Import Licenses will Come into Force from September 16

Import licenses will be a requisite in Ecuador

Ecuadorian importers yesterday began proceedings to obtain import licenses. These licenses will be an import requisite for tires, CKD, hybrid vehicles, appliances, mobile phones, among other 51 goods. The measures will come into force from September 16, 2011.

To get the permission importers must submit an application to the Ministry of Industry and Productivity (Mipro), along with other requirements for review.

The approval process can take up to 60 days. This fact worries importers, because they will delay their purchases of goods for Christmas.

To expedite the process, the Coordinating Ministry for Production yesterday launched an information campaign about the licenses and opened a ‘chat line’ so that importers can connect via web with Ministry officials to find answer to their doubts.