WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/L/336
22 October 1999
(99-4577)
REPORT (1999) OF THE COMMITTEE ON IMPORT LICENSING
TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS
1. The Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures (the Agreement) which entered  into force on
1 January 1995, establishes disciplines on users of import licensing systems with the principal
objective of ensuring that the procedures applied for granting import licences do not in themselvesrestrict trade.  It aims to simplify, clarify and minimize the administrative requirements necessary to
obtain import licences.
2. The Committee on Import Licensing (the Committee) was established to afford Members the
opportunity of consulting on any matters relating to the operation of the Agreement or the furtherance
of its objectives.
3. All Members of the WTO are ipso facto  members of the Committee.  Observer governments
in the General Council of the WTO have observer status in the Committee.  In addition,
representatives of the IMF, UNCTAD and the World Bank are invited to attend meetings of the
Committee in an observer capacity.
4. The Committee held two meetings on 29 April and 21 October 1999 (G/LIC/M/9 and 10).
The Committee at its meeting in April 1999 re-elected Mrs. Marie Gosset (Côte d'Ivoire) as
Chairperson and elected Mr. Lars Andersen (Norway) as Vice-Chairperson for 1999.  Pursuant to the
Committee's Rules of Procedure (G/L/147), they took office at the end of that meeting.
5. Pursuant to Articles 1.4(a) and/or 8.2(b) of the Agreement, all Members are required to notify
their laws, regulations and administrative procedures relevant to import licensing.  Since the entry into
force of the WTO Agreement, 61 Members (the European Communities and its member States
counted as one) have notified their legislation and/or publications under these provisions.  During theperiod covered by this report, the Committee received notifications from the following nine Members:
European Communities, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Latvia, Malawi, Romania, Tunisia and Turkey.
These notifications may be found in document series G/LIC/N/1/-.
6. Article 7.3 of the Agreement requires all Members to provide replies to the Questionnaire on
Import Licensing Procedures
1 by 30 September each year.  Since the entry into force of the WTO
Agreement, 59 Members (the European Communities and its member States counted as one) have
made notifications under this provision.  This includes replies to the Questionnaire from 11 Members
in 1995,  22 Members in 1996, 25 Members in 1997, 25 Members in 1998 and 19 Members in 1999.
During the period covered by this report, the Committee received notifications from Canada; Chile;
European Communities; Ghana; Hong Kong, China; India; Latvia; Malawi; Malta; Morocco;Namibia; Panama; Peru; Philippines; Romania; Sout h Africa; Tunisia; Turkey and Uruguay.  These
notifications may be found in document series G/LIC/N/3/-.
                                                     
1 Annexed to document G/LIC/3.G/L/336
Page 2
7. The Committee also received pursuant to Article 5 of the Agreement notifications relating to
the institution of new import licensing procedures or changes in these procedures from Argentina,
India, Malaysia and Romania.  These notificatio ns may be found in docum ent series G/LIC/N/2/-.
8. At its meeting on 29 April 1999, the Committee heard concerns expressed by several
Members regarding the compatibility with the Agreement of certain modifications introduced byBrazil in August 1998 to its non-automatic import licensing system which had yet to be notified to the
Committee (G/LIC/M/9).  At its meeting on 21 October 1999, the Committee was informed by the
European Communities that it had requested consultations with Brazil under, inter alia , the
Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures concerni ng these measures.  Switzerland indicated its
intention to join these consultations (G/LIC/M/10).
9. At its meeting on 29 April 1999, the Committee also took note of the response of the
Chairperson to the Chairman of the Council for Tr ade in Goods summarizing the discussion held in
the Committee, at informal and formal level, on the subject of trade facilitation (G/LIC/M/9 and
G/C/W/149, paragraph 7).
