WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/LIC/N/3/SUR/1 
9 October 2009 
 
 (09-4911) 
Committee on Import Licensing Original:   English 
  
 
REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES
1 
 
Notification under Ar ticle 7.3 of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures  
 
SURINAME 
 
  The following communication, dated 2 October 2009 , has been received from the delegation of 
Suriname.  
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Outline of Systems
 
 
1. The licensing regime is based on the Law Movement of Goods (S.B. 2003 No. 582) and  State 
Decree Negative List 2003 (S.B. 2003 No. 743): which means that there are 3 categories of goods 
named: - Prohibited - Goods which need a license  
- Goods which need a certificate  
 
Purposes and Coverage of Licensing
 
 
2. The system applies to prohibited goods and to goods which require a certificate and goods 
which require licensing.  
 
3. The system applies to goods origin ating in and coming from all countries. 
 4. The system is not intended to restrict the quan tity, but its purposes refer to environmental issues, 
state security and public health. No alternative me thods of accomplishing the purposes have been 
considered  
 5. Movement of Goods, State Decr ee Negative List 2003.  The lic ensing is statutorily required. 
Legislation leaves designation of pr oducts to be subjected to licensing to administrative discretion; it is 
not possible for the government to abolish the system without le gislative approval. 
 
Procedures
 
 
6.I.  Information is published in the newspapers. The overall amount is  not published. In case of an 
emergency a request can be made for exceptions. 
 
                                                      
1 See document G/LIC/3, Annex, for the Questionnaire. 
2 Available for consultation in the Secretar iat (Market Access Division) (English only). 
3 Available for consultation in the Secretariat (M arket Access Division) (Original language only). G/LIC/N/3/SUR/1 
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  II. n/a 
 III.  No measures are taken to ensure that licences allocated are actually used for imports.  The 
names of importers to whom licences have be en allocated are not made known to governments 
and export promotion bodies of exporting count ries upon request  because up until now such 
requests have not been made.  
 IV.  n/a   V.  1 or 2 days are the minimum and maximum lengths of time for processing applications. 
 
VI. Remaining time between the granting of lice nces and the date of opening of the period of 
importation depends on the ship ment, from where it comes.  
 VII.  Licences are only issued by the Ministry of  Trade and Industry, the division import, export and 
foreign exchange. However the application can so metimes also be passed to other organs such 
as the Ministry of Agriculture or the Ministry of Health. The importer has to approach more 
than one administrative organ. 
 VIII. The allocation is based on first come first se rved practice. There is no maximum amount to be 
allocated. New importers have to register at the Chamber of  Commerce.  Applications are 
examined on receipt. 
 IX.  n/a   X.  The importing country is informed by the exporter and the Government. 
 
XI.  There are no products for whic h licences are issued on conditi on that goods should be exported 
and not sold in the domestic market. 
 7.(a)  Application for a licence must be made before  the shipment.  Licences can be obtained within a 
shorter time-limit or for goods arriving at the port without a licence 
 
(b)  A licence can be gran ted immediately on request 
 (c)  Limitations as to the period of the year during which application for licence and/or importation 
may be made apply for the importation of fire works (these products are only allowed to be 
imported in November and December)  
 (d)  Only the Ministry of Trade and Industry has to  be approached but some times some advice from 
another administrative organ is needed, such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Public Health, 
Fishery, Husbandry. 
 
8. A licence can only be refused if it does not meet the ordinary criteria.  Applicants can submit an 
appeal to the President.  
Eligibility of Importers to Apply for Licence
 
 9.(a)  All persons, firms and instituti ons are eligible to apply for licence s but first they have to register 
themselves at the Chamber of Commerce. 
 (b)  Idem.   G/LIC/N/3/SUR/1 
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   Natural persons are eligible. There is no registration fee. The Chamber of Commerce publishes 
a list of authorized importers.  10. Ho3 and an invoice or pro-forma invo ice are required to apply for a licence. 
 
11. A single document (ED), Ho3, invoice, bill  of lading or airway bill are required upon 
importation.  12. There is no licensing fee or administrative charge  
13. No.  
 
Conditions of Licensing
 
 
14. The period of validity of a licence is 3 months and can be exte nded within 3 months. 
 
15. No.  16. Licences are not transferable between importers.   17.  (a)  and (b) No.  Other Procedural Requirements
 
 
18. Apart form import licensing and similar administrative procedures an Import/Export 
Registration of non licensing pr oducts (S.B. 2003 No. 74) is re quired prior to importation. 
 
19. Foreign exchange is automatically provid ed by the banking authorities for goods to be 
imported  and  a licence is not required as a co ndition to obtaining foreign exchange. Foreign 
exchange is always available to cover licences issued .  to obtain foreign exchange importers have to 
submit a request to the Foreign Currency Exchange by filling an international transaction form (IT 
form).             
 
 
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