RESTRICTED  
  
WT/ACC/COM/10/Rev.1  
19 March  2020 
(20-2226) Page: 1/13 
Working Party on the Accession of  
the Union of the Comoros  Original:  French  
 
  
ACCESSION OF THE UNI ON OF THE COMOROS  
QUESTIONNAIRE ON STA TE TRADING  
Revision  
 The following communication, dated 10 March  2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the Union of the Comoros.  
 
_______________  
 
 WT/ACC/COM/10/Rev.1  
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  QUESTIONNAIRE ON STATE TRADING  
Definition of state trading1 
Governmental and non -governmental enterprises, including marketing boards, which have been 
granted exclusive or special rights or privileges, including statutory or constitutional powers, in the 
exercise of which they influence through their purchases or s ales the level or direction of imports or 
exports . 
The enterprises that fall under Article XVII in the Comoros are : (i) the National Office for the 
Importation and Marketing of Ordinary Rice (ONICOR) ; and (ii) the National Hydrocarbon 
Corporation (SCH).  
I. ENUMERATION OF STATE TRADING ENTERPRISES  
A. Identification of state trading enterprises.  
National Office for the Importation and Marketing of Ordinary Rice (ONICOR).  
B. Description of products affected (including tariff item number(s) encompassed in 
produ ct description).  
Ordinary rice is rice that is more than 5 % broken . According to the Harmonized Commodity 
Description and Coding System (HS), the tariff item number  of the aforementioned product is : 
10 06 40 10.  
 
 [Does your country maintain enterprises covered by the provisions of Article XVII ? If 
so, list the products or groups of products for which State enterprise is maintained or 
for which an enterprise has exclusive or special privileges.]  
Yes. 
Product : ordinary rice that is more than 5 % broken.  
II. REASON AND PURPOSE  
A. Reason or purpose for establishing and/or maintaining State trading enterprise.  
[State for each product the reason and purpose for introducing and maintaining the 
enterprise (it should be indicated, for example, whether the purpose or the effect of the 
enterprise is to prevent prices to consumers from exceeding certain maximum limits, 
or to protect domestic producers by the control of imports and/or the purchase of 
domestic supplies at above world price levels, or  to facilitate export sales, or to make it 
possible to establish or administer a stabilization arrangement).]:  
 
The Comorian State has maintained its rice monopoly for the following reasons:  
 
The main purpose of ONICOR is to ensure that the national market  is regularly supplied with 
ordinary rice at a more competitive price that is affordable to the entire Comorian population . This 
system enables the Government to keep the inflation of ordinary rice under control and to prevent 
market shortages . 
 
1 This is the working definition for the purposes of notification and does not alter substantive disciplines 
of Article  XVII, see Understanding on the Interpretation of Article XVII of the GATT 1994.  WT/ACC/COM/10/Rev.1  
- 3 - 
  B. Summary of legal basis for granting the relevant exclusive or special rights or privileges, 
including legal provisions and summary of statutory or constitutional powers.  
 
ONICOR was established pursuant to Law No. 82-17/AF of 1 3 August  1982: "The Office's mission 
shall be to exercise a State monopoly in respect of the import and marketing of rice for popular 
consumption.  
To this end, it is tasked with:  
− Estimating actual needs in terms of annual consumption of ordinary rice nationwide;  
− Monitoring and verifyi ng variations in stock and sales levels with merchants;  
− Monitoring the market price for rice;  
− Prospecting the most favourable rice markets;  
− Allocating quotas among approved beneficiaries;  
− Ensuring application of the approved standard prices throughout the distribution chain 
and prosecuting anyone infringing them for speculation."  
III. DESCRIPTION OF THE FUNCTIONING OF THE STATE TRADING ENTERPRISE  
A. Summary statement providing overview of operations of the state trading enterprise.  
Import and  marketing of ordinary rice . For each import operation, an international call for bids is 
issued to designate the supplier, in line with the procedures in the Public  Procurement Code in force . 
For marketing at the local level, approved standard prices are set for wholesalers, semi -wholesalers 
and retailers.  
 
