G/LIC/N/3/MLI/4  
13 August 2013  
(13-4343)  Page: 1/4  
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 
MALI 
The following communication, dated 1 August 2013, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Mali. 
 
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In general terms, Mali's import licensing system, notified in document G/LIC/N/3/MLI/1, 
remains valid for the year 2013.  
Outline of system 
1. The import licensing system was established by Decree No. 00-505/P-RM of 16 October 2000 
on the regulation of foreign trade and Im plementing Order No. 09-788 of 7 April 2009. 
The licensing system is administered by the Na tional Directorate for Trade and Competition. 
Purposes and coverage of licensing 2. Trade is free with all countries and foreign trad e is governed by the following two regimes: 
a. The free-trade regime 
Certificates of intention to import are generally issued automatically for all products, 
except those coming under the prohibition regime. 
Importation is free for all products with the exception of those appearing in the list 
of prohibited products. Quotas are not applie d to either value or quantity. The import 
document, known as the "certificate of intention to import", is issued automatically. 
b. Prohibition regime 
 
 There are two forms of prohibition:   - Absolute prohibition; and 
 - restrictive prohibition. 
 
i. Absolute prohibition concerns: 
 
- Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; 
 - potassium bromate not intended for laboratory use; 
 - all food products containing potassium bromate; 
 - bovine meat and bovine meat products; 
                                               
1 See G/LIC/3, Annex, for the questionnaire. G/LIC/N/3/MLI/4 
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   - meat, blood or bone meal for animal feed; 
- live bovine animals and bovine ova and embryos; 
 - unregistered pesticides;  - oil and equipment containing polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs); 
 - hazardous chemical substances: aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, chlordane, 
hexachlorobenzene, mirex, toxaphene, polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs); 
 - natural or manufactured foreign products carrying a trade mark, brand name, 
sign or indication of any kind such as might suggest that they were manufactured 
in Mali or are of Malian origin, either directly on the product itself or on packaging, crates, packs, envelopes, tape or labels, etc.; 
 - food and medicinal products for human and veterinary use that are past their 
use-by date; 
 - alcoholic beverages in plastic sachets.  
ii. Restrictive prohibition concerns: 
 
