WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/LIC/N/2/MUS/1 
17 March 2008 
 (08-1183) 
Committee on Import Licensing Original:   English 
  
AGREEMENT ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES  
 
Notification under Article 5 of the Agreement
 
 
MAURITIUS 
 
 The following communication, dated 10 Marc h 2008, has been received from the Delegation 
of Mauritius. 
_______________ 
 
 The Import Licensing System is regulated by the Consumer Protection (Control of Imports) 
Regulations 1999 (Government Notice No. 135 of 1999)  establishing a list of goods subject to import 
licensing (controlled goods) and a list of prohibited goods.  (a) List and description of products subject to licensing procedures
 
  See Annex I 
 
(b)  Contact point for information on eligibility
 
 Ministry of Industry, Small & Medium Enterprises, Commerce & Cooperatives 
 Import Division  4
th Floor Anglo Mauritius Building 
Intendance Street 
Port Louis  
 Contact Person: 
 Mr. V. K. Puryag,  
 Senior Commercial Officer 
 Tel. No.: (230) 208-7170 
 Fax No.: (230) 208-5250  Email address: vpuryag@mail.gov.mu
 
 (c)  Administrative body for submission of applications
 
 
Import Division of the Ministry of Industry, Small & Medium Enterprises, Commerce & Cooperatives 
 (d) Date and name of publication where licensing procedures are published
 
 
Government Gazette 
 (e)  Indication of whether the licensing procedure is automatic or non-automatic
 
(i) The items appearing on the list of contro lled goods are subject to non-automatic 
licensing. G/LIC/N/2/MUS/1 
Page 2  
 
  (ii) Non-automatic import licensing is for the purpose of administering restrictions 
maintained pursuant to requests from different  authorities such as Health, Agriculture 
and Environment. 
(iii) The system applies to controlled goods originating in and coming from all countries. 
(iv) The licensing system is a statutory requirement.  The Consumer Protection (Control 
of Imports) Regulations made under Section 35 of the Consumer Protection Act.  The 
Government cannot establish the system without legislative approval. 
(v) Application for an import permit can be made at any time prior to the importation of 
the goods.  Import permits can be obtained w ithin 24 hours.  The issue of an import 
permit with retrospective effect is subject to payment of a fee. 
(vi) There are no limitations as to the period of  the year during which application for  an 
import permit and/or im portation may be made. 
(vii) The reasons for any refusal are given to th e applicant for any unapproved application.  
The importer has the right to enquire further on the rejection of his application. 
 
(f)  Administrative purpose of automatic licensing programme
 
  Not applicable.  (g)  In the case of non-automatic procedures, indication of the measure implemented through the 
licensing procedure  
(i) Information relating to quotas and forma lities of submission of applications for 
import permit is communicated to importers by way of Press Communiqué and Notices posted at the Import Division of the Ministry. 
(ii) Quotas are determined on an annual basis. 
(iii) Import permits are issued to importers regardless of whether they are producers of 
like products.  Licensees are not required to surrender unused amounts.  Unused 
allocations are not added to quotas for the following year. 
(iv) There is a time limit of 30 days for the submission of applications. 
(v) Applications for import permits are processed within 15 days. 
(vi) Import permits are granted prior to importation of the goods. 
(vii) Import permits are issued only to importers  who have submitted their applications 
within the period specified in the Press Communiqué. 
(viii) No import permit is required for the impor tation of goods under quota by a Freeport 
operator. 
 (h)  Expected duration of the licensing procedure
 
 
   G/LIC/N/2/MUS/1 
 Page 3 
 
 
  ANNEX I 
List of controlled goods  
  
H.S.
 CODE  D ESCRIPTION OF GOODS  CONTROLLING 
AGENCIES /DOCUMENTS REQUIRED  
03.02 
03.03 
03.04  
-  
Chilled or frozen fish  Approval from the Ministry of 
Agro-Industry & Fisheries 
04.01 - Milk (fresh/liquid)  Application stamped by the 
Agricultural Marketing Board – “No objection” 
0402.10 
0402.21 
0402.29 
1901.101  
-  
Infant Milk   
0402.10 
0402.21 
0402.29  
- 
  
