G/LIC/N/3/GAB/1  
10 April 2017 
(17-1925) Page: 1/5 
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  
GABON 
The following communication, dated 2 March  2017, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Gabon . 
 
_______________  
 
 
1  MINISTRY RESPONSIBLE FOR TRADE, MINISTRY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 
ENVIRONMENT, MINISTRY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ECONOMY  
1.1  Regulations governing the importation of ozone -depleting substances (ODSs) and 
equipment us ing ODSs  
Outline of systems  
 
1. Gabon has ratified the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the 
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer . In this regard, the Gabonese 
Government has developed a plan to reduce imports of materials  containing ODSs . 
 
Interministerial Orders Nos . 000681 and 000682 regulating the importation of ODSs  and 
equipment using ODSs have been implemented  for this purpose . 
 
Purpose s and coverage of licensing  
 
2. A special import authorization is required for all imports of ODSs and products containing and 
equipment using ODSs . 
 
3. The system applies to goods  originating in and coming from all countries.  
 
4. The system  aims to reduce imports of ODSs and ma terials containing  ODSs on the basis of  a 
quota established by  Order of the Minist er responsible for the environment, in accordance with the 
recommendations contained in  the status report of the National Ozone Programme.  
 
5. The system was not established  by means  of legislation  but pursuant to  the following 
administrative acts:  
 
- Order No. 000681/MEFEPEPN/MCDIIR/MEFBP;  
- Order No. 000682/MEFEPEPN/MCDIIR/MEFBP.  
 
The Government may change  the goods subject to licensing without informing  the Parliament.  
 
                                                
1 See doc ument G/LIC/3, Annex, for the Questionnaire.  G/LIC/N/3/GAB/1  
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  Procedures  
 
6.I. Information on quotas, procedures for filing licence applicati ons, exceptions and waivers is 
contained in the aforementioned Orders.  
 
II. Import quotas are established  by Order of the Minist er responsible for the environment, in 
accordance with the recommendations contained in the status report of the National Ozone 
Programme . The Minister informs  the Ministers responsible for  trade, the economy and 
finance  of the quotas . 
 
III. Import licences are issued by the Directorate -General of Trade to importers that meet the 
criteria set out in the Orders, based on  the conclus ions of a n assessment  carried out by the 
Directorate -General of Industrial Development . 
 
 Importers are required to submit , on a quarterly basis, information on the use of ODSs  in 
their activities, to the Directorate -General of Industrial Development, whic h sends the 
results of the a ssessment  to the National Ozone Programme.  
 
 The Orders contain no reference to  the carrying over of  quotas  that have not been 
exhausted . 
 
 They make no reference to  the possibility of communicating  the names of importers to 
whom licences have been allocated  to foreign governments , upon request . 
 
IV. There are no specific conditions , but preferably importers should  file their application s five 
working days in advance . 
 
V. There are no specific conditions, but generally  applicatio ns are processed within five working 
days.  
 
VI. There are no specific restrictions in this regard . 
 
VII. Import licences are issued by the Directorate -General of Trade to importers that meet the 
criteria set out in the Orders, based on the conclusions of a n assessment carried out by the 
Directorate -General of Industrial Development . 
 
 The licence application form contains five identical sheets that are intended for the following 
bodies : 
 
 - the Directorate -General of Trade ; 
 - the Directorate -General of Ind ustrial Development;  
 - the Directorate -General of Customs and Excise ; 
 - the National Ozone  Programme;  
 - the fifth sheet is returned to the economic operator filing the licence application.  
 
VIII. The Orders make no reference to  the manner in which th e quotas are allocated . However, 
quotas are regulated in accordance with the follow -up on  the use of imported equipment and 
products , under  the Refrigerant Management Plan (PGF).  
 
IX. The Orders make no reference to such a system.  
 
X. The Orders make no refer ence to such a system.  
 
XI. The Orders make no reference to such a system.  
 
7(a) The Orders do not establish a specific  time-limit, but it is preferable to allow for around 
five working days . Licences cannot be issue d for goods for which a n application has not been filed, 
irrespective  of the reason provided.  
 
(b) In principle, no . 
 
(c) No. G/LIC/N/3/GAB/1  
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(d) Import licences are issued by the Directorate -General of Trade to importers that meet the 
criteria set out in the Orders, based on the conclusions of an assessment c arried out by the 
Directorate -General of Industrial Development.  
 
 The licence application form contains five identical sheets that are intended for the following 
bodies : 
 
 - the Directorate -General of Trade;  
 - the Directorate -General of Industrial Develo pment;  
 - the Directorate -General of Customs and Excise ; 
 - the National Ozone Programme;  
 - the fifth sheet is returned  to the economic operator filing the licence application.  
 
8. A licence application may be rejected if the established quota has already  been filled. In such 
circumstances,  the importer  is notified . There is no possibility for im porters whose applications 
have been  rejected to file an appeal.  
 
Eligibility of importers to apply for licence  
 
9. Economic operators, and natural or legal person s are eligible to apply for  a licence . There is no 
published list of authorized importers.  
 
Documentational and other requirements for application for licence  
 
10. Importers must complete a form includin g the following information:  
 
- their corporate name or identity, address , and registration number in the trade  and personal 
property credit register ; 
- the trade name, scientific name, chemical formula , and tariff item under the Harmonized 
System custom s code of each substance to be imported;  
- the quantity  of each substance or product to be imported according to the relevant quota s 
and rates; 
- the status of stocks prior to  the enactment  of this Order;  
- details of the origin, trademark or licence of the supplier ; and 
- full particulars  of the supplier . 
 