B. Specification of exclusive or special rights or privileges enjoyed by the state trading 
enterprise.  
ONICOR was established pursuant to Law No. 82-17/AF of 1 3 August  1982: 
The Office's mission shall b e to exercise a State monopoly in respect of the import and marketing of 
rice for popular consumption.  
C. Type of entities other than the state trading enterprise that are allowed to engage in 
importation/exportation and conditions for participation.  
No en tity other than ONICOR is authorized to import and market ordinary rice.  
D. How import/export levels are determined by the state trading enterprise.  
Import levels vary from one period to the next . The volume of imports is set after determining needs 
and on the basis of a statistical study of consumption in previous years and periods . At the beginning 
of each year, ONICOR draws up supply plans geared to the specific needs of consumers . The list of 
wholesalers is established on this basis, but not a list of  rice exporters.  
E. How export prices are determined . 
ONICOR does not export rice . 
F. How the resale prices of imported products are determined . 
The resale price of rice imported by ONICOR is determined as follows:  
 Consumer price = Cost price out of Customs (cost price + single customs duty) + ONICOR margin 
(4.74 %) + Wholesale margin (9.54 %) + Semi -wholesale margin (3.23 %) + Retail margin (5.88 %). 
G. Indicate whether long -term contracts are negotiated by the state tr ading enterprise ; 
whether the state trading enterprise is used to fulfil contractual obligations entered into 
by the government.  WT/ACC/COM/10/Rev.1  
- 4 - 
  ONICOR currently has no long -term contracts.  
H. Brief description of market structure. [Describe, item by item, the functioning  of such 
enterprises and state in particular:  
- Whether the enterprise deals with exports or with imports, or both;  
ONICOR handles exclusively the importation of ordinary rice . 
Market structure : Wholesalers, semi -wholesalers and retailers.  
- Whether privat e traders are allowed to import or export and, if so, on what 
conditions ; whether there is free competition between private traders and the 
State -trading enterprise.  
Under the Decree establishing ONICOR, it is the only institution authorized to import and market 
ordinary rice (> 5 % broken rice) in the Comoros . 
- The criteria used for determining the quantities to be exported and imported;  
The volume of imports is determined at the beginning of each year on the basis of statistics for 
previous years as well as consumer patterns . 
- How export prices are determined and how the mark -up on imported products is 
determined ; how export prices and resale prices of imports compare with domestic 
prices;  
In order to maintain an affordable price for consumers, the S tate has put in place a mechanism that 
acts as a safety valve . It modulates the Single Customs Duty which it levies on rice imports according 
to variations in the price of the product on the world market.  
- Whether long -term contracts are negotiated by the  State -trading enterprise ; 
whether State -trading methods are used to fulfil contractual obligations entered into 
by the government?  
For some time now ONICOR  has not nego tiated any long -term contracts.  
IV. STATISTICAL INFORMATION (SEE ATTACHED TABLES I -III)   
  WT/ACC/COM/10/Rev.1  
- 5 - 
 
TABLE I  
STATE TRADING : NATIONAL OFFICE FOR THE IMPORTATION AND MARKETING OF ORDINARY RICE (ONICOR)  
Statistical information, imports (201 6, 2017, 2018) 
Description of 
product(s) 
(including 
HS number(s))  Total quantity 
imported  Quantity imported by state 
trading enterprise  Average import price  Average 
representative 
domestic sales price  Mark -up National 
production  
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 
Ordinary rice:  
10 06 40 10  156,615 tonnes  156,615 tonnes  
(2016: 53,118 tonnes  
2017: 54,239 tonnes  
2018: 49,258 tonnes)  200,573.33 KMF/tonne  283,000 KMF/tonne  0 0 
 
   
  WT/ACC/COM/10/Rev.1  
- 6 - 
 
TABLE II  
STATE TRADING : NATIONAL OFFICE FOR THE IMPORTATION AND MARKETING OF ORDINARY RICE (ONICOR)  
Statistical information, exports  
Description of 
product(s) 
(including 
HS number(s))  Total quantity 
exported  Quantity exported 
by state trading 
enterprise  Average 
procurement price  Average 
representative 
domestic sales price  Average export 
price  National production  
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 
 0 0 0 0 0 0 
- No exports .   
  WT/ACC/COM/10/Rev.1  
- 7 - 
 
