IMPACCT Working Group: Cross-border movement of humanitarian relief consignments

COVID-19

This page provides information on Importation and Customs clearance procedures for countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as useful resources from the IMPACCT WG partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Customs Organization (WCO), among others.

HS classification
Joint World Customs Organization (WCO) and World Health Organization (WHO) HS classification list for COVID-19 medical supplies: 3.0. Edition - 2 June 2020 (English) 3.0. Edition - 2 June 2020 (French)

ASYREC
ASYREC and COVID-19 - Relief of Emergency Consignments ASYREC et COVID-19 - Simplification des envois d'urgence

AFRICA

Regional

East African Community (EAC) Administrative Guidelines to Facilitate Movement of Goods Services (April 2020)
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and World Customs Organization (WCO) : List of HS Codes for COVID-19 related items (20 April 2020)
Southern African Development Community (SADC) Guidelines on Cross-Border Transport (6 April 2020)

Angola

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 1 (08 June 2020)

Burkina Faso

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 2 (29 May 2020)
COVID-19 - Classement de référence dans le SH des fournitures médicales liées au COVID-19
COVID-19 - Arrêté Interministériel portant sur l'importation des produits de santé (25 mars 2020)

Cameroon

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 5 (18 June 2020)
COVID-19 - Directorate General of Customs - 24 March 2020
COVID-19 - Ministry of Health - Circular Nr. D36-65 on Technical Visa for Importation (4 June 2020)

Central African Republic

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 4 (24 June 2020)
COVID-19 - Ministry of Health - Note on COVID-19 Tests for truckers (30 June 2020)

Chad

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 2 (1 July 2020)
COVID-19 - Ministry of Finance and Budget - Tax exemption for COVID-19 items (24 April)

Côte d'Ivoire

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 3 (3 July 2020)
COVID-19 - Circulaire 2077 : Mesures de facilitation des formalités douanières (31 mars 2020)
COVID-19 - Circulaire 2078 : Suspension des contrôles douaniers a posteriori pour une période de 3 mois (6 avril 2020)
COVID-19 - Circulaire 2079 : Allègement de la procédure de délivrance des attestations de régularité douanière (6 avril 2020)
COVID-19 - Circulaire 2080 : Procédure d'enlèvement par bon provisoire (6 avril 2020)
COVID-19 - Circulaire 2081 : Transmission des manifestes par voie électronique (6 avril 2020)
COVID-19 - General Directorate of Customs - Exemption from Customs duties and taxes on health equipment (4 May 2020)

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 3 (1 July 2020)
COVID-19 - Directorate General of Customs and Excise - Note on facilitation of relief aid clearance formalities (7 April 2020)

Djibouti

Djibouti Presidential Decree (10 May 2020) (Articles 18 and 19 of interest)

Ethiopia

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 1 (19 June 2020)

Ghana

COVID-19 - Announcement from Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority on Port Clearance (added on 15 April 2020)

Lesotho

COVID-19: Lesotho Information on Self-Quarantine

Liberia

Liberia Revenue Authority - FAQ Customs Goods Clearance
Liberia Revenue Authority - Procedure for Clearing Air Freight
Medicines & Health Products Regulatory Authority (LMHRA) Act (2010)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Revenue Code Amendments Act (2016)
Ministry of Health - 2nd Edition National Standard Therapeutic Guidelines and Essential Medicines List (2017)
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare - Guidelines for the Donation of Medicines and Medical Supplies (2014)

Madagascar

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 1 (16 June 2020)

Malawi

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 1 (15 June 2020)
COVID-19 - Customs and Excise : Duty waiver for essential goods to combat COVID-19

Mali

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 1 (18 May 2020)
COVID-19 - Accord douanier entre les Nations Unies et le Gouvernment de la République du Mali (fait le 23 juillet 2009)
Direction Générale des Douanes - Circulaire n°0010 (31 mars 2020) - Procédure spéciale pour la lutte contre le COVID-19
Direction Générale des Douanes - Circulaire n°0012 (31 mars 2020) - Classement dans le HS

