World Trade Organization

Import Licensing Procedures

Sustancias Químicas Industriales

Document symbol
G/LIC/N/3/DOM/9
Original language
Spanish
Published on
21/11/2024

Outline of Systems

Q1. Give a brief description of each licensing system as a whole and, with respect to each, reply to the following questions as relevant, placing all of the material with respect to a given system in sequence together, and using cross references as appropriate when elements which have already been described are also present in another system.

Este procedimiento aplica a todas las solicitudes de autorización de importación de sustancias químicas industriales emitida por el Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (MMARN) y el Departamento de Aduanas Verdes de la Dirección General de Aduanas (DGA).

Purposes and Coverage of Licensing

Q2. Identify each licensing system maintained and state what products, appropriately grouped, are covered.

Certificado de Importación de Sustancias Químicas Industriales: Autorización para desaduanar la importación de productos o sustancias químicas que no están prohibidas en República Dominicana.

Q3. The system applies to goods originating in and coming from which countries?

El procedimiento se aplica a todos los países del mundo con los cuales la República Dominicana posee relaciones comerciales y están regidos por el Protocolo de Montreal.

Q4. Is the licensing intended to restrict the quantity or value of imports, and if not, what are its purposes? Have alternative methods of accomplishing the purposes been considered and if so which? Why have they not been adopted?

No. La finalidad es establecer los lineamientos para controlar las actividades, los responsables y los tiempos de respuestas establecidos para tramitar por la Ventanilla Unica de Comercio Exterior (VUCE).

Q5. Cite the law, regulation and/or administrative order under which the licensing is maintained. Is the licensing statutorily required? Does the legislation leave designation of products to be subjected to licensing to administrative discretion? Is it possible for the government (or the executive branch) to abolish the system without legislative approval?

Procedures

Q6. For products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports (whether applicable globally or to a limited number of countries or whether established bilaterally or unilaterally):

N/A

Q6.I. Is information published, and where, concerning allocation of quotas and formalities of filing applications for licences? If not, how is it brought to the attention of possible importers? Of governments and export promotion bodies of exporting countries and their trade representatives? Is the overall amount published? The amount allocated to goods from each country? The maximum amount allocated to each importer? How to request any exceptions or derogations from the licensing requirement?

N/A

Q6.II. How is the size of the quotas determined: on a yearly, six-monthly or quarterly basis? Are there cases where the size of quota is determined on a yearly basis but licences are issued for imports on a six-monthly or quarterly basis? In the latter case, is it necessary for importers to apply for fresh licence on a six-monthly or quarterly basis?

N/A

Q6.III. Are licences allotted for certain goods partly or only to domestic producers of like goods? What steps are taken to ensure that licences allocated are actually used for imports? Are unused allocations added to quotas for a succeeding period? Are the names of importers to whom licences have been allocated made known to governments and export promotion bodies of exporting countries upon request? If not, for what reason? (Indicate products to which replies relate.)

N/A

Q6.IV. From the time of announcing the opening of quotas, as indicated in I above, what is the period of time allowed for the submission of applications for licences?

N/A

Q6.V. What are the minimum and maximum lengths of time for processing applications?

N/A

Q6.VI. How much time remains, at a minimum, between the granting of licences and the date of opening of the period of importation?

N/A

Q6.VII. Is consideration of licence applications effected by a single administrative organ? Or must the application be passed on to other organs for visa, note or approval? If so, which? Does the importer have to approach more than one administrative organ?

N/A

Q6.VIII. If the demand for licences cannot be fully satisfied, on what basis is the allocation to applicants made? First come, first served? Past performance? Is there a maximum amount to be allocated per applicant and, if so, on what basis is it determined? What provision is made for new importers? Are applications examined simultaneously or on receipt?

N/A

Q6.IX. In the case of bilateral quotas or export restraint arrangements where export permits are issued by exporting countries, are import licences also required? If so, are licences issued automatically?

N/A

Q6.X. In cases where imports are allowed on the basis of export permits only, how is the importing country informed of the effect given by the exporting countries to the understanding between the two countries?

N/A

Q6.XI. Are there products for which licences are issued on condition that goods should be exported and not sold in the domestic market?

N/A

Q7. Where there is no quantitative limit on importation of a product or on imports from a particular country:

Q7.a. How far in advance of importation must application for a licence be made? Can licences be obtained within a shorter time-limit or for goods arriving at the port without a licence (for example, owing to inadvertency)?

 Quince (15) días antes de que el producto o sustancia llegue al país.

Q7.b. Can a licence be granted immediately on request?

N/A

Q7.c. Are there any limitations as to the period of the year during which application for licence and/or importation may be made? If so, explain.

N/A

Q7.d. Is consideration of licence applications effected by a single administrative organ? Or must the application be passed on to other organs for visa, note or approval? If so, which? Does the importer have to approach more than one administrative organ?

Sí, el Viceministerio de Gestión Ambiental del Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (MMARN). 

