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(…) Export licences may be required for goods subject to export restrictions. These measures are in place mainly to protect the environment and to preserve natural resources. However, it would appear that, in practice, these and other measures affecting exports have been used as policy instruments to encourage or discourage exports as necessary to meet industrial development goals.

Table 2.2 Main trade-related laws
Company law and Licensing
Legislation: Law on Licensing
Year: 2001
Description: Regulates giving, delaying, and invalidating a licence to business activities that might negatively affect public interest, human well-being, environment, and national security, and that might require specific conditions and expertise

The former Emir-H.H. Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani-provided additional insights into the challenges of development, particularly in Qatar: “Development, in its broader sense, and the economic, environmental, technological and resource-related challenges encountering its realization have become an issue that determines the survival, role and progress of any society.” (…)

Malaysian standards (MS) are voluntary unless referred to in legislation (including specific technical regulations). (…) MSs are implemented in product certification, quality management systems, and environmental management systems certification; they are reviewed every five years or whenever required to keep current with the latest technological developments.

Exporters are not required to register: they must submit an export declaration (shipping bill) and invoice/packing list, and when required, a phytosanitary or CITES certificate, or, for preferential trade, a certificate of origin.

The MEM (Ministry of Energy and Mining) is authorized to determine the quotas for supplying the domestic market with biofuels, with preference being given to those producers that use local raw materials. Imports of raw materials (or biofuels) are permitted, subject to quotas, in the event of a shortage on the domestic market. Import licences are issued by the MEM, on the recommendation of the CNE (National Energy Commission). Surplus biofuels may be exported once the domestic demand has been met.

The Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami caused extensive damage to the fishery sector in Japan causing an estimated ¥1.25 trillion in damage to 28,612 vessels, and 319 ports, and including ¥133.5 billion in damage to aquaculture facilities and products. Under the Fisheries Recovery Master Plan, the objective is to complete the recovery of fishing port facilities by end FY2015. Over 12,000 vessels had been recovered by end-FY2013 and considerable progress has been made in replacing or recovering processing and distribution and seedling production facilities. To address concerns about food safety following the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, an extensive system for monitoring radiation levels in the relevant area was introduced, backed, if necessary, by voluntary or compulsory suspension of fishing operations, sales, and distribution.

The New Zealand-Korea FTA was signed on 23 March 2015. (...) The FTA also includes substantive chapters on labour and environment.

In 2014 at the Fifth GMS Summit in Bangkok, leaders of the country members adopted the Regional Investment Framework Implementation Plan (RIF IP) to push forward implementation of the Regional Investment Framework approved at the GMS ministerial meeting in December 2013. RIF is composed of 215 investment and academic assistance projects under ten fields; transportation, energy, agriculture, environment, human resource development, urban development, tourism, trade and transport facilitation, ICT, and others. (...)

In February 2015, regulations on the prevention of biotechnological risks were endorsed by WAEMU, together with ECOWAS and CILSS. These will apply to any use of modified living organisms and their by products, which might have a negative effect on the environment, especially on biological diversity or human or animal health, with the exception of pharmaceuticals. Within WAEMU, regulations to ban plastic bags and their components were being adopted; similar measures are in place at the national level. National initiatives to ban the import of some products (meat products in particular) within the Union should be noted, particularly in Senegal in the case of poultry, in Mali for beef and poultry, and in Togo for frozen beef, inter alia.