S.L. 441.7 Art. 51Processing of application.

(1) The Trade Licensing Unit shall, without delay, acknowledge receipt of an application and receipt of the applicable licence fee in writing to the applicant and shall specify the procedure under which a refusal by the Trade Licensing Unit to grant a licence may be appealed in terms of the Act and regulations.

(2) The Trade Licensing Unit shall within three (3) working days from the date of receipt of the application form with all the obligatory information and the accompanying documents, forward relevant details which may include copy of application forms and accompanying documents to any entity it deems fit, for assessment and opinion.

(3) Without prejudice to regulation 49, the Trade Licensing Unit, may at any time before it takes a decision on the issuance of a licence, require the applicant to submit further documentation and information.

(4) An entity contacted by the Trade Licensing Unit for opinion and assessment shall, provide all information requested to the Trade Licensing Unit within twenty (20) working days from the date of receipt of a complete application: Provided that during the twenty (20) working day period, the said entity may require further clarifications, additional information and documentation in which case the twenty (20) working days shall run from when said information and documentation is provided to said entity: Provided further that the twenty (20) working day period may at upon request of the entity be extended for one period of not more than twenty (20) working days. Such extension shall be notified to the Trade Licensing Unit before the expiry of the first twenty (20) day period.

(5) If the entity contacted by the Trade Licensing Unit for opinion and assessment does not reply within the periods a stipulated above, it will be deemed to have no relevant information or advice in relation to the application of a dealer.

(6) The Trade Licensing Unit may:

(a) issue the licence subject to any conditions it may deem fit; or

(b) refuse the application for a licence: Provided that when any licences are issued subject to conditions, all such conditions shall be specified in writing and shall form an integral part of the licence.

(7) The Trade Licensing Unit may from time to time, vary or revoke any conditions so imposed or may impose new conditions:

Provided that the Trade Licensing Unit before varying or revoking any conditions or adding new ones shall notify the licence holder of its intention and request him to make any submissions within twenty (20) working days: Provided further that after said period of twenty (20) days, the Trade Licensing Unit shall decide whether or not to proceed with its intended action taking into consideration any submissions it may have received from the licence holder.

(8) The provisions in sub-regulation (6) shall apply in case of renewals of a licence.

(9) If a licence is issued, it is to be issued by reference to the applicable code issued by the Trade Licensing Unit:

(a) in the name of the owner or owners of the business listed in the application form where the business is not owned by company;

(b) in the name of the commercial partnership where the business is to be carried out by a commercial partnership: Provided that a licence once so issued is non-transferable.