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Table 3.3 Import licensing in 2017
Ministry/Agency Products (tariff lines) Validity period
(...)
Environmental Protection Agency or state administration body in charge of matters relating to human health protection Uranium or thorium ores and concentrates (4) 1 year
Natural uranium (33) 1 year
Organic chemicals (16) 1 year
Plastics and articles thereof (2) 1 year
Nuclear reactors (4) 1 year
Apparatus based on the use of X-rays or of alpha, beta or gamma radiation, and X-ray tubes (8) 1 year
Wastes 1 year
Substances that deplete the ozone layer (Annex 4 of the National Control List), alternative substances and the list of products containing ozone depleting substances or produced by means of such substances 1 year

Table 3.8 Products subject to import prohibitions
Product description
(…)
4 Plastics scrap and bags and sheets of plastics below 20 micron thickness
5 High carbon disposing incandescent light bulbs
(…)

Table 3.10 Products subject to excise duties and rates, 2018
Products Rates Exemptions
(…)
Beverage packing:
Environmental tax —
Glass and metal
Plastic
Cardboard
Basic tax —
On single-use packaging

NKr 5.79 per unit
NKr 3.50 per unit
NKr 1.43 per unit

NKr 1.19 per unit Packaging covered by an approved return scheme is subject to a lower environmental tax rate depending on the return percentage.
Exemptions from the environmental tax for packaging used for beverages in powder form and breast milk substitutes.
Basic tax is not levied on single-use packaging for: milk and milk products, beverages made from cocoa and chocolate and concentrates thereof, products in powder form, cereal- and soya-based milk substitute products, and breast milk substitutes.
(...)
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) and perflourocarbons (PFC) NKr 0.4500 per kg Does not cover the recycling of HFC and PFC.
Mineral products
CO2-tax:
Mineral oil, high rate
Mineral oil, in domestic aviation
For fishing and catching inshore waters
Petrol
Natural gas


LPG
Sulphur tax on mineral oil containing more than 0.05% weight of sulphur

Base tax on heating oil
Mineral oil used in wood-processing

NKr 1.33 per litre
NKr 1.28 per litre
NKr 0.29 per litre
NKr 1.16 per litre
NKr 1.00 per standard cubic metre
NKr 1.50 per kg
Øre 13.1 per litre for each 0.10% weight sulphur
NKr 1.63 per litre
NKr 0.20 per litre CO2 tax is not payable on the use of mineral products for aircraft in international service and ships in international service.
Biodiesel is exempt from CO2, sulphur and basic tax. Reduced rates apply for certain types of industry.
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) NKr 21.94 per kg Exemptions apply to business organizations which have signed the Environmental Agreement on NOx 2018 2025; vessels used for fishing and hunting in remote waters; and direct international shipping.
(...)

In 2017, there was a ban on imports of some products of the chemicals industry, plastics and transport equipment (diesel engines and kits and used vehicles). In the case of transport equipment, the purpose of the ban is to reduce diesel consumption for environmental and road safety reasons (...)

On 2 December 2015, the European Commission adopted an ambitious new Circular Economy Package. It is aimed at using resources in a more sustainable manner for the benefit of both the economy and the environment, and to contributing to the sustainable development Goals under the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, notably on responsible consumption and production. The Package is now being implemented with a range of concrete actions. In this context, the EU is in the process of adopting new rules on waste, while a strategy on plastics use, reuse and recycling (including the issue of marine litter) is expected in the course of 2017.

Since 1 January 2006, pursuant to Iceland's commitments under the EU Directive on packaging and packaging waste , Iceland has levied a recycling fee upon importation on all cardboard, paper, and plastic packaging waste. Certain other categories of products (listed by HS code) are also subject to a recycling or disposal fee upon importation – oil products, organic solvents, halogenated compounds, isocyanates and polyurethanes, paint, printing inks, batteries and accumulators, photographic products, mercury products, pesticides, refrigerants, tyres, motor vehicles, synthetic fishing gear, and electrical and electronic equipment. [49] Importers, at the time of importation, should declare the net weight of all packaging imported into Iceland on the basis of which a fee is levied and collected by Customs. Exported packaging is exempt from the fee provided the exporter can demonstrate the packaging will be transported out of the country. The recycling fees on domestic packaging are collected by regional tax authorities in the same manner as the excise tax. The recycling fee is collected in a recycling fund which is managed by a seven-member board. The fees are then channelled to cooperatives operated by local authorities to offset their costs of operating waste collection and disposal facilities. The fund has been running a surplus in recent years and has set aside the additional amounts for future liabilities. The recycling fee varies depending on type of packaging or product concerned. The fees have been updated several times; as of January 2017, the recycling fee for paper/paperboard packaging was ISK 15/kg and for plastic packaging ISK 16/kg; fees for other products vary considerably, e.g. ISK 0.20/kg for certain oils, ISK 2,880/kg for certain photographic products, and ISK 707/piece for certain batteries for vehicles. In 2015, the recycling fees levied on imported goods amounted to ISK 1,147.2 million.

