WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/LIC/N/3/ECU/2
20 December 2002
(02-7030)
Committee on Import Licensing Original:  Spanish
REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES1
Notification under Article 7.3 of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures
ECUADOR
The following notification, dated 25 October 2002, has been received from the Permanent
Mission of Ecuador.
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Outline of systems
1. Ecuador applies a system of prior licensing, consisting in the selection of a specific number of
items requiring prior authorization in advance of clearance for domestic consumption.  Beforeobtaining an import licence, it is necessary to complete a declaration on the appropriate form and
submit it to the competent institution for analysis and approval.
Purposes and coverage of licensing
2. The import licensing system applied in Ecuador is set out in COMEXI Resolution No. 020,
which is given in Annex No.1.2
3. The licensing requirement for products identified in the above-mentioned Resolution 020 is
applied independently of the source from which the product originates.
4. The prior authorization procedure is designed to protect health, public morality, the
environment and essential safety interests.
5. The text currently in force is Resolution 020 of the Foreign Trade and Investment Council
(COMEXI), published in Official Journal No. 228 of 7 July 1999, which contains a list of goodssubject to an import ban and of goods requiring prior authorization for import;  compliance is
mandatory and the list of products may only be  modified by the above-mentioned organization,
subject to prior consultation with the relevant bodies.  Revocation of the list is the responsibility of
COMEXI.
Procedures
6.I The list of products subject to an import ban and of those subject to prior licensing is
published in the Official Journal, which is the official organ of the Ecuadorian Government.
                                                     
1 See Document G/LIC/3, Annex, for the questionnaire.
2 Available for consultation in the Secretar iat (Market Access Division) (Spanish only).G/LIC/N/3/ECU/2
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II. The products covered by this type of authorization are not subject to quotas.
III. Prior authorizations are issued to any natural or legal person on request.  Because this is a
provision published in the Official Journal, it is available to the general public, including diplomatic
missions accredited in Ecuador.
IV. In the case of Ecuador the opening of quotas does not apply.V. Applications for prior authorization are processed in an average of three days.
VI. Once prior authorization has been obtained, importation may be effected immediately.
VII. As is stated in COMEXI Resolution 020, it is the responsibility of the competent body to issue
the corresponding import authorization, without it being necessary to refer the application to another
administrative body.
VIII. Prior authorizations are issued independently of the number of applications received by the
competent body, which are examined as and when they are received.
IX. There are no bilateral quotas.
X-XI. Not applicable in Ecuador.
7.(a) Generally speaking, Ecuadorian importers submit an application prior to shipment of the
goods in the exporting country.
(b) Yes, immediate processing is possibl e, where the circumstances so require.
(c) There are no limitations.
(d) Licence applications are processed by the relevant body, depending on the product concerned.
8. Applications are rejected when they do not fulfil  the criteria referred to in paragraph 4 of this
document.
Eligibility of importers to apply for a licence
9. All natural or legal persons are entitled to apply for an import authorization, only in the cases
referred to in the above-mentioned COMEXI Resolution 020.
There is no limitation or registration of authorized persons or firms.
Documentational and other requirements for licence applications
10. The information that must be contained in the licensing application form is the same as the
information required in the document used for import authorization.3
11. The single import document is required, which must be accompanied by the commercial
invoice, the note requesting a licence and, where necessary, the prior import authorization, as well as
quality certificates.
12. Not applicable in Ecuador.
                                                     
3 Available for consultation in the Secretar iat (Market Access Division) (Spanish only).G/LIC/N/3/ECU/2
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Conditions of licensing
13. The cost associated with import authorizations varies according to the institution responsible
for granting them, and ranges from $5 to $20, according to the product and the quantity imported.
This amount is not refundable since it is usually used for self-management purposes by the issuing
bodies.
14. There is no time-limit for the validity of a licence.
15. No penalties are applied.
16. Licences granted to an importer are not transferable.
17.(a)-(b)   Not applicable in Ecuador.
Other procedural requirements
18. There are no prior administrative procedures, apart from the authorizations referred to in
COMEXI Resolution 020.
19. Under the exchange rate system applied in Ecuador, based on the use of the dollar as the
currency in everyday use, the importer may freely use foreign exchange to carry out foreign trade
transactions.
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