Mauritius

Extract from 1988 Mauritius Customs Act
Communiqué: COVID-19 Measures taken by MRA due to lockdown in Mauritius
Communiqué: Accrual of Storage Charges during lockdown Period (2 April 2020)
Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 1 (7 August 2020)

Mozambique

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 1 (18 June 2020)
COVID-19 - Official Publication of the Republic of Mozambique: Decree nr. 23/2020 (27 April 2020)
Tax Authority - General Cargo Import Regime (PT)

Namibia

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 3 (14 July 2020)
COVID-19 - Customs and Excise (21 April 2020)

Niger

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 3 (27 mai 2020)
COVID-19 - Ministère des Finances : Avis aux usagers (10 avril 2020)

Nigeria

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 3 (07 July 2020)
Customs and Excise - Notices (2017)
Customs and Excise - Notice No. 21 (1968)
Customs and Excise - Notice No. 37 (1967)
Customs and Excise Management Act - Arrangement of Sections (2017)
Federal Ministry of Health - Operational Guidelines on the Procurement or Donation of Pharmaceuticals and Other Healthcare Products (2017)
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) - Guidelines on Letter of No Objection (2018)
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) - Guidelines for Pharmaceutical Product (2016)
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) - List of Banned Substances

Sierra Leone

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 1 (27 May 2020)
Revenue and Tax Policy Unit - Guidelines on Duty and Tax Exemptions (2018)

South Sudan

COVID-19 - High Level Task Force on COVID-19 - Communication from the Presidency nr. 56 (13 May 2020)
COVID-19 - Information from Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) in South Sudan (6 April 2020)
COVID-19 - Ministry of Health: Suspension of Issuance of COVID-19 Negativity Certificates (3 June 2020)

South Africa

Draft Disaster Management Tax Relief Bill (19 May 2020)
COVID-19 National HS codes (13 July 2020)
Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 1 (29 July 2020)

Tanzania

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 1 (4 August 2020)

Togo

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 2 (08 June 2020)

Uganda

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 2 (2 July 2020)
COVID-19 - Bill No. 14 to exempt supplies of specified medical goods used to combat COVID-19 from tax (4 June 2020)
COVID-19 - Uganda Revenue Authority - Guidance on the Management of Cargo Trucks (7 May 2020)
National Drug Authority (NDA) - Brief on importation and exportation of pharmaceuticals (September 2018)
Uganda Revenue Authority - List of Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) (20 June 2020)

Zimbabwe

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 2 (09 June 2020)
COVID-19 - Customs and Excise (Amendment) Regulations, 2020 (No. 101)
COVID-19 - Customs and Excise (Amendment) Regulations, 2020 (No. 3)]

AMERICA

Regional

COVID-19 - Latin America and the Caribbean External and Internal Access Restrictions (22 June 2020)
COVID-19 - Measures adopted by AMS Customs in response to COVID-19
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) : How Customs can protect us from the coronavirus (Spanish)
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) : How Customs can protect us from the coronavirus (English)

Chile

COVID-19 - Information from Chilean Customs (26 March 2020) - v01

Colombia

COVID-19 - Decreto 410 - Arancel de aduanas (16 Marzo 2020)

Dominican Republic

COVID-19 - Acuerdo entre las Naciones y el Gobierno de la Republica Dominicana sobre los envios de socorro (14 avril 2020)
COVID-19 - Eliminacion temporal impuestos articulos medicos (2 avril 2020)

Ecuador

COVID-19 - Measures adopted by the Customs National Authority (April 2020)
COVID-19 - Medidas adoptadas por la Autoridad Aduanera Ecuaroriana (Abril 2020)

Haiti

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 1 (03 June 2020) ENG
Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 1 (03 June 2020) FR

