Importverbote

Importverbote are legal measures that prohibit the introduction of specific goods into a country. They can be adopted unilaterally by a state or agreed within international regimes, and they are distinct from tariffs or quotas because they aim to prevent entry rather than regulate the quantity or price of imports.

Legal basis and scope. National authorities rely on domestic laws to ban imports deemed dangerous, illegal, or non-compliant with standards. Internationally, WTO rules and related regimes allow certain prohibitions for health, safety, environmental, and security reasons, as well as within sanctions or embargo programs. Importverbote may be broad (a general ban on a category) or targeted (ban on particular items, origins, or uses). They are often implemented alongside licensing, inspections, or certification requirements.

Instruments and enforcement. Common tools include blanket bans, licensing systems that require prior authorization, and product-specific prohibitions tied to safety or environmental criteria. Border controls, customs enforcement, and penalties deter violations. Some regimes provide exemptions, for example for humanitarian aid, essential medicines, or goods that meet specified safety standards.

Rationale and effects. The main goals are to protect public health and safety, safeguard the environment, enforce sanctions, and support domestic policy objectives. In practice, importverbote can affect supply chains, commodity prices, and consumer choice, and may lead to side effects such as smuggling or the diversion of trade. Compliance costs can be significant for businesses.

See also: embargo, sanctions, export controls, trade policy.