AGRIM and AGREX licences

What are AGRIM and AGREX licences?

An AGRIM/ AGREX licence is an electronic or paper document of a specific period of validity entitling the holder to import/ export certain agricultural products. To exercise this right, the licence must be submitted together with a customs declaration.

What is the purpose of AGRIM and AGREX licences?

In the EU, imports and exports of certain agricultural products are restricted. When the quantities of such imported or exported products exceed the set amount, an AGRIM import license or an AGREX export licence is required.

So, the main purpose of licensing is to ensure proper administration of the agricultural market organization and achieve a balanced market situation. 

What products require AGRIM licence?

An AGRIM licence is required for such products as rice, sugar, seeds of varieties of hemp intended for sowing, hempseeds other than for sowing, true hemp, fruit and vegetables, processed fruit and vegetable products, ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin.

The complete list of products that are subject to AGRIM licences as well as maximum quantities of products for which no licence needs to be presented are set out in Part I of the Annex to the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1237 of 18 May 2016.

The AGRIM license is required for imports of any quantity of product under preferential or tariff quota arrangements. 

What products require an AGREX licence?

An AGREX licence is required only for sugar. This is established in Part II of the Annex to the above-mentioned Regulation (EU) 2016/1237. Net quantities for which no licence needs to be presented are established as well.

Who issues AGRIM and AGREX licences?

Each Member State authorizes the body issuing AGRIM and AGREX licenses. As a rule, the responsible body is under the Ministry of Agriculture, for example, the Market Department of the Finnish Food Authority, Rural Business and Markets Development Agency in Lithuania.