The licence application form contains five identical sheets that are intended for the following 
bodies : 
 
- the Directorate -General of Trade;  
- the Directorate -General of Industrial Development;  
- the Directorate -General of Customs and Excise ; 
- the National Ozone Programme;  
- the fifth sheet is returned  to the economic operator filing the licence application.  
 
11. The release of goods from customs is subject to presentation of the special import 
authorization issued by the Directorate -General of Trade . 
 
12. The Directorate -General of Trade charges a registration  fee. 
 
13. No fee or deposit is required . 
 
Conditions of licensing  
 
14. Import licences are valid as from the date of issue until the date that the refrigerants are 
cleared from customs.  
 
15. The Direct orate-General of Trade does not impose  penalties for the non-utilization of a licence.  
 
16. Licences may not be transferred  among  importers.  
 G/LIC/N/3/GAB/1  
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  17. No other procedures are required for the issue of a licence.  
 
Other procedural requirements  
 
18. There are no other procedures required by t he Directorate -General of Trade.  
 
19. To be confirmed by the banking authorities.  
 
2  MINISTRY OF THE DIGITAL ECONOMY, COMMUNICATIONS AND POSTAL SERVICES  
2.1  Procedure for importing  telecommunications equipment in to Gabon  
Outline of systems  
 
1. Gabon, following the example of the other African countries, has implemented a programme 
that aims to replace analogue  television by di gital terrestrial television (DT T), in light of  the many 
advantages that it presents . The Government accordin gly decided to prohibit, as from 
1 January  2016, all imports of equipment  (decoders , recorders or other television equipment) that 
is not compatible with DTT. 
 
Moreover , imports of televisions, decoders, recorders or other television receiver equipment are 
subject to  a special import authorization issued jointly by the Directorate -General of Trade and  the 
Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Postal Services (ARCEP).  
 
Purposes and coverage of licensing  
 
2. A special import authorization is required for all imports of televisions, decoders, recorders or 
other television receiver equipment.  
 
3. The system applies to goods originating in and coming from all countries.  
 
4. The system aims to ensure that televisions, decoders, recorders and other  television receiver 
equipment  sold in Gabon allow proper broadcasting via DTT. 
 
5. The system was not established by means of legislation but pursuant to the following 
administrative acts : 
 
- Order  No. 000308/MEPN/MCPMEADS/MCRIC -PG; 
- Order No. 000198/MEN CP/MPMEAC/MEEDD . 
 
The Government may change the goods  subject to licensing without informing the Parliament.  
 
Procedures  
 
6.I. Information relating  to the technical specifications for equipment, procedures for filing 
licence applications , exceptions and waivers is contained in the aforementioned Orders.  
II. The technical specifications for equipment are determined by the ARCE P. 
III. Import licences are issued jointly by the Directorate -General of Trade and the ARCEP to 
importers that meet the criteria set out in the Orders.  
 Importers of equipment are required to declare in advance their imports to the 
Directorate -General of Trade, in accordance with the conditions determined by the Ministry 
responsible for trade.  
 The Orders make no reference to the possibi lity of communicating the names of importers to 
whom licences have been allocated to foreign governments, upon request.  
IV. There are no specific conditions, but preferably importers should file their application s 
five working days in advance.  
 G/LIC/N/3/GAB/1  
- 5 - 
  V. There ar e no specific conditions, but general ly applications are processed within five working 
days.  
VI. There are no specific restrictions in this regard.  
VII. Import licences are issued jointly by the Directorate -General of Trade and the ARCEP  to 
importers that meet the criteria set out  in the Orders.  
VIII. The Orders make no reference to  such a system.  
IX. The Orders make no reference to such a system.  
X. The Orders make no reference to such a system.  
XI. The Orders make no reference to such a system.  
 
7.(a) The Orders do not establish a specific time -limit, but it is preferable to allow for around 
five working days . Licences cannot be issued for goods for which an application has not been 
filed, irrespective of the reason provided.  
(b) In principle, no . 
(c) No. 
(d) Import licences are issued jointly by the Directorate -General of Trade and the ARCEP to 
importers that meet the criteria set out in the Orders.  
8. A licence application may be rejected if the require d specifications are not met . In such 
circumstances, the importer is notified . There is no possibility for importers whose applications 
have been rejected to file an appeal . 
Eligibility of importers to apply for licence  
9. Economic operators, and natural or legal persons are eligible to apply for a licence . There is no 
published list of authorized importers.  
Documentational and other requirements for application for licence  
 
10. Importers must complete a form.  
11. The release of goods from customs is subject to presentation of the special import 
authorization  issued jointly by the Directorate -General of Trade and the ARCEP to importers that 
meet the criteria set out  in the Orders.  
12. The Directorate -General of Trade charges a registration fee.  
 
13. No fee or deposit is required.  
Conditions of licensing  
 
14. Import licences are valid as from the date of issue until the date that the equipment is  cleared 
from customs.  
 
15. The Directorate -General of Trade does not impose  penalties for the non -utilization of a licence.  
 
16. Licences may not be transferred among  importers . 
 
17. No other procedures are required for the issue of a licence.  
Other procedural requirements  
 
18. There are no other procedures required by the Directorate -General of Trade . 
 
19. To be confirmed by the banking authorities.  
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