Import tariffs are not the only policy measures affecting international commodity trade. Over the course of the past century, governments have expanded regulatory controls over economic activity, often in pursuit of social, public health, environmental, or other non-economic policy objectives. As countries increasingly reduce tariff rates, these non-tariff measures can become more important.
The UNCTAD Trains database contains information on non-tariff measures. (Use the Trains Catalog—under the Help and Information menu—to find out which countries have submitted information on non-tariff measures.)
Level |
Code |
Description |
1 | A | Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures |
2 | A1 | Prohibitions or restriction of products or substances because of SPS reasons |
3 | A11 | Temporary geographic prohibition for SPS reasons |
3 | A12 | Geographical restrictions on eligibility |
3 | A13 | Systems Approach |
3 | A14 | Special Authorization for SPS reasons |
3 | A15 | Registration requirements for importers |
3 | A19 | Prohibitions or restrictions of products or substances because of SPS reasons n.e.s. |
2 | A2 | Tolerance limits for residues and restricted use of substances |
3 | A21 | Tolerance limits for residues of or contamination by certain substances |
3 | A22 | Restricted use of certain substances in foods and feeds |
2 | A3 | Labelling, Marking and Packaging requirements |
3 | A31 | Labelling requirements |
3 | A32 | Marking requirements |
3 | A33 | Packaging requirements |
2 | A4 | Hygienic requirements |
3 | A41 | Microbiological criteria on the final product |
3 | A42 | Hygienic practices during production |
3 | A49 | Hygienic requirements n.e.s. |
2 | A5 | Treatment for elimination of plant and animal pests and disease-causing organisms in the final product (e.g. Post-harvest treatment) |
3 | A51 | Cold/heat treatment |
3 | A52 | Irradiation |
3 | A53 | Fumigation |
3 | A59 | Treatment for elimination of plant and animal pests and disease-causing organisms in the final product, n.e.s. |
2 | A6 | Other requirements on production or post-production processes |
3 | A61 | Plant growth processes |
3 | A62 | Animal raising or catching processes |
3 | A63 | Food and feed processing |
3 | A64 | Storage and transport conditions |
3 | A69 | Other requirements on production or post-production processes, n.e.s |
2 | A7 | Regulation of foods or feeds derived from, or produced using genetically modified organisms (GMO) |
2 | A8 | Conformity assessment related to SPS |
3 | A81 | Product registration requirement |
3 | A82 | Testing requirement |
3 | A83 | Certification requirement |
3 | A84 | Inspection requirement |
3 | A85 | Traceability information requirements |
4 | A851 | Origin of materials and parts |
4 | A852 | Processing history |
4 | A853 | Distribution and location of products after delivery |
4 | A859 | Traceability requirements, n.e.s. |
3 | A86 | Quarantine requirement |
3 | A89 | Conformity assessment related to SPS n.e.s. |
2 | A9 | SPS measures n.e.s. |
1 | B | Technical barriers to trade (TBTs) |
2 | B1 | Prohibitions or restrictions of products or substances because of TBT reasons (e.g. environment, security) |
3 | B11 | Prohibition for TBT reasons |
3 | B14 | Authorization requirement for TBT reasons |
3 | B15 | Registration requirement for importers for TBT reasons |
3 | B19 | Prohibitions or restrictions of products or substances because of TBT reasons, n.e.s. |
2 | B2 | Tolerance limits for residues and restricted use of substances |
3 | B21 | Tolerance limits for residues of or contamination by certain substances |
3 | B22 | Restricted use of certain substances |
2 | B3 | Labelling, Marking and Packaging requirements |
3 | B31 | Labelling requirements |
3 | B32 | Marking requirements |
3 | B33 | Packaging requirements |
2 | B4 | Production or Post-Production requirements |
3 | B41 | TBT regulations on production processes |
