Exports of raw seaweed and agar agar are now subject to licensing, as announced, on September 20th, by the ministries of Foreign Trade and Agriculture and Maritime Fishing.

In this respect, the two ministries bring to the attention of exporters the publication the Official Bulletin No. 5869 of August 30, 2010 and the Decree of the Minister of Foreign Trade No. 1934.10 of July 7, 2010, instructing these two products to export licensing.

For that purpose, licenses will be issued annually (from January to December) as stated by the Ministry of Foreign Trade.

For the year 2010, licenses will be issued within the limit of 1,208 tons of raw seaweed and 805 tons of agar agar, and the quantities exported from July 1 to September 15 will be deducted from stocks ordered before July 1, the statement said.

Export transactions that took place before the issue of this order, and that were subject to deposits or an opening of an irrevocable and confirmed credit, may be carried out and confirmed by an exchange commitment (engagement de change).

According to the same statement, exporters willing to receive export licenses for the period ending December 31 must file their applications to the Ministry of Trade no later than September 30, 2010.