10. The Committee has provided a regular forum for the discussion of specific notifications
submitted by Members and of concerns regarding notifications.  It should be noted that the mandatory
notification requirements under Articles 1.4(a), 8.2(b) and 7.3 are complied with by only about 55 per
cent of the WTO Members.  The Annex reflects the current status of notifications.  In light of this
situation, the Chairperson, recognizing the im portance of notifications for the effective
implementation and functioning of the Agreement, urged Members to fulfil their notificationobligations.G/L/336
Page 3
ANNEX
Notifications
Members Footnote 5 to
Article 2.2 Two-
year delayed
application
(date of WTO
Membership)Articles 1.4.(a)/8.2.(b)
Publications/legislation
(date of latest communication)Article 7.3
Replies to Questionnaire -
Annual
(date of latest
communication)Article 5 - Ad hoc
(date of latest
communication)
Angola Not notified Not notified
Antigua & Barbuda Not notified Not notified
Argentina G/LIC/N/1/ARG/1-2
(19.12.97)G/LIC/N/3/ARG/1 + Corr.1
& ARG/2 (19.12.97)G/LIC/N/2/ARG/1-4 +
ARG/2/Rev.1,  ARG/5
(4.10.99)
Australia G/LIC/N/1/AUS/1 & Add.1
(28.4.97)G/LIC/N/3/AUS/1 & Rev.1
(28.4.97)
Bahrain G/LIC/N/1/BHR/1 (27.5.97) Not notified
Bangladesh G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) Not notified Not notified
Barbados G/LIC/N/1/BRB/1 (4.10.96) G/LIC/N/3/BRB/1 (15.9.95)
Belize Not notified Not notified
Benin G/LIC/N/1/BEN/1 (18.12.96) Not notified
Bolivia G/LIC/1/Add.2
(13.9.95)G/LIC/N/1/BOL/1 (29.5.97) G/LIC/N/3/BOL/1-2 +
Corr.1 (24.8.98)
Botswana Not notified Not notified
Brazil G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) G/LIC/N/1/BRA/1 (24.4. 98) G/LIC/N/3/BRA/1 (24.4.98) G/LIC/N/2/BRA/1
(24.4.98)
Brunei Darussalam Not notifie d G/LIC/N/3/BRN/1 (4.3.97)
Bulgaria G/LIC/N/1/BGR/1 (20.3.97) G/LIC/N/3/BGR/1 (20.3.97)
Burkina Faso G/LIC/1/Add.1
(3.6.95)G/LIC/N/1/BFA/1 (8.1.97) G/LIC/N/3/BFA/1 (8.1.97)
Burundi Not notified Not notified
Cameroon G/LIC/1/Add.3
(13.12.95)Not notified Not notified
Canada G/LIC/N/1/CAN/1 (29.1.96) G/LIC/N/3/CAN/1-3
(2.9.99)
Central African Rep. Not notified Not notified
Chad G/LIC/N/1/TCD/1 (22.7.98) Not notified
Chile G/LIC/N/1/CHL/1 (16.7.96) G/LIC/N/3/CHL/1 &
Adds.1-2 (3.2.99)
Colombia G/LIC/1 (30.4.95) G/LIC/N/1/COL/1 (12.1.96) G/LIC/N/3/COL/1 & Add.1
(2.11.96)
Congo Not notified Not notified
Costa Rica G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) G/LIC/N/1/CRI/1 (21.11.95) G/LIC/N/3/CRI/1-2 (7.5.98)
Côte d'Ivoire G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) Not notified Not notified
Cuba G/LIC/N/1/CUB/1 (11.1.96) Not notified
Cyprus G/LIC/N/1/CYP/1 (30.5.96) G/LIC/N/3/CYP/1+ Rev.1 &
CYP/2 (28.8.98)
Czech Republic G/LIC/N/1/CZE/1 (28.10.98) Not notified
Dem Rep. of Congo Not notified Not notified
Djibouti Not notified Not notified
Dominica Not notified Not notified
Dominican Rep. G/LIC/1/Add.2
(9.3.95)Not notified Not notified
Ecuador Not notified G/LIC/N/3/ECU/1 (1.8.95)
Egypt Not notified Not notified
El Salvador G/LIC/1 (7.5.95) Not notified Not notified
European
CommunitiesG/LIC/N/1/EEC/1/Rev.2
&Adds.1-2 & EEC/2 + Add.1(14.1.99)G/LIC/N/3/EEC/1 + Add.1
& EEC/2 + Adds.1-27(28.9.99)G/LIC/N/2/EEC/1-2
(4.7.97)
Fiji G/LIC/N/1/FJI/1 (30.7.97) G/LIC/N/3/FJI/1 (1.4.97)
Gabon G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) Not notified Not notifiedG/L/336
Page 4
Members Footnote 5 to
Article 2.2 Two-
year delayed
application
(date of WTO