3 | B42 | TBT regulations on transport and storage |
3 | B49 | Production or Post-Production requirements n.e.s. |
2 | B5 | Regulation on genetically modified organisms-GMO (for reasons other than food safety) and other foreign species |
2 | B6 | Product identity requirement |
2 | B7 | Product quality or performance requirement |
2 | B8 | Conformity assessment related to TBT |
3 | B81 | Product registration requirement |
3 | B82 | Testing requirement |
3 | B83 | Certification requirement |
3 | B84 | Inspection requirement |
3 | B85 | Traceability information requirements |
4 | B851 | Origin of materials and parts |
4 | B852 | Processing history |
4 | B853 | Distribution and location of products after delivery |
4 | B859 | Traceability requirements, n.e.s. |
3 | B89 | Conformity assessment related to TBT n.e.s. |
2 | B9 | TBT Measures n.e.s. |
1 | C | Pre-shipment inspection and other formalities |
2 | C1 | Pre-shipment inspection |
2 | C2 | Direct consignment requirement |
2 | C3 | Requirement to pass through specified port of customs |
2 | C4 | Import monitoring and surveillance requirements and other automatic licensing measures |
2 | C9 | Other formalities, n.e.s. |
1 | D | Price control measures |
2 | D1 | Administrative pricing |
3 | D11 | Minimum import prices |
3 | D12 | Reference prices and other price controls |
3 | D19 | Administrative pricing n.e.s. |
2 | D2 | Voluntary export price restraints (VEPRs) |
2 | D3 | Variable charges |
3 | D31 | Variable levies |
3 | D32 | Variable components |
3 | D39 | Variable charges n.e.s |
2 | D4 | Antidumping measures |
3 | D41 | Antidumping investigations |
3 | D42 | Antidumping duties |
3 | D43 | Price undertakings |
2 | D5 | Countervailing measures |
3 | D51 | Countervailing investigations |
3 | D52 | Countervailing duties |
3 | D53 | Price undertakings |
2 | D6 | Safeguard duties |
2 | D7 | Seasonal duties |
2 | D9 | Price control measures n.e.s. |
1 | E | Licences, quotas, prohibitions and other quantity control measures |
2 | E1 | Non-automatic licence |
3 | E11 | Licence with no specific ex-ante criteria |
3 | E12 | Licence for specified use |
3 | E13 | Licence linked with local production |
3 | E14 | Licence combined with or replaced by special import authorization |
3 | E18 | Licence for non-economic reasons |
4 | E181 | Licence for religious, moral or cultural reasons |
4 | E182 | Licence for political reasons |
4 | E189 | Licence for non-economic reasons n.e.s. |
3 | E19 | Non-automatic licensing n.e.s. |
2 | E2 | Quotas |
3 | E21 | Global quotas |
4 | E211 | Unallocated quotas |
4 | E212 | Quotas allocated to exporting countries |
3 | E22 | Bilateral quotas |
3 | E23 | Seasonal quotas |
3 | E24 | Quotas linked with purchase of local goods |
3 | E25 | Quotas linked with domestic production |
3 | E27 | Tariff Rate Quotas |
3 | E28 | Quotas for non-economic reasons |
4 | E281 | Quotas for religious, moral or cultural reasons |
4 | E282 | Quota for political reasons |
4 | E289 | Quotas for non-economic reasons n.e.s. |
3 | E29 | Quotas n.e.s. |
2 | E3 | Prohibitions |
3 | E31 | Total prohibition (not for SPS or TBT reasons) |
3 | E32 | Suspension of issuance of licences |
3 | E33 | Seasonal prohibition |
3 | E34 | Temporary prohibition |
3 | E35 | Prohibition of importation in bulk |
3 | E36 | Prohibition of products infringing patents or intellectual property rights |
3 | E38 | Prohibition for non-economic reasons |
4 | E381 | Prohibition for religious, moral or cultural reasons |
4 | E382 | Prohibition for political reasons (Embargo) |
4 | E389 | Prohibition for non-economic reasons n.e.s. |
3 | E39 | Prohibitions n.e.s. |
2 | E4 | Quantitative safeguard measures |
2 | E5 | Export restraint arrangement |
3 | E51 | Voluntary export restraint arrangements (VERs) |
4 | E511 | Quota agreement |
4 | E512 | Consultation agreement |
4 | E513 | Administrative co-operation agreement |
3 | E59 | Export restraint arrangements n.e.s. |
