Prohibited & Controlled Exports

Customs enforces control on goods meant for export. There are export prohibitions and restrictions on some particular types of goods. The reasons behind the restriction or prohibition are as follows:

1. quality checking and control (to keep the quality standards of local products)
2. conservation purposes for endangered species (CITES-listed flora and fauna)
3. the enforcement of provisions in various conventions (Rotterdam convention on hazardous chemicals, Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, Basel convention on hazardous wastes etc.)
4. the control of the export of local artefacts that have national, scientific or artistic importance
5. the protection of the environment (ozone layer)
6. health and security purposes
7. instructions received from international organisations, for example United Nation, World Health Organisation, etc.
8. local legislation which restricts the export of a particular product (e.g. scrap metal)
9. fight against international money laundering

Control over exportation of goods

Goods destined for export may be subject to the requirement for a third party agency approval to export, for example, export permit from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Customs shall allow the exportation of any controlled goods only after the appropriate clearance/authorization/permit has been received from the concerned third party agency.

Controlled and Prohibited goods at exportation are as below:

1. LIST OF CONTROLLED EXPORTS REQUIRING AN EXPORT PERMIT FROM THE MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY, COMMERCE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION

   • Rice;
   • Wheat or Meslin flour;
   • Sand;
   • Limestone;
   • Cement;
   • Textile and textile-articles for export to USA and Canada; and
   • Rough Diamond

2. LIST OF CONTROLLED EXPORTS REQUIRING A CLEARANCE FROM A THIRD PARTY AGENCY

   • Live animals (all species including birds)
   • Meat , meat products and edible meat offal of bovine animals, swine, sheep, goats, horses, asses, mules or hinnies ( fresh , chilled, frozen)
   • Other prepared or preserved meat, meat offal or blood
   • Vegetables (fresh and dried) & certain roots and tubers
   • Sugar (excluding samples) exceeding 10 Kg
   • Organs (animals)
   • Bird’s feathers
   • Textile garments for men / boy, women / girl and babies for export to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Pharmaceutical products
   • Fish and , fish products & crustaceans, mollusc and other aquatic invertebrates; any live fish: coral or shell, whether live or dead; by-catch fish
   • Dangerous Chemicals, Pesticides & extremely Dangerous Chemicals
   • Used Vehicles
   • Tea & tea products (none medicinal
   • Tobacco & tobacco Product
   • Plant & plant product
   • Dry whole onions, Fresh whole Garlic, Fresh whole potatoes, Garlic seeds, Onion seeds, Potato seeds
   • Groundnuts
   • Arms and ammunitions
   • Dangerous drug
   • Endangered fauna/flora spices as cited in the CITES appendices
   • Bank Notes > Rs 500,000
   • Copy Rights (CDs & DVDs
   • Hazardous wastes as per Environment Protection Reg 2001
     • Pharmaceuticals Products
     • Products containing radioactive elements
   • Used batteries
   • Scrap metals (except for a person who is engaged in a manufacturing business which generates scrap metal as a by-product may export that by-product)
   • Alcohol (No person shall export alcohol except with the written authorization of the Director-General and subject to the terms and conditions specified in the authorization)

3. PROHIBITED GOODS FOR EXPORTS

   1. National Heritage

      No person shall export or cause to export a National Heritage, that is goods designated in Section 12 and specified in the Schedule of the National Heritage Fund Act 2003 without the prior approval of the National Heritage Fund Board.

   2. Copper Exported as Scrap
      1. Refined copper and copper alloys, unwrought classified under H.S Heading 7403 exported as scrap
      2. Copper waste and scrap classified under H.S Heading 7404