Mexico

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 2 (16 July 2020)
COVID-19 - Secretariat of Finance and Public Credit - General Rules of Foreign Trade 2020 - 3.3.20, 3.7.34

Nicaragua

COVID-19 - Bienes con problemas de clasificacion arancelaria Nicaragua

Panama

COVID-19 - Modificacion del arancel - Decreto 604 (added on 14 April 2020)

Peru

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 2 (23 July 2020)
COVID-19 - Resolución de Superintendencia Nacional Adjunta de Aduanas No. 006-2020-SUNAT/300000
Importación para el Consumo, Procedimiento Especifico - Donaciones Provenientes del Exterior

Salvador

COVID-19 - Modificacion del arancel (19 marzo 2020)

United States

COVID-19 - Prioritization and Allocation of Certain Scarce or Threatened Health and Medical Resources for Domestic Use (10 April 2020)
COVID-19 - U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Response to COVID (24 March 2020)

ASIA

Afghanistan

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 6 (15 June 2020)
COVID-19 - Access Impediment Report (10 June 2020)
COVID-19 - Change in Tariff Rates for chlore, detergents, surgical gloves, breathing appliances and gas masks
COVID-19 - ACD DG Letter to Provincial Customs ACD DG Letter to Provincial Customs
COVID-19 - Mechanisms for transferring trucks at Afghan/Pakistani borders (Dari) (28 March 2020)
COVID-19 - Mechanisms for transferring trucks at Afghan/Pakistani borders (English) (28 March 2020)

Bangladesh

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 5 (6 July 2020)
COVID-19 - certificates needed for NOC certificate (Bengali) (Added 27 April)
COVID-19 - SRO-92 - Tax exemption of COVID-19 medical supplies (Bengali) (added 15 April 2020)
COVID-19 - National Board of Revenue Best practices (English) (3 April 2020)
COVID-19 - SRO-184/2020 (Bengali, English) (added 21 July 2020)
Export from China to Bangladesh - Screening process for manufacturers (16 June 2020)

Bhutan

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 1 (19 June 2020)
Bhutan Customs Facilitation Agreement with the United Nations
COVID-19 - Notice from Department of Revenue and Customs (7 May 2020)

China

COVID-19 - Information from Chinese Customs (20 March 2020) - v01
COVID-19 - Questionnaire : Exit/ Entry Health Declaration From of the People's Republic of China (13 March 2020)
COVID-19 - Practices of China Customs on Containing COVID-19 (26 March 2020)

Indonesia

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 2 (13 July 2020)
COVID-19 - List of Measures in Response to COVID-19 Outbreak (23 April 2020) (English)
COVID-19 - Regulation No. 23/2020 (17 March 2020) (Indonesian)
COVID-19 - Regulation No. 28/2020 (20 March 2020) (Indonesian)
COVID-19 - Regulation No. 31/2020 (26 March 2020) (Indonesian)
COVID-19 - Regulation No. 30/2020 (9 April 2020) (Indonesian)
COVID-19 - Regulation No. 34/2020 (17 April 2020) (Indonesian)

Kazakhstan

COVID-19 - Information from Kazakhstan Customs (24 March 2020) - v01

Myanmar

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 2 (13 July 2020)
COVID-19 - MOC - Lifting of import license fees for raw materials to manufacture medicines/medicinal equipment (Burmese) (12 April 2020)

Nepal

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 1 (2 July 2020)
Nepal - Guide to the importation of goods (2007)
Nepal Customs Facilitation Agreement with the United Nations (31 May 2007)
COVID-19 - Nepal Department of Customs notice (15 April 2020)

