Includes a list of goods that are prohibited from being exported to the country or are otherwise restricted.

A number of import and export commodities are subject to a licensing regime.  Licenses are also required for certain goods of national security significance.  This includes military or police uniforms and radioactive substances.  The Ministry of Trade and Industry issues import and export licenses.  It frequently reviews and changes the lists of goods subject to licensing.  In principle, changes are published in the Government Gazette.  Licenses are valid for six months, but may be extended.
Goods currently requiring an import license are:

  • Cement
  • Cooking Oil
  • Laundry Soap
  • Fresh Milk
  • Liquor (in plastic packaging or bottles)
Goods currently requiring an export license are:
  • Implements of war (other than arms and ammunition), atomic energy materials of strategic value, and items of primary strategic significance used in the production of arms and ammunition and other implements of war, including the following metals: Beryllium, Cobalt, Tantalum, Uranium, Lithium, Columbite, Niobium, Thorium, Germanium, Titanium Nickel; and any materials containing such metals.
  • Petroleum products
  • The following gemstones in the unmanufactured state: Corundum, Garnet, Quartz, Tourmaline, Turquoise, Beryl, Zircon, Jade, Olivine, Feldspar, Topaz, Opal, Chrysoberyl, Spinel, Lazurite
  • Scrap metal
  • Hides and skins in processed and non-processed form
  • Rice, including: rice meals, rice bran, rice residues
  • Raw hard round wood timbers 
  • Live poultry, including day-old chicks
  • Maize, including: dried maize, on or off the cob, crushed maize or samp

Maize meal, including, Maize grits, Maize cones, Hominy cop, Maize offals, or Processed maize meal with or without additives.

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.