TABLE III  
STATE TRADING : NATIONAL OFFICE FOR THE IMPORTATION AND MARKETING OF ORDINARY RICE (ONICOR)  
Statistical i nformation, domestic activities  
Description of product(s) 
(including HS number(s))  Domestic purchases by 
state trading enterprise  National production  Domestic sales by state trading 
enterprise  National consumption  
Ordinary rice : 10 06 40 10  0 0 156,615 tonnes (2016, 2017, 2018) 156,615 tonnes (2016, 2017, 2018)  WT/ACC/COM/10/Rev.1  
- 8 - 
  QUESTIONNAIRE ON STATE TRADING  
I. ENUMERATION OF STATE TRADING ENTERPRISES  
A. Identification of state trading enterprises:  
NATIONAL HYDROCARBON CORPORATION (SCH) . 
B. Description of products affected (including tariff item number(s) encompassed in 
product description).  
Gasoline : 27 10 12 20;  
Gas oil : 27 10 19 20 ; and 
Petroleum : 27 10 19 10.  
[Does your country maintain enterprises covered by the provisions of Article XVII?  If 
so, list the products or groups of products for which State enterprise is maintained or 
for which an enterprise has exclusive or special privileges.]  
Yes. 
Products : Gasoline : 27 10 12 20 ; Gas oil: 27 10 19 20 ; and Petroleum : 27 10 19 10.  
 
II. REASON AND PURPOSE  
A. Reason or purpose for establishing and/or maintaining State trading enterprise.  
  [State for each product the reason and purpose for introducing and maintaining the 
enterpr ise (it should be indicated, for example, whether the purpose or the effect of the 
enterprise is to prevent prices to consumers from exceeding certain maximum limits, 
or to protect domestic producers by the control of imports and/or the purchase of 
domesti c supplies at above world price levels, or to facilitate export sales, or to make it 
possible to establish or administer a stabilization arrangement).]:  
The primary purpose of the National Hydrocarbon Corporation (SCH) is to ensure a regular supply 
of petr oleum products (gasoline, kerosene and gas oil) on the domestic market at a more competitive 
and affordable price for the whole population of Comoros . The SCH was established pursuant to 
Law No. 80-27/AF of 3 0 December  1980. 
B. Summary of legal basis for granting the relevant exclusive or special rights or privileges, 
including legal provisions and summary of statutory or constitutional powers.  
The SCH was established pursuant to  Law No. 80-27/AF of 3 0 December  1980. 
It fulfils the following purposes:  
− monopoly on the import, manufacture and packaging of petroleum products and their 
derivatives;  
− transport and delivery of said petroleum products;  
− monopoly on the operation of all facilities or filling stations for the storage and direct or 
indirect marketing of those products;  
− sale of those products and the provision of all services related to such sale;  
− and, generally, all commercial, financial, industrial, securities or real -estate transactions 
directly or indirectly related to its corporate missio n or any similar or related purpose.  
 [A description of the legal provisions should be included in so far as this has not been 
submitted in  earlier notifications .] WT/ACC/COM/10/Rev.1  
- 9 - 
  III. DESCRIPTION OF THE FUNCTIONING OF THE STATE TRADING ENTERPRISE  
A. Summary statement pro viding overview of operations of the state trading enterprise.  
Import and marketing of petroleum products . For each import operation, an international call for 
bids is issued to designate the supplier, in line with the procedures in the Public Procurement Code 
in force . For marketing at the local level, approved standard prices are set for filling stations.  
 