Milk powder   
07.01 - Potatoes (in all forms) including seed 
0703.10 - Onions and Shallots 
0703.20 - Garlic 
0805.30 - Lemons and Limes 
0908.3010 
0908.3090 - 
- Cardamons neither crushed nor ground 
Cardamons crushed or ground 
0910.3010 
0910.3090 - 
- Turmeric neither crushed nor ground 
Turmeric crushed or ground   
 
 
Application stamped by the 
Agricultural Marketing Board – “No objection” 
10.06 - Rice   
11.01 - Wheat or meslin flour   
1513.1100 
1513.1900 - Coconut oil (copra) and its fractions, 
whether or not refined but not chemically modified  
15.16 - Animal or vegetable fats and oils and 
their fractions, partly or wholly 
hydrogenated, inter-esterified, re-esterified or elaidonised, whether or not refined, but not further prepared  
15.17 - Margarine edible mixtures or 
preparations of animal or vegetable fats 
or oils or of fractions  of different fats or 
oils of chapter 15, other than edible fats or oils or their fractions of Heading No. 15.16   
 
 
 
 
 
Certificate of analysis from 
supplier G/LIC/N/2/MUS/1 
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  H.S.
 CODE  D ESCRIPTION OF GOODS  CONTROLLING 
AGENCIES /DOCUMENTS REQUIRED  
15.18 - Animal or vegetable fats and oils and 
their fractions boiled, oxidised, dehydrated, sulphurised, blown, poly-
merised by heat in vacuum or in inert 
gas or otherwise chemically modified   
Certificate of analysis from 
supplier 
1602.50 - Canned corned beef   
1602.901 - Canned corned mutton  
1604.15 - Canned fish (Pilchards)  
21.06 - Nutrient supplements Pro-forma invoice stamped by the 
Ministry of Health “Import 
Authorised” 
25.01 - Salt  
2523.21 
2523.29 - Portland Cement  
27.09 - Petroleum oils and oils obtained from 
bituminous minerals crude  
27.10 - Petroleum oils and oils obtained from 
bituminous minerals other than crude 
oil, white spirit, lubricating oil and 
greases.  
Chapter 30 - Pharmaceutical products 
Ayurvedic and other traditional 
medicines Pro-forma invoice stamped by the 
Ministry of Health “Import Authorised” 
3006.20 
3006.30 
38.22 - Diagnostic materials of biological origin Pro-forma invoice stamped by the 
Ministry of Health “Import Authorised” 
3604.10 - Fireworks (including fireworks 
commonly known as "pétards") Pro-forma invoice + Fiche Technique 
3811.90 - Potassium-Based Additive  
3917.31 
4009.11 
4009.12  Tubes and Hoses (other than tubes and 
hoses consisting of a metal 
reinforcement) for connecting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders to domestic gas appliances. Valid Certificate of Conformity from 
the National Standard of the country 
of origin issued by a recognised body 
3923.211 
3923.291 - Plastic carry bags (Vest type) Shall comply with the standards 
specified in the Schedule to the 
Environment Protection (Plastic Carry Bags) Regulations 2004. 
3926.201 
4015.901 
6307.2000 - Life Jackets Valid Certificate from the supplier 
that the jackets comply with the 
specifications set out in the Safety of 
Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention 
4012.20 - Used pneumatic tyres of rubber   G/LIC/N/2/MUS/1 
 Page 5 
 