Membership)Articles 1.4.(a)/8.2.(b)
Publications/legislation
(date of latest communication)Article 7.3
Replies to Questionnaire -
Annual
(date of latest
communication)Article 5 - Ad hoc
(date of latest
communication)
Gambia Not notified G/LIC/N/3/GMB/1
(31.10.97)
Ghana Not notified G/LIC/N/3/GHA/1 (28.4.99)
Grenada Not notified Not notified
Guatemala G/LIC/1/Add.1
(21.7.95)G/LIC/N/1/GTM/1
(19.10.99)Not notified
Guinea Not notified Not notified
Guinea Bissau Not notified Not notified
Guyana Not notified Not notified
Haiti Not notified G/LIC/N/3/HTI/1 (27.2.98)
Honduras G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) G/LIC/N/1/HND/1 (31.10.96) Not notified
Hong Kong, China G/LIC/N /1/HKG/1-4 (20.4.98) G/LIC/N/3/HKG/1 + Rev.1-
2, HKG/2-3+Corr.1
(30.9.99)G/LIC/N/2/HKG/1-2
(27.1.98)
Hungary G/LIC/N/1/HUN/1-2 (19.1.98) G/LIC/N/3/HUN/1-2
(19.1.98)G/LIC/N/2/HUN/1
(19.1.98)
Iceland G/LIC/N/1/ISL/1 (8.1.99) G/LIC/N/3/ISL/1 (1.9.98)
India G/LIC/N/1/IND/1/Rev.1 +
IND/2 (6.9.99)G/LIC/N/3/IND/1-3
(14.10.99)G/LIC/N/2/IND/1-2
(6.9.99)
Indonesia G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) G/LIC/N/1/IDN/1 (27.10.98) G/LIC/N/3/IDN/1 (27.10.98)
Israel Not notified Not notified
Jamaica G/LIC/N/1/JAM/1 (1.7.96) G/LIC/N/3/JAM/1 (29.5.98)
Japan G/LIC/N/1/JPN/1 &
JPN/2/Rev.1 (7.1.97)G/LIC/N/3/JPN/1 + Corr.1
(2.4.98)G/LIC/N/2/JPN/1-2
(18.8.98)
Kenya G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) G/LIC/N/3/KEN/1 (10.11.97) G/LIC/N/3/KEN/1
(10.11.97)
Korea G/LIC/N/1/KOR/1-3 (3 .4.98) G/LIC/N/3/KOR/1-2
(6.4.98)
Kuwait Not notified Not notified
Kyrgyz Republic Not notified Not notified
Latvia G/LIC/N/1/LVA/1 (18.5.99) G/LIC/N/3/LVA/1 (18.5.99)
Lesotho Not notified Not notified
Liechtenstein G/LIC/N/1/LIE/1 (18.4.97) G/LIC/N/3/LIE/1 + Add.1
(9.11.98)G/LIC/N/2/LIE/1
(18.4.97)
Macau Not notified G/LIC/N/3/MAC/1
(30.11.98)
Madagascar G/LIC/N/1/MDG/1 (28.1.98) Not notified
Malawi G/LIC/N/1/MWI/1 (10.5.99) G/LIC/N/3/MWI/1 (10.5.99)
Malaysia G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) Not notified G/LIC /N/3/MYS/1 (4.12.97) G/LIC/N/2/MYS/1-2
(21.7.99)
Maldives Not notified Not notified
Mali Not notified G/LIC/N/3/MLI/1 (9.5.97)
Malta G/LIC/N/1/MLT/1 (29.5.96) G/LIC/N/3/MLT/1-2 +
MLT/2/Corr.1 (30.6.99)
Mauritania Not notified Not notified
Mauritius G/LIC/N/1/MUS/1 & Adds.1-
3 (4.5.98)G/LIC/N/3/MUS/1 (2.11.95)
Mexico Not notified Not notified G/LIC/N/2/MEX/1
(16.10.98)
Mongolia Not notified Not notified
Morocco G/LIC/N/1/MAR/1 (3.7.96) G/LIC/N/3/MAR/1-2 +
MAR/2/Add.1 (18.2.99)
Mozambique Not notified Not notified
Myanmar G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) Not notified Not notified
Namibia Not notified G/LIC/N/3/NAM/1-2
(22.6.99)G/L/336
Page 5
Members Footnote 5 to
Article 2.2 Two-
year delayed
application
(date of WTO
Membership)Articles 1.4.(a)/8.2.(b)
Publications/legislation
(date of latest communication)Article 7.3
Replies to Questionnaire -
Annual
(date of latest
communication)Article 5 - Ad hoc
(date of latest
communication)
New Zealand G/LIC/N/1/NZL/1 (2.8.96) G/LIC/N/3/NZL/1 + Add.1
(24.3.98)
Nicaragua G/LIC/N/1/NIC/1 (18.7.96) Not notified
Niger G/LIC/N/1/NER/1 (10.12.97) Not notified
Nigeria G/LIC/N/1/NGA/1 (16.2.98) G/LIC/N/3/NGA/1-2
(16.2.98)G/LIC/N/2/NGA/1-2
(16.2.98)
Norway G/LIC/N/1/NOR/1-2 (3.11.97) G/LIC/N/3/NOR/1 + Corr.1
& NOR/2 + Add.1 (2.11.98)
Pakistan G/LIC/N/1/PAK/1 (6.5.96) Not notified G/LIC/N/2/PAK/1
(6.5.96)
Panama G/LIC/N/1/PAN/1-2
(19.10.98)G/LIC/N/3/PAN/1 (22.1.99) G/LIC/N/2/PAN/1 (21.
