Category

Notification details

1

Notifying Member

Seychelles

2

Title of new legislation/procedure

S.I. 87 of 2023 Customs Management Act, 2011 (Act 22 of 2011) Customs Management (Prohibited and Restricted Goods) Regulations, 2023

3

Date of Publication

30 October 2023

4

Date of entry into force

30 October 2023

5

Website link/Official publication of the new regulation/procedure

https://src.gov.sc/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SI-87-Customs-Management-Prohibited-and-Restricted-Goods-Regulations-2023.pdf

6

Have you attached a copy of the regulation (PDF) to the Secretariat

  Yes. (Please attach a copy of the regulation to the notification.)

  No.

7

Type of notification

  (a) New licensing regulation/procedure[2]; (please answer question 8 to 14)

  (b) Changes to a regulation/procedure which has been previously notified in document: G/LIC/N/2/SYC/1; (please answer question 15 and 16)

8

List of products subject to licensing

N/A

9

Nature of licensing

Automatic:         

Non-Automatic:  

10

Administrative purpose/measure being implemented

(a)

Protect public morals;

(b)

Protect human, animal or plant life and health; protect environment;

(c)

Collect trade statistics or market surveillance;

(d)

Protection of patents, trademarks and copyrights, and the prevention of deceptive practices;

(e)

Pursue obligations under the UN Charter and other international treaties (i.e. CITES, Basel Convention, Rotterdam Convention, UNSC Resolutions etc.)

(f)

Quota (including TRQ) administration;

(g)

Regulate imports of arms, ammunition or fissionable materials and safeguard national security;

(h)

Other: ______________ (please specify)

11

Administrative body(ies) for

submission of applications

Ministry/authority and Department: N/A

Website: N/A

Telephone: N/A

E-Mail: N/A

12

Contact point for information on eligibility

Ministry/authority and Department: N/A

Website: N/A

Telephone:  N/A

E-Mail: N/A

13

Expected duration of licensing procedure

14

A summary of the notification in one of the WTO official languages

15

In the case of 7(b), please indicate the type of new change(s)

16

Please elaborate the changes in detail (in one of the WTO official languages)

(1) The Customs Management (Prohibited and Restricted Goods) Regulations, 2019 (S.I.41 of 2019) has been repealed and replaced with S.I.87 of 2023, Customs Management (Prohibited and Restricted Goods) regulations, 2023. This is in line with Seychelles migration to the Harmonized Coding system 2022(i.e. The Seychelles Customs Management (Tariff and Classification of Goods) Regulations, 2022 that came into force in October 2022.

(2) In addition, new products have been added to the list as follows:

(i)  Still containers - HS Code 8419.4000, in line with the Excise Tax Act, 2022, Section 35 (1). https://www.tradeportal.sc/wp‑content/uploads/2023/12/Act-27-2022-Excise-Tax-Act-2022.pdf

The measure aimed at restricting the illegal manufacturing of alcohol, hence protect human life and health.

(ii) Longline fishing vessels - HS Code 8902.0000.

This is a precautionary management measure for small-scale longline fishery targetting fresh tuna and tuna-like species to ensure the long-term viability and sustainability of this sub‑sector. This measure is designed as a protection of exhaustible natural resources, as referred to in Article XX of the GATT.

The moratorium on the importation of semi-industrial fishing vessels is until June.

The duration of license procedures with respect to Longline to allow the Ministry of Fisheries and the Blue Economy sufficient time to develop and implement the Seychelles' national tuna management and development plan, which will provide clear strategies to ensure the long-term sustainable growth of the Seychelles' tuna industry.

(3) The following Ministry have been re-named: from Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Trade to Ministry of Finance, National Planning and Trade.

(4) Due to the restructuring of the Ministry responsible for Agriculture, the National Biosecurity Agency and the Seychelles Agricultural Agency no longer exist. It is now being administered under the Department of Agriculture and the Seychelles Agriculture Agency Act has been repealed.

(5) The following Authorities have been added as new approval authorities:

-   Customs Division

-   Seychelles Fishing Authority

-   The Ministry of Finance, National Planning and Trade have been added as the second approval authority for Left Hand Drive, second hand and special purposes vehicles.