World Trade Organization

Import Licensing Procedures

Productos químicos (sustancias degradantes del ozono)

Document symbol
G/LIC/N/3/CRI/19
Original language
Spanish
Published on
13/01/2023

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.

Se requieren permisos de importación para algunos productos químicos, con el objetivo de proteger la vida o la salud humana, animal o vegetal, así como cumplir las obligaciones establecidas en tratados internacionales.

Purposes and Coverage of Licensing

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

Sustancias degradantes del ozono

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

Aplica a todos los países, independientemente de su procedencia.

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?

La finalidad de estas licencias no es limitar ni la cantidad ni el valor de las importaciones, sino intensificar el control de las importaciones de ciertos productos químicos, con el fin de cumplir los objetivos mencionados en la pregunta #1.

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?

Las leyes y/o reglamentos según procedimiento son los siguientes:
Autorización de importación, exportación o reexportación de la Comisión Gubernamental del Ozono.
• Ley N° 7808 del 11 de junio de 1998.
• Ley N° 7228 del 6 de mayo de 1991.

El trámite de licencias es legalmente obligatorio para los productos enumerados en los textos legislativos pertinentes que también determinan la cobertura de productos sin dejarla a la discrecionalidad de la administración.

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)?

Los trámites de solicitud de licencia deben presentarse antes de que el producto llegue a despacho. La solicitud de información se puede hacer a través de la VUCE, mientras que la solicitud de inspección se debe hacer en el punto de ingreso. En el caso de que un importador no haya realizado los trámites para la solicitud de licencia de previo a la importación, y la mercancía ya llegó a puerto, esta permanecerá en el almacén fiscal hasta cumplir con los requisitos de importación. No obstante, puede darse el caso de que el producto no cumpla con todos los requisitos, por lo tanto, su ingreso al país no será permitido.

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

Se puede solicitar una revalidación de la licencia en el caso de los tránsitos que duran más de 30 días, no obstante, se requiere volver a pagar el certificado.

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.

No existen limitaciones en cuanto al período del año en que puede presentarse la solicitud de licencia o efectuarse la importación.

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?

Costa Rica cuenta con la Ventanilla Única de Comercio Exterior (VUCE), que es el organismo encargado de velar por la centralización y simplificación de los trámites de importación y exportación. Los importadores pueden acceder a dicho sistema para realizar la mayoría de los trámites en línea en el siguiente enlace:
https://vuce20.procomer.go.cr/SIVUCEv2/Views/Login/loginOn.aspx

Como se mencionó al inicio de este documento, existe la VUCE la cual centraliza la mayoría de los trámites de importación. Los temas de verificación y otros son responsabilidad de cada institución.

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?

En principio no se rechazan solicitudes de licencia bajo otras circunstancias que no sea el cumplimiento de los criterios establecidos en cada reglamento. Asimismo, los importadores deben estar al día con el pago de las cargas sociales y otros cargos de conformidad con la legislación nacional. La resolución de cada conflicto en caso de denegación de licencia se resuelve caso por caso, dependiendo de la institución a cargo.

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?

Todas las personas/importadores tienen derecho a solicitar las autorizaciones de importación, incluidas personas físicas, jurídicas e incluso extranjeros con el pasaporte.

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?

Todos los documentos requeridos para solicitar la licencia están establecidos en la legislación correspondiente, según lo indicado en la pregunta 5 supra.

Q11. What documents are required upon actual importation?

Los documentos necesarios para importar se pueden consultar en la siguiente página web por código arancelario: https://www.hacienda.go.cr/tica/web/hdbaranc.aspx

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

Las cargas administrativas de cada licencia varía dependiendo de cada institución. Dicha información se encuentra en cada reglamento, indicados en la pregunta 5 supra.

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.

Para la expedición de una licencia se debe cancelar la totalidad del monto. En general, este monto no es reembolsable.

Conditions of Licensing

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

El periodo de validez de una licencia es de 30 días en su generalidad. Se puede prorrogar, como es el caso mencionado en la pregunta 7 b) supra.

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

No se impone sanción en caso de no utilización parcial o total de una licencia.

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

Las licencias no son transferibles entre importadores, pues de hecho están ligadas al importador.

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?

La expedición de permisos no está subordinada a otras condiciones.

Other Procedural Requirements

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

En el siguiente documento (páginas 15-17) se pueden encontrar los requisitos para la importación:
https://www.procomer.com/wp-content/uploads/Materiales/guia_informativa_sobre_temas_de_comercio_exterior2020-03-17_17-54-02.pdf

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?

No es necesario poseer una licencia para obtener de las autoridades bancarias divisas destinadas al pago de las mercancías que se van a importar.