WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/LIC/N/3/TTO/8 
8 October 2009 
 (09-4871) 
Committee on Import Licensing Original:   English 
  
 
REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES
1 
 
Notification under Article 7.3 of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures  
 
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 
 
 
 The following notification, dated 25 Septem ber 2009, has been received from the Permanent 
Mission of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.  
_______________ 
 
Outline of system
 
 
1. The import Licensing System is regulated by the Import and Export control Regulations 1941, 
which is scheduled as part of the Trade Ordinance No. 19 of 1958.  Purpose and coverage of licensing 
 
 
2.  With the liberation of the economy, only the undermentioned goods require a licence to be imported into the country.   
 Subject to  Reason  
Live poultry, rearing or breeding   Automatic 
Licensing Statistical Purpose 
Live poultry, other than rearing or breeding -do- -do- 
Fish, fresh (live or dead) chilled or frozen -do- -do- 
(a) Shrimp (prawn) fresh (live or dead) Chilled or frozen; -do- -do- 
(b) Lobster, fresh (live or dead) chilled or frozen; -do- -do- 
(c) Crabmeat, fresh, chilled or frozen -do- -do- 
The following Oils and Fats of CARICOM origin    
- Coconuts in all forms including coconut, Seedlings, 
copra, desiccated coconut, Coconut milk and coconut 
cream, but excluding coconut oil -do- -do- 
- Oilseed cake, meal and other vegetable oil residues -do- -do- 
- Copra -do- -do- 
- Oilseed, beans. Nuts, etc. -do- -do- 
- Animal oils, fats and greases, unrefined -do- -do- 
- Fatty acids and solid residues from the treatment of oils 
and fats -do- -do- 
- Vegetable fats -do- -do- 
The following Oils and Fats of Non CARICOM 
Origin    
                                                      
1 See document G/LIC/3, Annex for the Questionnaire. G/LIC/N/3/TTO/8 
Page 2  
 
   Subject to  Reason  
- Coconuts in all forms including coconut Seedlings, 
copra, desiccated coconut, coconut milk and coconut 
cream, but excluding coconut oil. Non-
automatic 
Licensing Regional Trade 
Agreements 
- Oilseed cake, meal and other vegetable oil residues -do- -do- 
- Copra -do- -do- 
- Oilseed, beans, nuts etc -do- -do- 
- Animal oils, fats and greases, unrefined -do- -do- 
- Fatty acids and solid residues from the treatment of oils 
and fats -do- -do- 
- Vegetable fats -do- -do- 
Road motor vehicle to the following descriptions:    
(a) Left hand drive vehicles imported under section 45 (4) 
of the Customs Act Chapter 78:01 as amended. -do- Public Safety 
(b) Used right hand drive vehicles -do- -do- 
(c) Used right hand drive Garbage compactors exceeding 
15 tonnes (15000kgs)  MGW -do- -do- 
(d) LHD Vehicles other than those allowed to be imported 
pursuant to section 45(2)(a)–(g) of the Customs Act -do- -do- 
Ships and Boats (under 250 tonnes)  -do- National Security 
Paper and paper Products    
- Paper for wrapping tobacco or cigarettes  -do- National Security 
Pesticides:   
- Parathion, ethy 2,4,5-  -do- Health & 
Environment 
- Trichloropehnyl (2,4,5 – T)    
- Dichlorodiphenyl tricholorethane (DDT)    
- Chlordimeform    
- Dibromochloropropane (DBCP)    
- Ethylene Dibromide (EDB)    
- Pentachlorophenol (PCP)    
- Lead Arsenate    
- Thallium and its salts    
- Aldrin, Dieldrin and Endrin    
- Legal Notice #40 – Notice to Importers #1 of 2004 
dated 10/3/04    
OZONE DEPLETING SUBSTANCES (ODS)   
Under the Montreal Protocol Automatic Montreal 
(a) Ozone depleting substances (ODS)  Licensing Protocol 
(b) Mixtures containing Ozone depleting substances 
(ODS)    
Ex-tariff heading Nos:    
2903.20            2903.199 
2903.21 
2903.40  2903.23 2903.451 2903.45 
2903453  2903.452 
2903.455  2903.454 
2903.457          2903.456 
2903.459 2903.458 2903.4592        2903.4591 
2903.4593       2903.4599 
2903.4594 2903.47 2903.4595        2903.491 
2903.49  2903.499 
2903.492  -do-
 -do-  G/LIC/N/3/TTO/8 
 Page 3 
 
 
   Subject to  Reason  
Equipment requiring the use of Ozone  
Depleting substances (ODS): except those using  R11, R12, R113, R114, R115 
Halon 1211, 1321, 2402   
- Compressors and their parts  
 Used refrigerating equipment  -do- -do- 
- Dehumidifiers  -do- -do- 
- Air conditioning machines and their parts for Domestic 
 and commercial use, as well as   -do- -do- 
- Auto air conditioning unit and their parts for new or 
 used vehicles – whether mounted or not.  -do- -do- 
- Refrigerators, freezers and other    
 Refrigerating or freezing 
 Equipment, heat pumps and their  
 Parts for domestic and commercial use.  -do- -do- 
- Portable fire extinguisher and their part  -do- -do- 
(a) Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)  Non-
automatic 
Licensing Montreal Protocol 
(b) Mixtures containing Ozone Depleting     Substances 
(ODS)    
Tariff heading Nos:    
2903.41; 2903.42; 2903; 43 2903.44    
Group 1 chloroflourocarbon – Annexed “A”    
2903.191; 2903.30 Annex “E” Methylbromide    
Halons- 1211; 1301; 2402 Annex A- Group 11    
 
