 
  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/LIC/N/3/ARM/1 
11 December 2003 
 
 (03-6560) 
Committee on Import Licensing Original:   English 
  
 
REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES
1 
 
Notification under Article 7.3 of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures  
 
ARMENIA 
 
 
 The following communication, dated 24 N ovember 2003, has been received from the 
delegation of Armenia.  
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Outline of system  
 
 
1. Imports of botanical collections and separate samples, as well as wild animals, zoological 
collections and separate samples are regulated by Government Decree No. 1173 of 18 July 2002 "On 
Order of Export from and Import to the Republic of  Armenia of Botanical Collections and Separate 
Samples" and Government Decree No. 1174 of 18 Ju ly 2002 "On Order of Export from and Import to 
the Republic of Armenia of Wild Animals, Z oological Collections and Separate Samples".  
 
Purposes and coverage of licensing  
 2. The permits shall be given for imports of: 
(a) Botanical collections and separate samples,  
(b) Wild animals, zoological collections and separate samples. 
 
3. The system applies to goods origina ting in and coming from all countries. 
 4. The system is aimed to protect, preserve and eff ectively utilize biodiversity of the Republic of 
Armenia, ensure the protection of biosafety of na tural ecosystems as well as peculiar and diverse gene 
pools, composing the national wealth of the Republic of Armenia. 
 
5.  Imports of botanical collections and separate samples, as well as wild animals, zoological 
collections and separate samples are regulated by Government Decree No. 1173 of 18 July 2002 "On 
Order of Export from and Import to the Republic of  Armenia of Botanical Collections and Separate 
Samples", published in Official Bulletin No. 36 of 28 August, 2002, Government Decree No. 1174 of 
18 July 2002 "On Order of Export from and Import to the Republic of Armenia of Wild Animals, 
Zoological Collections and Separate Samples", publis hed in Official Bulletin No. 36 of 28 August 
2002, Law "On Fauna", Law "On Flora" of the Repu blic of Armenia, Convention on Biodiversity and 
Protocol on Biosafety attached to Convention on Biodiversity. Permits for imports of botanical 
collections and separate samples, wild animals, z oological collections and separate samples are issued 
                                                     
 
1 See document G/LIC/3, Annex, for the Questionnaire. G/LIC/N/3/ARM/1 
Page 2  
 
 by the Ministry of Nature Protection of the Republic  of Armenia. The system could not be abolished 
without legislative approval.     Procedures
 
 
6. No quantitative restrictions. 
7. Where there is no quantitative limit on importa tion of a product or on imports from a   
particular country: 
(a)  The application for permit may be submitted to the Ministry of Nature Protection at any time. 
Beginning from the date of submission of all nece ssary documents by the applicant, at a stated 
period, which must not exceed 10 days, the Mi nistry of Nature Protection processes the 
application for permit and makes appropriate decision.   
(b)  There are no circumstances under which the permit can be granted immediately on request. 
(c)  There are no limitations as to the period of  the year during which application for permit and 
/or importation may be made. The application fo r permit may be submitted to the Ministry of 
Nature Protection at any time. 
(d)  Only the Ministry of Nature Protection pr ocesses the application for a permit and the importer 
has to apply only to the Ministry of Nature Protection. 
8. The application for permit shall be dismissed if: 
 (a)  The applicant failed to submit the required doc uments or the submitted information is false. 
(b)  The wild animals or wild plants mentioned in  application are registered in importing countries 
as well as in International Red B ooks as rare and endangered species. 
 
The reasons for dismissal are given to the applicant in written form. 
Decision on dismissal of an application may be appealed according to judicial procedures or 
may be appealed to higher authorities. 
Eligibility of importers to apply for licence
 
 9. All legal and natural persons ar e eligible to apply for permit. 
Documentational and other require ments for application for licence
 
 
10. The application for permit2 should specify the name and address of legal or natural person, the 
name and type as well as the quantity and weight of wild animal or wild plant, the place and time of 
acquisition, the place and purpose of exportation or importation. 
11. Only the permit for import, given by the Mini stry of Nature Protection, is required upon 
actual importation. 
 
12.  There is no licensing fee or administrative charge. 
                                                      
2 Available for consultation in the Secretariat (Market Access Division) (in English only).  G/LIC/N/3/ARM/1 
 Page 3 
 
 
 13.  There is no deposit or advance payment require ment associated with the issuance of permit.  
Conditions of licensing  
 14. Permit is a non-recurrent document, issued fo r a period of time needed for import of 
respective plant, animal or collection. The valid ity of a permit cannot be extended, therefore the 
natural or legal person shall a pply for a new permit in accordance with procedures prescribed by 
Government Decree No. 1174 and Government Decree No. 1173. 
 15. There is no penalty for the non-utilization of permit or a portion of it. 
 
16. Permits are not transferable between importers. 
 17. There are no other conditions attach ed to the issuance of permit. 
 18. There are no other administrative procedures, required prior to importation. 
 
19. Not applicable.  
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