Exporters Exult: Fewer Approvals for CITES-Listed Commodities, More Flexibility for Exports from Force Majeure-Affected Copper Refineries

In 2023, the Minister of Trade (“Minister”) introduced Regulation No. 23 of 2023 on Export Policy and Arrangements, which has been amended several times, most recently through the issuance of Regulation No. 21 of 2024 (collectively referred to as “Regulation 23/2023”), which addresses a wide array of matters specifically related to export implementation (e.g. applicable requirements, business licensing, exporter obligations and so forth).[1] However, in order to offer a more flexible policy on the operation of metal mineral refinery facilities for copper commodities during the occurrence of force-majeure events, the Minister has now decided to issue Regulation No. 9 of 2025 on the Third Amendment to Regulation 23/2023 (“Third Amendment”), which has been in force since 14 March 2025.[2]