3. The system applies to goods originating in  and coming from all countries with the exception 
of Oils and fats  
4. Automatic import licensing is for statistical Purposes.  Non-automatic import Licensing is for 
the purpose of administering import restrictions maintained pursuant to:  - Bilateral/Regional Trade Agreements - Environmental Concerns 
- National Security 
- Health Concerns - Under the Montreal Protocol  5. The licensing system is statutory requirement, published as legal notice No. 69 of 1999 attached as appendix 1).  This existing requirement  is an amendment to Legal Notice 103, Notice to 
Importer No. 1 of 1997 and legal Notice No. 180, Noti ce to importers no 1 of 1998. In 1989 Trinidad 
and Tobago acceded to the Vienna Convention for th e Protection of the Ozone layer and the Montreal 
Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone laye r. A country programme for the Phase Out of ozone 
depleting substances was prepared in 1996 and has b een implemented. This country met the July 1, 
1999 deadline for the freeze on the consumption of ch lorofluorocarbons (CFC”s) at levels of average 
imports for 1995 and 1997. Authority exists to suspe nd the system whenever it is determined that such 
action is appropriate. Notice to such action is pub lished in the Trinidad and Tobago Gazette.  Legal 
Notice #40 – Notice to importers #1 of 2004 dated 2004 included LHD Vehicles other than those allowed to be imported pursuant to Section 45(2) (a)-(g)  G/LIC/N/3/TTO/8 
Page 4  
 
  Procedures
 
 
6. Quantitative restrictions apply solely in r espect of ozone depleting substances as outlined 
below:-  
(a) In accordance with the dictates of the Mont real Protocol the government of Trinidad and 
Tobago agreed to implement the phase out on the consumption of Chlorofluorocarbons 
(CFC’s). Annex A (attached as appendix II): CFC’s 11, 12,113,114,115 at the level of 
average imports for 1995-1997, effective July 1, 1999.  
(b) A quota system was implemented that accommodated only those importers whose history 
records showed that they imported CFC’s during the period 1995 -1997. 
(c) Quotas are issued to only eight (8) importers. (d) Phase out of Halons – Halon 1211, Halon 13 01, Halon 2402 – Annex A – group 11 effective 
1 January, 2002, No quotas consid ered. Alternative products used. 
(e) Phase out of Methyl Bromide. Annex E eff ective 1 January 2002. Quota set at level of 
average imports for 1995 – 1998. Quota issued to only one (1) importer. 
 7. For all goods requiring an import licence:  (a) Application for a licence must be made at least one (1) week in advance of importation. 
Licences may be obtained within a shorter time limit or for goods arriving at the port without 
a licence, however the law stipulates and appli cants are encouraged to obtain licences before 
goods arrive in the country. 
(b) A licence may be granted immediately on re quest in instances where goods arrive without 
prior knowledge of the applicant 
(c) There are no limitations as to the period of the year during which application for licence 
and/or importation may be made. 
(d) An importer has to approach only one admini strative body with an application. However 
consideration of all licence applications is not always effective by a single administrative body. The following applications must be  passed on to the administrative bodies for 
recommendations. 
 
Live Poultry (rearing and breeding and 
other) Ministry of Agriculture  
Land, and Marine resources 
Fish, Crutaceans, Molluscus  -do- 
Left hand drive road Motor Vehicles   Ministry of Works and Transport 
Ships and boats Ministry of National security 
Ozone depleting substances Informed by Environmental Management Authority 
 
8. If the Ministry’s policy does not allow the r easons for refusal are written on the application 
form, the applicant has a right to appeal to a highe r authority i.e. Permanent Secretary or Minister. 
 
Eligibility of Importers to apply for Licence  
 
9. All persons, firms and institutions are eligible to apply for Licences. 
 
Documentation and other Requireme nts for application for Licence  
 
10. A Sample form is attached As Annex II. An importer is required to submit the following 
documents with the application:  - Covering letter explaining need for the imported item- non automatic licences.  G/LIC/N/3/TTO/8 
 Page 5 
 
 
  - Personal identification  
- Board of Inland Revenue Certificate - Registration of business - Proforma Invoice of  goods if available  
11. Upon actual importation, an importer is require d to submit the Customs copy of the approved 
Import Licence to the Customs and Excise Division.  12. Prior to July 17, 2000 an import licence fee of  $11.00 was applicable. Effective July 17, 2000 
this fee is no longer applicable. 
 
13. There is no deposit of advance payment requi rement associated with the issue of licences. 
 
Conditions of Licensing
 
 14. A  Licence is valid to the end of the year in  which it was issued unless otherwise stated. The 
validity can be extended if the applicant so request, however extension is not automatic. 
 15. There is no penalty for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of it.  16. Licences are not transferable between importers. 
 
17. Conditions are attached to licen ces issued for used motor vehicles. 
 
Other Procedural Requirements
 
 
18. Apart from import licensing prior to importation other administrative procedures may entail; 
 - Certification from Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources for live poultry, fish 
shrimp, lobster and Crabmeat. 
 19. Foreign exchange is automatically provid ed by the banking authorities for goods to be 
imported. 
  No Licence is required as a condition for obtaining foreign exchange. Import documents must be provided to the banking authorities.  
__________