Thailand  has not been submitting any annual notification of its import licensing 
procedures since 2013 and would strongly encourage Thailand to comply with its notification's 
requirements.  
 
With reference to the procedures for the importation of feed wheat , the EU  would like to reiterate 
its interest in receiving written replies to its advance questions circulated as document 
G/LIC/Q/THA/3 on 20 April 2017. Following Thailand's request, the EU is submitting in writing the 
questions already raised at the last meetin g of the Committee. Furthermore, the EU wishes also to 
add a few new questions, keeping into consideration the recent developments.  
 
EU question No 1 : Could Thailand submit detailed information on the applicable import procedures 
for the importation of fe ed wheat, in accordance with Article 3 of the Import Licensing Procedures 
Agreement, including the timeline in the procedures?  
 
Thailand has indicated that it has introduced the measure to address the oversupply of corn, 
without nevertheless justifying thi s position with any relevant statistics.  
 
EU question No 2 :  Could Thailand submit the relevant data about the actual situation of the 
market of oversupply of corn? In particular, could Thailand submit the statistics on the production, 
export, import and consumption for maize and wheat, with reference to the period 2014 -2016 and, 
if available, 2017?  
 
On 14 June 2017, the Ministry of Commerce issued an implementing regulation regarding criteria, 
procedures and conditions of the issuance of import license fo r feed wheat revoking the previous 
one with an immediate effect. According to this  regulation, identical requirements have been 
maintained for the purchase of local corn, while favourable derogations are granted for feed wheat 
imported for the manufacture of pet food and shrimp feed.  In particular: the requirement for 
purchasing three portions of locally harvested corn for importing one portion of feed wheat [3:1] 
with the exception of relaxing the ratio to 2:1 for the manufacture of pet food and completely  
exempting the domestic purchasing requirement for production of shrimps. In the latter case the 
import quantity of feed wheat needs to be pre -authorised by the Department of Fisheries.  
 
EU question No 3 : Could Thailand explain the consistency and rational e of this policy making? 
Would these derogations cause additional pressure on the alleged market oversupply of corn?  
 
EU question No 4 : Could Thailand share with us the number of applications received under the new 
license regime and the number of import licenses granted including the total import quantity of 
feed wheat allowed in the new license regime?  
 G/LIC/Q/THA/4  
 
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  EU question No 5 : Could Thailand clarify whether  the measure will be notified  in accordance with 
Articles 1.4 and 5 of the Import Licensing Agreement? If not, could Thailand explain the reasons?  
 
Thailand both bilaterally and at the WTO has always stated that it is a temporary measure, without 
neverthe less specifying the expiry date. It has been reported i n the Thai language Press on 
14 March 2018 that a sub -committee to review the details of the requirements, in particular the 
price and import/purchasing ratio and if there was a need to increase the im port duty for animal 
grade wheat (applied rate 0, bound rate 27%) has been appointed. It was also reported that 
another sub -committee to review importation of corn from neighbouring countries has also been 
created in parallel to consider the extension of s easonal importation period of corn. The EU 
understands that importation of corn from ASEAN is only allowed for the period of February to 
August and that this period may be extended to October, indicating a potential increase in import 
volume of corn. This seems to be in contradiction to the alleged market oversupply of domestic 
corn. 
 
EU question No 6 : Could Thailand clarify the duration of this measure? How could be the measure 
still considered "temporary" if it is already in place for two years?   
 
EU que stion No 7 : Could Thailand clarify its seasonal import authori zation regime of corn and how 
the possible extension of such period can be reconciled with the alleged market oversupply of 
domestic corn?  
 
EU question No 8 : Could Thailand clarify what is the t imeframe for the work of the sub -committee, 
and when is it supposed to finalize its work? What will be the procedures following the end of the 
work of the sub -committee and the implementations of its recommendations?  
 
 
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