2 | E9 | Quantity control measures n.e.s. |
1 | F | Charges, taxes and other para-tariff measures |
2 | F1 | Customs Surcharges |
2 | F2 | Service charges |
3 | F21 | Custom inspection, processing and servicing fees |
3 | F22 | Merchandise handling or storing fees |
3 | F29 | Service charges, n.e.s. |
2 | F3 | Additional taxes and charges |
3 | F31 | Tax on foreign exchange transactions |
3 | F32 | Stamp tax |
3 | F33 | Import licence fee |
3 | F34 | Consular invoice fee |
3 | F35 | Statistical tax |
3 | F36 | Tax on transport facilities |
3 | F39 | Additional charges n.e.s. |
2 | F4 | Internal taxes and charges levied on imports |
3 | F41 | General sales taxes |
3 | F42 | Excise taxes |
3 | F43 | Taxes and charges for sensitive product categories |
3 | F49 | Internal taxes and charges levied on imports n.e.s. |
2 | F5 | Decreed Customs Valuations |
2 | F9 | Para-tariff measures n.e.s |
1 | G | Finance measures |
2 | G1 | Advance payment requirement |
3 | G11 | Advance import deposit |
3 | G12 | Cash margin requirement |
3 | G13 | Advance payment of customs duties |
3 | G14 | Refundable deposits for sensitive product categories |
3 | G19 | Advance payment requirements n.e.s. |
2 | G2 | Multiple exchange rates |
2 | G3 | Regulation on official foreign exchange allocation |
3 | G31 | Prohibition of foreign exchange allocation |
3 | G32 | Bank authorization |
3 | G33 | Licence linked with non-official foreign exchange |
4 | G331 | External foreign exchange |
4 | G332 | Importers' own foreign exchange |
4 | G339 | Licence linked with non-official foreign exchange, n.e.s. |
3 | G39 | Regulation on official foreign exchange allocation, n.e.s. |
2 | G4 | Regulations concerning terms of payment for imports |
2 | G9 | Finance measures n.e.s. |
1 | H | Anti-competitive measures |
2 | H1 | Restrictive import channel |
3 | H11 | State trading administration, for importing |
3 | H12 | Sole importing agency |
3 | H13 | Importation reserved for selected importers |
3 | H19 | Single channel for imports, n.e.s. |
2 | H2 | Compulsory national service |
3 | H21 | Compulsory national insurance |
3 | H22 | Compulsory national transport |
3 | H29 | Compulsory national service, n.e.s. |
2 | H9 | Anti-competitive measures, n.e.s. |
1 | I | Trade-related investment measures |
2 | I1 | Local content measures |
2 | I2 | Trade balancing measures |
2 | I9 | Trade-related investment measures, n.e.s |
1 | J | Distribution restrictions |
2 | J1 | Geographical restriction |
2 | J2 | Restriction on resellers |
1 | K | Restriction on post-sales services |
1 | L | Subsidies (excluding export subsidies under P700) |
1 | M | Government procurement restrictions |
1 | N | Intellectual property |
1 | O | Rules of origin |
1 | P | Export related measures |
2 | P1 | Export license, quota, prohibition and other quantitative restriction |
3 | P11 | Export Prohibition |
3 | P12 | Export quotas |
3 | P13 | Licensing or permit requirements to export |
3 | P14 | Export Registration requirements |
3 | P19 | Export quantitative restrictions, n.e.s. |
2 | P2 | State trading administration |
2 | P3 | Export price control measures |
2 | P4 | Measures on Re-Export |
2 | P5 | Export taxes and charges |
2 | P6 | Export technical measures |
3 | P61 | Inspection requirement |
3 | P62 | Certification required by the exporting country |
3 | P69 | Export technical measures, n.e.s. |
2 | P7 | Export subsidies |
2 | P9 | Export measures n.e.s. |
TRAINS - Historical Non-Tariff Measures
Code |
Measure |
Example |
3 |
Price Control |
minimum import price |
4 |
Finance |
Advance payment of customs duties |
5 |
Licensing |
Prior surveillance |
6 |
Quantity controls |
Seasonal quotas |
7 |
Monopolistic |
Sole importing agency |
8 |
Technical |
Packaging requirement |
For a complete list of codes, see Codification of Trade Control Measures.
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The World Bank, 2010