WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/LIC/N/3/TTO/9 
22 September 2010 
 (10-4805) 
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 2 Septembe r 2010, 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 under mentioned 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 
 
Fish, fresh (live or dead) chilled or frozen (a) Shrimp (prawn) fresh (live or dead) Chilled or 
frozen; 
(b) Lobster, fresh (live or dead) chilled or frozen; (c) Crabmeat, fresh, chilled or frozen. -do- 
 
-do- -do- 
 
-do- -do- -do- 
 
-do- -do- 
 
-do- -do- 
The following Oils and Fats of CARICOM origin    
• Coconuts in all forms including coconut seedlings, 
copra, desiccated coco nut, coconut milk and 
coconut cream, but excl uding coconut oil. 
• Oilseed cake, meal and other vegetable oil 
residues.   
• Copra. 
• Oilseed, beans. Nuts, etc. 
• Animal oils, fats and greases, unrefined. -do- 
 
 
-do- 
 
-do- -do- 
-do- -do- 
 
 
-do- 
 
-do- -do- 
-do- 
                                                      
1 See document G/LIC/3, Annex for the Questionnaire. G/LIC/N/3/TTO/9 
Page 2  
 
   Subject to 
 Reason  
• Fatty acids and solid residues from the treatment of 
oils and fats. 
• Vegetable fats. -do- 
 
-do- -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. 
(b) Used right hand drive vehicles (c) Used right hand drive Garbage compactors 
exceeding 15 to nnes (15000kgs)
 MGW 
(d) LHD Vehicles other than those allowed to be 
imported pursuant to section 45(2)(a)–(g) of the 
Customs Act 
*  Legal Notice #40 – Notice to Importers #1 of 2004 
 dated 10/3/04 (attached as Appendix I2) Automatic Licensing  
 
-do- -do- 
 
-do- Public Safety 
 
-do- -do- 
 
-do- 
Ships and Boats (under 250 tonnes) 
 -do- National Security 
Paper and paper Products    
• Paper for wrapping tobacco or cigarettes 
 -do- -do- 
Pesticides    
• Parathion, ethy 2,4,5-          
• 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 
 -do- Health & 
Environment          
OZONE DEPLETING SUBSTANCES (ODS)  Non-Automatic 
Licensing Montreal Protocol 
Under the Montreal Protocol     
(a) Ozone depleting substances (ODS)  
(b) Mixtures containing Ozone depleting 
 substances (ODS) -do- -do- 
Ex-tariff heading Nos : 
 
- 2903.20   2903.199 
- 2903.21   2903.40  - 2903.23   2903.45 
- 2903.451  2903.452 
- 2903.453  - 2903.454 
- 2903.457           2903.456 
- 2903.459  2903.458 
- 2903.4592         2903.4591 
- 2903.4599 - 2903.4594  2903.47   
                                                      
2 Available in the Secretariat (Mar ket Access Division)(English only).  G/LIC/N/3/TTO/9 
 Page 3 
 
 
   Subject to 
 Reason  
- 2903.4595         2903.491 
- 2903.49 2903.499 
- 2903.492 
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 
• D e h u m i d i f i e r s      
• Air conditioning machines and their parts for 
domestic and commercial use, as well as Auto air 
conditioning unit and their parts for new or used 
vehicles – whether mounted or not.  
• Refrigerators, freezers and other   
• Refrigerating or freezing Equipment, heat pumps 
and their Parts for domestic  and commercial use. 
• Portable fire extinguisher and their parts -do- 
 
-do- 
-do- 
 
 
 
-do- 
-do- 
 
-do- -do- 
 
-do- 
-do- 
 
 
 
-do- 
-do- 
 
-do- 
(a) Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) Non-automatic 
Montreal Licensing Protocol 
(b) Mixtures containing Ozone Depleting Substances 
(ODS)  Non-automatic 
Licensing 
 
-do- Montreal Protocol 
  
-do- 
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  
 
-do- 
 
 
-do- 
-do-  
 
-do- 
 
 
-do- 
-do- 
 
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 pu rpose of administering import restrictions 
maintained pursuant to: 
 
- Bilateral/Regional Trade Agreements - Environmental Concerns - National Security - Health and Safety Concerns - Under the Montreal Protocol 
 
5. The licensing system is a statutory requirement, published as legal notice No. 69 of 1999 (attached as Appendix II
2).  This existing requirement is an  amendment to Legal Notice 103 (Notice 
to Importer No. 1 of 1997) and Legal Notice No. 180 (Notice to Importers No 1 of 1998). In 1989 Trinidad and Tobago acceded to the Vienna Conventi on for the Protection of the Ozone layer and the 
Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer. A country programme for the Phase Out 
of Ozone Depleting Substances was prepared in 1996 and has been implemented. This country met 
the 1
st July 1999 deadline for the freeze on the consumpti on of chlorofluorocarbons (CF's) at levels of 
average imports for 1995 and 1997. A Terminal Ph ase Out Management Plan for the Phase Out of 
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's) was implemented in 2004 which led to the phase out of imports of G/LIC/N/3/TTO/9 
Page 4  
 
  CFC's as at 31 December 2007.  This country cont inues to monitor the imports of CFC's using the 
Licensing regime in conjunction with the Custom s and Excise Division through the National Ozone 
Unit.  Using the existing licensing system, th is country will be beginning the phase out of 
hydrochlorofluorocarbons in 2013. Authority exists to suspend the system whenever it is determined 
that such action is appropriate. Notice to such action is published in the Trinidad and Tobago Gazette. 
Legal Notice #40 (Notice to Importers #1 of 20 04 dated 2004) included LHD Vehicles other than 
those allowed to be imported pursuant to Section 45(2) (a)-(g).  
Procedures
 
 6. Quantitative restrictions apply solely in r espect of ozone depleting substances as outlined 
below:  (a) In accordance with the dictates of the Montr eal Protocol the Government of Trinidad and 
Tobago agreed to implement the phase out on the consumption of Chlorofluorocarbons 
(CFC's). CFC's 11, 12,113,114,115 at the level of average imports for 1995-1997, effective 
1
st July 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) Complete Phase out was achieved as at 31
st December 2007. 
(e) Phase out of Halons – Halon 1211, Halon 13 01, Halon 2402 – Annex A – group 11 effective 
1st January 2002, No quotas consid ered. Alternative products used. 
(f) Phase out of Methyl Bromide. Annex E effective 1st 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 Food Production, 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 
  G/LIC/N/3/TTO/9 
 Page 5 
 
 
  8. If the Ministry's policy does not allow the re asons 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 Appendix III2. An importer is required to submit the following 
documents with the application: 
 - Covering letter explaining need for the imported item- non automatic licences. - 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 17 July 2000 an import licence fee of $11.00 was applicable. Effective 17 July 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. 
__________