B. Specification of exclusive or special rights or privileges enjoyed by the state trading 
enterprise.  
The SCH enjoys exclusive rights to import and distribute petroleum products dom estically to filling 
stations.  
C.  Type of entities other than the state trading enterprise that are allowed to engage in 
importation/exportation and conditions for participation.  
No entity other than the SCH is allowed to import and market petroleum products.  
D. How import/export levels are determined by the state trading enterprise.  
Import levels vary from year to year . The volume of imports is set after determining needs and on 
the basis of statistical studies of consumption in previous years and periods . Indeed, the SCH draws 
up supply plans geared to the needs of consumers.  
E. How export prices are determined . 
The SCH is exclusively an import company . Its product is intended for the  domestic market . It 
exports nothing . There is therefore no need to establish procedures for determining export prices.  
F. How the resale prices of imported products are determined . 
SCH resale prices are determined as follows:  
Consumer price = Cost price out of Customs (unit cost price + single customs duty) + SCH margin 
(75 KMF/litre) + service station margin (100 KMF/litre).  
G. Indicate whether long -term contracts are negotiated by the state trading enterprise ; 
whether the sta te trading enterprise is used to fulfil contractual obligations entered into 
by the government.  
The SCH c urrently has no long -term contract s. Studies  along those lines are being considered . 
H. Brief description of market structure. [Describe, item by item,  the functioning of such 
enterprises , and state in particular:  
- Whether the enterprise deals with exports or with imports, or both;  
The SCH  engages exclusively in the importation of petroleum products.  
- Whether private traders are allowed to import or export and, if so, on what 
conditions ; whether  there is free competition between private traders and the state 
trading enterprise.  
The SCH hol ds the monopoly on import, distribution and marketing of petroleum products . Any 
trader engaging in an import operation for petroleum products is in breach of the law.  
- The criteria used for determining the quantities to be exported and imported;  WT/ACC/COM/10/Rev.1  
- 10 - 
  Import q uantities are determined on the basis of statistics for previous years and periods as well as 
consumption patterns, according to storage capacities.  
- How export prices are determined and how the mark -up on imported products is 
determined ; how export price s and resale prices of imports compare with domestic 
prices;  
In order to maintain an affordable price for consumers, the State has put in place a mechanism that 
acts as a safety valve . It modulates the Single Customs Duty which it levies on imports of petr oleum 
products according to variations in the price of the product on the world market.  
- Whether long -term contracts are negotiated by the state trading enterprise ; whether 
State -trading methods are used to fulfil contractual obligations entered into by 
the government.  
For some time now the SCH has not negotiated any long -term contracts.  
IV. STATISTICAL INFORMATION (SEE ATTACHED TABLES I -III)   
  WT/ACC/COM/10/Rev.1  
- 11 - 
 
TABLE I  
STATE TRADING : NATIONAL HYDROCARBON CORPORATION (SCH)  
Statistical information, imports (2016, 2017, 2018)  
Description of 
product(s) (including 
HS number(s))  Total quantity imported  Quantity imported by state 
trading enterprise  Average 
import price  Average 
representative 
domestic sales price  Mark -up National 
production  
Tonnes  Tonnes  
- Gasoline 27 10 12 20   
19,657,680   
19,657,680   650 KMF/litre  0 0 
   2016:  
   2017:  19,957,796  19,957,796  
   2018:  20,036,741  20,036,741  
- Gas oil 27 10 19 20   
40,347,823   
40,347,823   550 KMF/litre  0 0 
   2016:  
   2017:  48,838,990  48,838,990  
   2018:  69,322,303  69,322,303  
- Petroleum 27 10 19 10   
24,478,534   
24,478,534   345 KMF/litre  0 0 
   2016:  
   2017:  27,991,108  27,991,108  
   2018:  26,591,762  26,591,762    
  WT/ACC/COM/10/Rev.1  
- 12 - 
 
TABLE II  
STATE TRADING : NATIONAL HYDROCARBON CORPORATION (SCH)  
Statistical information, exports  
Description of 
product(s) (including 
HS number(s))  Total quantity 
exported  Quantity exported 
by state trading 
enterprise  Average 
procurement price  Average 
representative 
domestic sales price  Average export 
price  National production  
Gasoline : 27 10 12 20  
Gas oil : 27 10 19 20  
Petroleum : 27 10 19 10  0 0  650 KMF/litre  
550 KMF/litre  
345 KMF/litre  0 0 
   
  WT/ACC/COM/10/Rev.1  
- 13 - 
 
TABLE III  
STATE TRADING : NATIONAL HYDROCARBON CORPORATION (SCH)  
Statistical information, domestic activities  (2016, 2017, 2018) 
Description of product(s)  
(including HS number(s))  Domestic purchases by state 
trading enterprise  National production  Domestic sales by state 
trading enterprise  National consumption  
Gasoline : 27 10 12 20  
Gas oil : 27 10 19 20  
Petroleum : 27 10 19 10  0 0 Gasoline : 52 990 612  
Gas oil: 120 918 324  
Petroleum : 62 487 678  Gasoline : 52 990 612  
Gas oil : 120 918 452  
Petroleum : 62 487 678  
 
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