WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/LIC/N/3/MDG/2 
21 June 2005 
 (05-2648) 
Committee on Import Licensing Original:   French 
  
 
REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES
1 
 
Notification under Article 7.3 of the Agreement  
on Import Licensing Procedures  
 
MADAGASCAR 
   The following notification, dated 13 June 2005, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of the Republic of Madagascar. 
 
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  Outline of system
 
 
1. Since 4 April 1992, there have been no restric tions on imports of goods and products entering 
Madagascar, with the exception of prohibited goods  and those requiring prior authorization from the 
relevant technical ministries (Annex I, Decree No. 92 424 of 3 April 1992). 
 Imported goods and products  require neither prior authorization nor import permits. 
 
 The import system applied by Madagascar is called the Liberalized Import System (SILI).  It 
is administered by banks and the Central Bank of Madagascar (BCM).  
Purpose and coverage of licensing
 
 
2. The Liberalized Import System. 
 The Liberalized Import System applies to a ll imports of non-prohibited goods financed from 
funds made available to the Central Bank of Mada gascar.  Such imports, which are those requiring 
foreign exchange transfers, are subject to the estab lishment of an import statistics card (FSI) issued by 
the domiciliary bank.  
3. The Liberalized Import System applies to all pr oducts regardless of or igin and provenance. 
4. The system in force in Madag ascar aims to simplify procedures and facilitate trade.  The 
import statistics card replacing the import permit is  used for clearing goods through customs, 
monitoring imports and preparing statistics. 
5. Legislative provisions in force: 
 - Order No. 189/88 of 14 January 1988 on the Liberalized Import System; 
                                                     
 
1 See G/LIC/3, Annex, for the questionnaire. G/LIC/N/3/MDG/2 
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  - Decree No. 92-424 of 3 April 1992 re gulating goods imports and exports. 
 Procedures
 
 
6. The Liberalized Import System applies to all imports, including those requiring prior 
authorization. 
I. The Liberalized Import System has brought an end to the quota system and the import 
statistics card has replaced the old import permit. 
 
II. Products requiring prior authorization:  
 In order to ensure law and order, protect consumers and safeguard public health and the 
environment, certain imports are subject to par ticular regulations and require prior or special 
authorization. 
 
 These regulations concern the following areas:  
 - Radiation protection; 
  - animal imports; 
 
 - veterinary pharmaceutical products;  
 - precious stones; 
 
 - arms and ammunition; 
  - explosive substances; 
 
 - psychotropic substances;  
 - ozone depleting substances; 
  - tobacco products. 
 
III. With regard to the import of products subject to prior or special authorization, the importer is 
required to liaise with the relevant technical ministry in order to complete the necessary 
administrative formalities. 
  Technical ministries generally issue prior authorizations upon presentation of the requisite 
supporting documents and after a technical inspection of the products. 
  Prior authorization is granted within 72 hours at most. 
 
 The authorization of the ministerial depart ments concerned must appear on the import 
statistics card (date, stamp, signature). 
  Imports of ammunition, implemen ts of war and explosives are subject to quantity restrictions 
and strict controls since they are classified  as a danger to human safety and State security. 
  
  G/LIC/N/3/MDG/2 
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 7. Products not subject to restrictions: 
 
 (a) The import statistics card (FSI) replaces th e old import permit.  It takes a week to 
10 days to obtain two copies of the FSI Bis from the domiciliary bank. 
  (b) The issuance of an import statistics card fa lls within the exclusive competence of the 
bank.  The bank has numerous responsibilities. 
 
  It must check the consistency of prod uct designations and amounts on the documents 
submitted.  It must also check for prohibited goods. 
 
  The bank must then forward the duly domi ciled import statistics card to the Central 
Bank of Madagascar. 
 
  Finally, the bank guarantees all payments  necessary for carrying out the operation. 
   Consequently, an import statistics card cannot be issued immediately. 
 
 (c) Goods may be imported all year round with the import statistics card. 
 
8. Approval or rejection of an import statistics card is the exclusive province of the domiciliary 
bank.  Generally speaking, if an operator complies with all requirements, the bank will not reject the 
card. 
Eligibility of importers to apply for licence
 
 
9. The Administration and any resident econom ic operator inscribed in the Trade and 
Companies Register with no criminal precedents vis-à-vis  the tax authorities are eligible for importer 
status. 
 Any operator other than the Administrati on must open a commercial account with the 
domiciliary bank of its choice.  
Documentational and other require ments for application for licence
 
 10. Three copies of the import statistics card, possibly displaying the prior authorizations from 
the technical ministries concerned, together w ith the proforma or final invoice, and the DVI 
(Demande de Verification d'Importation , or inspection order) issued by the Société Générale de 
Surveillance  (SGS), must be submitted to the bank for domiciliation. 
 The importer must ensure that the product designations correspond to the goods. 
 11. All imports under the Liberalized Import System are exempt from payment of the fixed duty. 
Conditions of licensing
 
 12. An import statistics card may be used totally or  partially and it is valid for 12 months from the 
date of domiciliation. 
13. Any amendment to an import statistics card must  be made either using an amendment form or 
by cancelling the card and submitting a new one. G/LIC/N/3/MDG/2 
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 14. Import statistics cards are non-transferable. 
 
Other procedural requirements
 
 
15. An import statistics card must be accompanied by the inspection order (DVI) issued by the 
SGS which has been appointed by the Government to verify imported goods and carry out physical 
inspections. 
 The above applies to imports with a c.i.f. value exceeding US$1,000. 
 
 Physical inspection involves verifying the nature and quantity of the goods, the customs classification and the determination of origin, and is carried out upon shipment for goods of a 
c.i.f. value exceeding US$3,000. 
  Where the value of imports is between US$1, 000 and US$3,000, inspections are carried out 
upon arrival of the goods in Madagascar. 
 
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