 
  H.S.  CODE  D ESCRIPTION OF GOODS  CONTROLLING 
AGENCIES /DOCUMENTS REQUIRED  
6506.101 - Motor-cyclists' helmets (crash he lmets) Certificate of Conformity to 
Standards from National Bureau of Standards from the country of origin 
+ sample 
7102.10 
7102.21 
7102.31  
-  
Rough diamonds   
71.08 - Gold (including gold plated with 
platinum) unwrought or in semi-manufactured forms, or in powder form  
7112.10 - Waste and scrap of gold including metal 
clad with gold but excluding sweepings 
containing other precious metals  
84.23 
90.16 - 
- Weighing machinery 
Balances Certificate of Suitability unless it is 
not for trade use 
Certificate from independent recognised organisations to the effect that the appliance complies with:- 8516.10 - Electric water heaters and immersion 
heaters and parts thereof 
(a) International Electronically 
Commission (IEC) Standards 
335-2-21 Pt2 Particular 
requirements for storage water heaters; 
   (b) IEC Standard 335-2-35 Pt2 
Particular requirements for 
instantaneous water heaters 
8536.20 
 
8536.501 
 
8536.901 - 
 
- 
 
- Automatic circuit breakers with 
Residual Current Devices<1000 V 
Residual Current Switches<1000V 
(“interrupteur différentiel”) 
Leakage modules<1000 V (a) Shall comply with the 
International Standards BS En 61008 or BS En 61009 or IEC 
61008 or IEC 61009 or any 
other equivalent standard. 
   (b) A certificate from the 
Mauritius Standards Bureau 
attesting compliance with the standards referred to in paragraph (a) shall be obtained prior to the clearance of the goods from the Customs. 
85.44 - 
 
- Electric Cable insulated with plastic 
materials 
Armoured Electric Cables   
87.02 - Public transport type, passenger motor 
vehicles, bus  
8706.001 - Bus chassis fitted with engines  G/LIC/N/2/MUS/1 
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  H.S.
 CODE  D ESCRIPTION OF GOODS  CONTROLLING 
AGENCIES /DOCUMENTS REQUIRED  
89.01 - Cruise ships, excursion boats, ferry-
boats, cargo ships, barges and similar vessels for the transport of persons or 
goods Approval from the Ministry of 
Tourism, Leisure & External Communications 
89.04 - Tugs and pusher craft  
90.17 - Instruments for measuring length, for 
use in the hand (for example measuring rods and tapes)  
9018.31 - Syringes with or without needles 
9018.39  Sutures and ligatures 
9021.00 - Sirolimus and other drug-eluting stents   
Pro-forma invoice approved by 
the Ministry of Health & Quality of Life 
9603.10 - Brooms  
9613.10 - Pocket lighters, gas fuelled, non-
refillable A recent Certificate of Conformity 
with the International Standard ISO 9994:1995 or any other equivalent standard 
9613.20 - Pocket lighters, gas fuelled, refillable (a) 
 Shall comply with the 
International Standard ISO 
9994:2002 or any other equivalent standard; and 
   (b)  A recent certificate of 
conformity with the 
International Standard ISO 
9994:2002 or any other equivalent standard, should be submitted to the Ministry prior to the clearance of the goods from the Customs.  
 - Second-hand (used/reconditioned) motor 
vehicles  
 - Second-hand motor vehicle parts and 
accessories Photocopy of Trade Licence where 
applicable 
 - Other used, scrapped and second-hand 
goods  
 