 - Medicinal products for human use: authorization from the Ministry of Health; 
 - medicinal products for veterinary use: joint authorization from the Ministry of Health 
and the Ministry of Livestock; 
 - potassium bromate for laboratory use: au thorization from the Ministry of Health; 
 - meat other than that of bovine animals and game: presentation of a permit or health 
certificate from the country of origin; 
 - food additives: list to be dr awn up by the Ministry of Health; 
 - non-iodized salt not intended for human consumption: authorization from 
the Ministry of Trade; 
 - cigarettes, tobacco and matches: authorization from the Ministry of Trade;  - transit of cattle and importation of live animals other than bovine animals: 
presentation of an animal health certificate; 
 - reproductive seeds: registration in the official national catalogue of the importing 
country and presentation of an animal health certificate; 
 - plants: presentation of a permit or phytosanitary certificate of origin; 
 - plant seeds: presentation of a permit or certificate of origin; 
 - motor vehicles with a GVW of 3.5 tonnes or more: authorization from the relevant 
departments of the Ministry of Transport; 
 - arms and ammunition: authorization from the security services; 
 - explosives: authorization from the securi ty services and the relevant departments 
of the Ministry of Mines; 
 - products that deplete the ozone layer: list to be drawn up by the 
Ministry of the Environment; 
 - dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT): authorization from the relevant environmental 
services; and 
 - cyanide: authorization from the Ministry of Mines or the Ministry of Health. 
 3. The system applies to goods originating in and coming from all countries. 
4. Import licensing is used for statistical purposes. Non-automatic import licensing is used 
to administer restrictions on the importation of products that are subject to restrictive prohibition under Order No. 01-2699 of 16 October 2001 establishing the list of prohibited imports 
and exports. 
5.  
i. The licensing system is not a statutory requirement. 
ii. Yes, the Government may suspend or even abolish the system without 
legislative approval. 
iii. Decree No. 00-505/P-RM of 16 October 2000 on the regulation of foreign trade 
and Implementing Order No. 09-788 of 7 April 2009 have been published in the 
Official Journal of Mali. 
Procedures 6. No products are under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports. G/LIC/N/3/MLI/4 
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  I. There are no import quotas. The formalities for filing applications for licences (certificates 
of intention to import) are set forth in the instruments mentioned in point 5(iii) above and in Mali's Trade Code. There are no exemptions from these formalities. 
II. There are no quotas. 
III. Licences (certificates of intention to import) are issued to all importers regardless 
of whether they are producers of like goods. As  there are no quotas, importers are free to use 
their certificates of intention to import as they wish. The certificates are issued individually. 
The list of certificate holders is not published in the Official Journal. 
IV. There are no quotas; certificates of intention to import are issued automatically. 
V. Certificates of intention to import are issued automatically within 24 hours of the application 
being filed. 
VI. There is no minimum length of time for certificates of intention to import. Once granted, 
they may be applied immediately. 
VII. Applications for certificates of intention to import are registered by the National Directorate 
for Trade and Competition (Single Window for Foreign Trade). 
VIII.  The demand for import licences is fully satisfied. Applications are examined upon receipt 
on a first-come, first-served basis, provided that all of the necessary conditions are met. 
IX. Not applicable. 
X. Not applicable. 
XI. Yes, and in the case of products manufactured by free enterprises. 
7.  
a. There is no time-limit for the submission of applications for certificates of intention 
to import. However, the certificate must be established by the importer before the goods are shipped, for inspection reasons. 
b. In all cases, certificates of intention to import are issued automatically provided that 
the importer meets the necessary conditions and the products do not fall under the prohibition regime. 
c. There is no particular period of the year for the submission of applications for import 
documents. Applications for certificates of intention to import may be submitted at any time during the year. 
d. Importers may approach the central Directorate of Trade and Competition (Single Window 
for Foreign Trade) or its regional representations. 
 8. The reasons for refusal are directly stated on the application filed by the applicant. In the event 
of refusal, the applicant is free to appeal the decision before any competent body, notably the 
Court of Trade. 
Eligibility of importers to apply for licence 
9. Only approved natural or legal persons (i.e. those meeting the requirements under current 
regulations in this area, namely registration in the Trade and Personal Property Credit Register 
and possession of a valid import-export trading licence and a tax identification number) are authorized to engage in import operations. 
Documentational and other requirements for application for licence 
10. A sample application form is available from the Single Window and from regional 
representations. Applicants must attach a pro forma invoice to their application. G/LIC/N/3/MLI/4 
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  11. The documents required upon actual importation are: 
 - Certificate of intention to import; 
 - declaration of release for consumption;  - definitive invoices or bill of lading/airway bill; 
- preshipment inspection certificate from the inspection company in cases where the f.o.b. 
value of the goods is CFAF 3 million or more. 
 
12. The importer pays 0.75% of the f.o.b. value as a contribution to the 
Import Inspection Programme. 
13. No deposit or advance payment is required for the issue of a certificate of intention 
to import. 
Conditions of licensing 
14. The period of validity of a certificate of intention to import is 12 months from the date 
on which it is registered with the National Directorate for Trade and Competition. It may 
be extended for a further six months at the importer's request. All extension requests must 
be submitted to the National Directorate for Tr ade and Competition before the expiry of the 
original period of validity. The certificate of intention to import may only be extended once. 
A special extension of a maximum period of one month may be granted to allow for financial 
transfers to suppliers. 
15. There is no penalty for the non-utilization of the certificate of intention to import 
or a portion thereof. 
16. Certificates of intention to import are personal and cannot be transferred. 
17. No particular conditions are attached to the issue of a certificate of intention to import. 
Other procedural requirements 
18. No other administrative procedures are required prior to importation after obtaining 
the licence.  
19. All import transactions must be domiciled with an authorized bank which is responsible for 
the transfer of the required foreign exchange.  
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