7.98)
Papua New Guinea Not notified Not notified G/LIC/N/2/PNG/1
(6.2.98)
Paraguay Not notified Not notified
Peru G/LIC/N/1/PER/1 (13.2.96) G/LIC/N/3/PER/1-2 +
Add. 1 (4.10.99)
Philippines G/LIC/N/1/PHL/1 (6.4.98) G/LIC/N/3/PHL/1-3
(11.10.99)
Poland Not notified G/LIC/N/3/POL/1 (7.10.97)
Qatar G/LIC/N/1/QAT/1 (24.3.98) G/LIC/N/3/QAT/1 (24.3.98)
Romania G/LIC/N/1/ROM/1-2 (1.3.99) G/LIC/N/3/ROM/1-2
(6.7.99)G/LIC/N/2/ROM/1-2
(6.7.99)
Rwanda Not notified Not notified
St. Kitts & Nevis G/LIC/N/1/K NA/1 (17.7.98) Not notified
St. Lucia Not notified Not notified
St. Vincent &
GrenadinesNot notified Not notified
Senegal Not notified G/LIC/N/3/SEN/1 (20.1.97)
Sierra Leone Not notified Not notified
Singapore G/LIC/N/1/SGP/1-2 (2.11.98) G/LIC/N/3/SGP/1-2
(17.11.97)G/LIC/N/2/SGP/1
(2.11.98)
Slovak Republic Not notified Not notified
Slovenia G/LIC/N/1/SVN/1 (27.11.96) G/LIC/N/3/SVN/1 (6.6.97)
Solomon Islands Not notified Not notified
South Africa Not notified G/LIC/N/3/ZAF/1-2
(23.9.99)G/LIC/N/2/ZAF/1
(9.7.97)
Sri Lanka G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) Not notified Not notified
Suriname Not notified Not notified
Swaziland G/LIC/N/1/SWZ/1 (19.8.96) Not notified
Switzerland G/LIC/N/1/CHE/1 (14.4.97) G/LIC/N/3/CHE/1-2
(28.10.98)G/LIC/N/2/CHE/1
(14.4.97)
Tanzania Not notified Not notified
Thailand G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) Not notified Not notified
Togo Not notified Not notified
Trinidad & Tobago G/LIC/N/1/TTO/1 (28.10.98) G/LIC/N/3/TTO/1-2
(28.10.98)
Tunisia G/LIC/1 (29.3.95) G/LIC/N/1/TUN/1 +  Add.1
(21.1.99)G/LIC/N/3/TUN/1-2
(21.1.99)
Turkey G/LIC/1 (26.3.95) G/LIC/N/1/TUR/1,
TUR/2/Rev.1 & TUR/3
(29.6.99)G/LIC/N/3/TUR/1-2 +
TUR/2/Corr.1 & TUR/3
(29.6.99)
Uganda G/LIC/N/1/UGA/1 (16.8.96) G/LIC/N/3/UGA/1 (17.6.97)
United ArabEmiratesG/LIC/1/Add.3
(10.4.96)G/LIC/N/1/ARE/1 (19.3.97) Not notifiedG/L/336
Page 6
Members Footnote 5 to
Article 2.2 Two-
year delayed
application
(date of WTO
Membership)Articles 1.4.(a)/8.2.(b)
Publications/legislation
(date of latest communication)Article 7.3
Replies to Questionnaire -
Annual
(date of latest
communication)Article 5 - Ad hoc
(date of latest
communication)
United States G/LIC/N/1/USA/1 & Rev.1
(1.10.96)G/LIC/N/3/USA/1-2
(1.10.98)
Uruguay G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) G/LIC/N/1/URY/1 (4.9.96) G/LIC/N/3/URY/1 + Add.1
(27.1.99)
Venezuela G/LIC/1 (1.1.95) Not notified Not notified
Zambia Not notified Not notified
Zimbabwe G/LIC/N/1/ZWE/1-2 (21.9.98) G/LIC/N/3/ZWE/1 (21.9.98)
TOTAL NOTIFIED 24 61 59 18
__________