4.3 Scheduling the Licensing Process

A licensing process schedule normally lists the steps in the licensing process and the date and time for such steps.  The schedule sets out the framework for how the licensing process will unfold, and is thus of major interest to both the regulator and potential applicants for the licence.

Publishing a schedule for the licensing process aids in compliance with one of the requirements set out in the WTO Regulation Reference Paper.  The Paper requires that certain information about licensing, including the “period of time normally required to reach a decision concerning an application for a licence”, be made publicly available.  In most cases, the schedule is published as part of the guide to the licensing process.