[49] The law (Act No. 162/2002) provides for a special exemption for manufacturers and importers of electrical and electronic devices if they have their own system for the collection of electric and electronic waste in the country and dispose of it appropriately.

Moreover, those who import products subject to special rules must be registered with authorities other than the National Customs Directorate (DNA), for example, the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare (MSPBS), the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIC) or the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) (Table 3.1). Such registration mostly concerns products such as foodstuffs and beverages, products of animal or plant origin and medicines. Since the previous review, new registration requirements have been introduced for (...) plastic and biodegradable bags; and incandescent lamps. The purpose of such registration is usually to enforce specific regulations, although in some instances they have been introduced to prevent the entry of under invoiced or smuggled goods.

Table 3.1 Registration requirements for importers and their products, 2017
Product Authority Period/duration Legal basis
(...)
Plastic bags and biodegradable bags MIC Annual Resolution No. 353 of 27 March 2017
Incandescent and fluorescent lamps MIC Annual Decree No. 7.103/17 of 27 April 2017
(...)
Products for recycling and non hazardous waste SEAM Once Resolution No. 374/07 of 13 April 2007
Ozone depleting substances (ODS) SEAM Annual Decree No. 12.685/08 of 11 August 2008; Resolution SEAM No. 255/15 of 1 July 2015
Tyres SEAM Once Resolution No. 627/16 of 21 October 2016
(...)
Note: DINAPI – National Intellectual Property Directorate; DIMABEL – Armaments Directorate; INAN – National Food and Nutrition Institute; MAG – Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock; MIC – Ministry of Industry and Trade; MSPBS – Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare; SEAM – Environment Secretariat; SENACSA – National Animal Quality and Health Service; SENAVE – National Plant and Seed Quality and Health Service; SENAD – National Anti Drug Secretariat.
Source: WTO Secretariat, on the basis of information provided by the Paraguayan authorities.

Table 3.13 Prior import licences, 2017
Product Issuing authority Reason invoked Legal basis
Aerosol type extinguishers containing extinguishing foam with a maximum capacity of 250 mla MIC Environment Resolution No. 1.023/15 of 4 October 2015
(...)
Ordinary primary cells and batteries of zinc carbon and alkaline manganesea MIC Health and protection of the environment Decree No. 4.926/10 of 18 August 2010; and MIC Resolution No. 970/10 of 22 December 2010
(...)
Petroleum based productsc MIC Protection of the environment Decree No. 10.397/07 of 21 May 2007; Decree No. 960/13 of 18 December 2013; Decree No. 2.999/15 of 27 January 2015; Decree No. 7.149/17 of 19 May 2017; Resolution No. 741/13 of 1 August 2013; Resolution No. 1.310/16 of 21 October 2016; and Resolution No. 246/17 of 8 March 2017
Hygiene, toiletry and beauty products and household sanitary products (risk categories 1 and 2)a MIC
SEAM Health and protection of the environment Law No. 4.397/11 of 18 August 2011; Decree No. 7.505/11 of 18 October 2011; Resolution No. 12.197/11 of 3 November 2011; and Decree No. 3.214/09 of 21 October 2009
(...)
Plastic bags and biodegradable bagsa MIC Protection of the environment Resolution No. 353/17 of 27 March 2017
(...)
Ozone depleting substancesb SEAM Protection of the environment Decree No. 3.980/99 of 6 July 1999; Decree No. 1.685/08 of 11 August 2008; Resolution No. 581/10 of 12 April 2010; and Resolution No. 255/15 of 1 July 2015
Endangered species of wild fauna and florab SEAM Protection of the environment Law No. 583/76 of 24 August 1976; Law No. 96/92 of 24 December 1992; and Decree No. 9.701/12 of 19 September 2012
(...)
Recyclable articles (paperboard, aluminium, plastic, glass, copper, etc.)a SEAM Certificate of innocuity Resolution No. 374/07 of 13 April 2007

During the period under review, new prior import licensing requirements were introduced for the following products: (...) plastic and biodegradable bags; and incandescent and fluorescent lamps. On the other hand, the prior licensing requirement for importing soya beans (Resolution No. 1.583/13) was abolished. Some of these measures have been notified to the WTO, together with the domestic legislation on import licensing.