Q8. Under what circumstances may an application for a licence be refused other than failure to meet the ordinary criteria? Are the reasons for any refusal given to the applicant? Have applicants a right of appeal in the event of refusal to issue a licence and, if so, to what bodies and under what procedures?

Una solicitud puede ser rechazada si:

  • Se importarán sustancias químicas enlistados en los convenios de Basilea,Rotterdam, Estocolmo y Minamata, siempre y cuando la sustancia a importar ya no se encuentre dentro de los plazos permitidos de importación de dichos convenios.
  • Se importarán sustancias perjudicantes para la salud y el medio ambiente, las cuales se encuentren presentes en las legislaciones nacionales vigentes.

En caso de rechazar cualquier solicitud, se le informara a la persona o empresa importadora la razón por la cual su solicitud es detenida o negada.

Eligibility of Importers to Apply for Licence

Q9. Are all persons, firms and institutions eligible to apply for licences: (If not, is there a system of registration of persons or firms permitted to engage in importation? What persons or firms are eligible? Is there a registration fee? Is there a published list of authorized importers?) a) under restrictive licensing systems? b) under non-restrictive systems?

Es requerido que estas sean solicitadas por empresas e instituciones, excluyendo personas jurídicas.

Documentational and Other Requirements for Application for Licence

Q10. What information is required in applications? Submit a sample form. What documents is the importer required to supply with the application?

  • Depositar solicitud en la Dirección de Servicios de Autorizaciones Ambientales (Ventanilla Única) junto a los documentos exigidos para importar. 
  • La solicitud es tramitada al Viceministerio de Gestión Ambiental.
  • La Dirección de Calidad Ambiental recibe la solicitud y la documentación requerida para la importación de sustancias peligrosas, tóxicas o controladas por convenios. Anexo a la misma recibirá la hoja de seguridad del producto.
  • El Departamento de Gestión de Sustancias Químicas y Residuos Peligrosos lo asigna a un analista de gestión para su evaluación, de acuerdo a la hoja de seguridad del producto y al listado de sustancias químicas prohibidas y/o restringidas según leyes y resoluciones dominicanas.
  • Se procede a elaborar una comunicación dirigida al solicitante y a la firma del viceministro (a) de Gestión Ambiental otorgando la autorización, si es competencia del Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, o negándola, si es competencia de otro ministerio.
  • Cuando la autorización de importación sea competencia de otro ministerio, se le informará al ministerio correspondiente.

Q11. What documents are required upon actual importation?

  • Ficha técnica de la sustancia a importar
  • Cantidad
  • Análisis físico-químico
  • Empresa de comercialización
  • Puerto de embarque
  • Factura Proforma
  • Comunicación de solicitud dirigida al Viceministerio de Gestión Ambiental, quince (15) días antes de que el producto o sustancia llegue al país.
  • Hoja de seguridad del producto.
  • Número de CAS (Designación numérica asignada a sustancias químicas por el Servicio de Resúmenes Químicos (CAS) de EE. UU.)
  • Permiso de salud emitido por el Ministerio de Salud Pública (si aplica).
  • Autorización del Ministerio de Agricultura (si aplica).
  • Autorización del Ministerio de Defensa (si aplica).
  • Licencia ambiental o proyecto registrado en MMARN.

Q12. Is there any licensing fee or administrative charge? If so, what is the amount of the fee or charge?

No. 

Q13. Is there any deposit or advance payment requirement associated with the issue of licences? If so, state the amount or rate, whether it is refundable, the period of retention and the purpose of the requirement.

No. 

Conditions of Licensing

Q14. What is the period of validity of a licence? Can the validity of a licence be extended? How?

Una licencia o certificado de importación después de ser aprobada puede utilizarse hasta los seis (6) meses, y puede ser prorrogada en caso de haber presentado algún problema en el transcurso del embarque de debe ser notificado por escrito al Ministerio a través de una comunicación o email.

Q15. Is there any penalty for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of a licence?

N/A

Q16. Are licences transferable between importers? If so, are any limitations or conditions attached to such transfer?

N/A

Q17. Are any other conditions attached to the issue of a licence? a) for products subject to quantitative restriction? b) for products not subject to quantitative restriction?

Para los productos que se encuentran listados en los anexos de algún Convenio, estos casos deben ser reportado a la secretaria del convenio, y se le requiere un documento otorgado por la Secretaría del convenio.

Other Procedural Requirements

Q18. Are there any other administrative procedures, apart from import licensing and similar administrative procedures, required prior to importation?

N/A

Q19. Is foreign exchange automatically provided by the banking authorities for goods to be imported? Is a licence required as a condition to obtaining foreign exchange? Is foreign exchange always available to cover licences issued? What formalities must be fulfilled for obtaining the foreign exchange?

Las empresas autorizadas realizan sus transacciones para el pago de sus contingentes mediante conexión internet banking con la empresa exportadora, bajo las regulaciones de la banca internacional y las legislaciones locales.