  G/LIC/N/2/MUS/1 
 Page 7 
 
 
  ANNEX II 
List of prohibited goods  
 
 
1. Ball valve bottles. 
2. Explosive caps for toy pistols and guns containing a mixture of potassium 
chlorate and red phosphorus. 
3. Fire crackers of a type commonly known as "pétards rapés". 
4. White phosphorous matches. 
5. Motor vehicle rubber tyres which, have  been remoulded, recapped or regrooved. 
6. Kerosene stoves of a type commonly known  as "lampes vertes" and parts thereof. 
7. Ivory and Tortoise Shell. 
8. Underwater fishing guns. 9. Sugar and chocolate confectionary and bubble/chewing gum in the form of 
cigarettes. 
10. Second-hand motor vehicle spare parts and accessories as follows: 
(a) Tyres, tubes and wheels; 
(b) Macpherson strut assembly; 
(c) Injector nozzles; 
(d) Chassis and parts thereof; 
(e) Brake linings; 
(f) Clutch nut and parts thereof; 
(g) Filters; 
(h) Hoses; 
(i) Engine mountings; 
(j) Belts; 
(k) Oil seals; 
(l) Ball joints; 
(m) Bearings; 
(n) Shock absorbers; 
(o) Coil spring, leaf spring and torsion bar; 
(p) Body shells of motor-cars or any parts of motor-cars original ly welded by the 
manufacturer to their structured body shells or chassis; 
(q) Jacks. 
(r) Second-hand motor vehicles tyres other than second-hand motor vehicle tyres 
imported by any firm operating in the export processing zone for re-export as retreaded tyres. 
11. Toy motor-cyclists’ helmets. 
12. "Roll your own cigarettes" papers  imported under H.S. Code No. 48.13. 
13. Electric water heater with bare element and parts and accessories thereof.  G/LIC/N/2/MUS/1 
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  14. Portable electric lamps commonly known as laser penlights/torches of 1 MW 
(milliwatt) or more 
15. Toy pistols and guns with projectiles. 
16. Containers performing the func tion of “Aerosols” using C.F.C’s 
(Chlorofluorocarbons) as propellant with contents other than pharmaceutical 
products. 
17. The following items containing C.F.C’s (Chlorofluorocarbons) as refrigerant or 
blowing agent: 
Refrigerators, freezers, refrigerating cab inets, showcases, counters and other 
refrigerating or freezing furnitures, ch illing units, coolers, airconditioners 
(including motor vehicle airconditioners),  automatic beverage-vending machines, 
incorporating refrigerating devices, cold-r oom equipment, refrigerated transport 
vehicles, refrigerator insulation, freezer insulation, foam packings, dehumidifiers, fishing boat refrigeration equipment, and styrofoam. 
18. Crocidolite(Blue Asbestos) and its products. 
19. Polybrominated Diphenyls(PBB) and its products. 
20. Polychlorinated Diphenyls(PCB) and its products. 21. Polychlorinated Terphenyls(PCT) and its products. 
22. Tris (2,3 – Dibromopropyl ) Phosphate and its products. 
23. PVC teethers and teething rings. 24. Rolling machines (other than rolling ma chines of industrial types) used to 
manufacture cigarettes. 
25. All round logs and timber products from Liberia. 26. Bull Bar 27. Asbestos fibres as follows: 
(a) Actinolite 
(b) Anthophylite 
(c) Amosite 
(d) Tremolite 
28. Toy known as “Yoyo  water ball”. 
29. Any jelly confectionery including jell y mini cups or mini capsules which are 
intended for human consumption and c ontain E425 (konjac), including konjac 
gum or konjac glucomannane. 
30. Any jelly mini cup or any jelly mini capsule which is intended for human 
consumption and which contains food additives E400 (alginic acid), E401 
(sodium alginate), E402 (potassium algina te), E403 (ammonium alginate), E404 
(calcium alginate), E405 (propane – 1, 2 – diol alginate), E406 (agar), E407 
(carrageenan), E407a (processed eucheu ma seaweed), E410 (locust bean gum), 
E412 (guar gum), E413 (tragacanth), E414 (acacia gum), E415 (xantham gum), 
E417 (tara gum) and E418 (gellan gum). 
31. Batteries containing mercury. 32. Aerosol spray containing benzene. 33. Cosmetic products containi ng Vitamin K1 (Phytonadione). 
  G/LIC/N/2/MUS/1 
 Page 9 
 
 
   
ANNEX III 
  
Quantitative restrictions
 
 
 
Product  Unit Customs duty% Type of restriction 
HS 2501.0011 Refined table salt Kg. 15 Quota 750 metric tons 
 
  
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