Sri Lanka Member profile
No notifications submitted by Sri Lanka
Trade policy review
Latest Trade Policy Review (Report by the WTO Secretariat): WT/TPR/S/347/Rev.1
A. Import prohibitions and restrictions and import licensing
3.38.
On account of health, safety, security, environment, and moral reasons, Sri Lanka imposes import restrictions on a range of products. These include: appliances for discharging gas; crackers that contain explosives; firearms; toy pistols; counterfeited coins; fish, grain, and other articles unfit for human consumption; meat (fresh or frozen) derived from any warm-blooded animal, if it consists of offal, scraps, trimmings and other pieces in such condition as to afford insufficient means of identification with a definite part of a carcass, or from which certain glands have been removed; road vehicles; and agricultural and construction machinery, more than ten years old[80]; guns designed to be disguised; weapons, ammunition, explosives, vehicles and equipment capable of being used by the armed forces, except by licence from the Ministry of Defence; jewellery or articles made out of ivory; and some medicaments and chemicals.
3.39.
Imports of articles and books that are deemed obscene or that may offend religious beliefs, and of narcotic drugs are prohibited.
3.40.
The list of restricted imports may be amended by Parliament. The current list of controlled and prohibited imports is detailed in the Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka No. 1813/14 of 5 June 2013.
3.41.
The import and export licensing system in Sri Lanka is governed by the Imports and Exports (Control) Act No. 1 of 1969 and subsequent amendments and regulations published under the Act as Extraordinary Gazette Notifications. These have all been notified to the WTO.[81] The Extraordinary Gazette Notifications list the goods subject to import licensing.
3.42.
There is no automatic licensing in Sri Lanka. Non-automatic licensing is primarily for the purpose of safeguarding environmental, public security and public health interests. The system applies to goods originating and coming from all countries. Furthermore, there are no products under quantitative or value-based restrictions except for the chemical varieties detailed in Schedule I of the Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (Extraordinary) No. 1821/40 of 1 August 2013. The system is administered by the Import and Export Control Department.
3.43.
Licences are issued in a week; requests for licences are considered on a "first come, first served" basis. Licences are usually granted a month prior to the importation. However, applications for a licence may be made up to a week before importation and licences may be obtained within a shorter time limit for goods arriving at the port without a licence. Certain licences, such as block licences with one-year validity for the import of drugs, require past performance (importers need to have imported drugs during the past three years). In some cases, licences may be issued on condition that the goods are exported and not sold in the domestic market. This situation is applicable only to imports made by companies approved by the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka as operating in export-oriented industries.
3.44.
Under the provisions of the Imports and Exports (Control) Act (Schedule II of the Gazette (Extraordinary) No. 1739/3 of 2 January 2012), the following entities are eligible to apply for an import licence: any individual, or an individual trading, in his/her own name or under a business name; firm, partnership or other entity that is registered in Sri Lanka; public companies and private companies that are incorporated in Sri Lanka under the Companies Act No. 7 of 2007; and non-nationals that have a valid visa to reside in Sri Lanka. Licence fees vary depending on the product. There is no penalty for the non-use of a licence or a portion of it. Licences are not transferable between importers. The validity period of licences varies depending on the commodity. Blanket licences are also being issued for some selected commodities such as certain drugs and some petroleum products. The number of extensions will depend on the justification provided by importers. The validity period of the licences can be extended a maximum of three times and is subject to a maximum period of one year. Conditions of the licence also require that free trade samples should be limited to 10% of the trade stock. An analysis report from the manufacturer is specially requested for "Western drugs". This report should provide information on composition and ingredients, strength of packaging, date of manufacturing and expiry, side effects etc. Additionally special conditions may apply depending on the commodity; these include a letter of recommendation from the respective authorities.
3.45.
In case of refusal, the applicant has a right of appeal under paragraph 11 of the Imports and Exports (Control) Act to the Minister concerned.
B. Export prohibitions and restrictions
3.76.
The export of certain goods is prohibited on grounds of public health, and the protection of endangered species and the environment. Some export restrictions are maintained in accordance with UN sanctions or international conventions (e.g. CITES). According to the authorities, currently there are no export bans under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act.
3.77.
The export of explosives is prohibited under the Explosives Ordinance (Chap. 633). Exports of drugs are forbidden under the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Chap. 549). Exports of flora and fauna listed in Appendix I of the CITES are banned and exports of Cinchona bark, in any form, are prohibited under Schedule "B" of the Customs Ordinance.
3.78.
There are 13 products that require licences, permits or certificates for export. These are issued by various ministries and departments.[107] In addition, as per the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 1627/02 dated 9 November 2009, there are four items under licence control, which require an export licence issued by the Controller of Imports and Exports prior to export. These are metal waste, scraps, dusts, ingots, scales, etc.; wood and articles of woods; motor vehicles registered before 1 January 1948; and ivory and ivory products.
WTO's environmental database (EDB)
The EDB contains environment-related measures that may qualify as QRs and therefore should be notified under the QR Decision.