Pakistan

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 3 (19 June 2020)
COVID-19 - SRO 235 Exempting medical items from Customs duties (20 March 2020)
COVID-19 - SRO 239 Items banned for exportation from Pakistan (24 March 2020)
COVID-19 - SRO 297 Prohibiting the export of COVID-19 related drug (9 April 2020)
COVID-19 - SRO 318 clarifying SRO 235 (16 April 2020)
COVID-19 - Ministry of the Interior announcement (15 May 2020)
COVID-19 - Mechanisms for transferring trucks at Afghan/Pakistani borders (Dari) (28 March 2020)
COVID-19 - Mechanisms for transferring trucks at Afghan/Pakistani borders (English) (28 March 2020)

Philippines

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 5 (13 July 2020)
COVID-19 - Republic Act No. 11469 Declaring National Emergency (25 March 2020)
COVID-19 - Philippines Customs Administrative Order 07-2020 (30 March 2020)
COVID-19 - Philippines Interim Guidelines Issued by Department of Health for Seaports

Sri Lanka

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 3 (23 July 2020)
COVID-19 - Sri Lanka Customs Announcement (18 April 2020)

Turkey

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 2 (29 June 2020)
COVID-19 - Customs Notice on disinfectant alcohol (Turkish) (25 March 2020)
COVID-19 - Customs Notice on duties for ventilators (Turkish) (25 March 2020)
COVID-19 - Customs Notice on disposable medical masks (Turkish) (25 March 2020)
COVID-19 - Legislation from the Ministry of Trade on Relief from Customs Duties (6 April 2020)
COVID-19: Export Procedure from Turkey to Syria (5 May 2020)

United Arab Emirates

Dubai Customs Services - Guide (Arabic)
Dubai Customs Services - Guide (English)

EUROPE

Regional

European Commission (EC) : Guidance on Customs Issues related to the COVID-19 emergency
European Commission (EC) : Export Authorization (English)
European Commission (EC) : Export Authorization (French)

France

COVID-19 : Importation en franchise de droits et taxes de materiel sanitaire

Ukraine

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 2 (23 July 2020)
COVID-19 - Information from Ukrainian Customs (2 April 2020) - v01
COVID-19 - Decree No. 214 (11 March 2020) (Ukrainian)
COVID-19 - Resolution No. 224 (20 March 2020) (Ukrainian)

MENA

Dubai

COVID-19 - Dubai Customs Services Guide (V0.7) (Arabic)
COVID-19 - Dubai Customs Services Guide (V0.7) (English)

Iran

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 4 (2 July 2020)
COVID-19 - Circular on the prohibition of exporting medical equipment (added 17 April 2020)
COVID-19 - Circular on the prohibition of the export of items (added 17 April 2020)
COVID-19 - Circular on regulation on the production of medical masks (added 17 April 2020)
COVID-19 - Iran Customs Administration Best Practices (9 April 2020)

Iraq

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 4 (2 July 2020)

Jordan

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 1 (19 June 2020)
COVID-19 - Jordanian Customs Best Practices (19 April)

Lebanon

Bulletin on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 5 (7 August 2020)
COVID-19 - Decree Preventing the Export of PPE (Arabic) (22 February 2020)
COVID-19 - Civil Aviation Circular No. 45-2 - Arabic (28 July 2020)
COVID-19 - Civil Aviation Circular No. 45-2 - English (28 July 2020)
Explosion at Port of Beirut - List of needed drugs (6 August 2020)

Syria

COVID-19 - Export Procedure from Turkey to Syria (5 May 2020)

OCEANIA
Regional Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) Secretariat - COVID-19 Guidance Document

Useful resources

The COVID-19 outbreak represents a serious threat to the lives of the most vulnerable populations in the world. The IMPACCT WG mission is to facilitate access to relief items in this critical period. To this end, please find below useful documentation and updates on the regulations put into place in time of COVID-19.

Minutes of the IMPACCT WG Meetings

Minutes 1 - 27 March 2020
Minutes 2 - 9 April 2020

Customs

a. COVID-19 Guidance to import humanitarian goods for humanitarian operators

Arabic
English
French
Spanish

b. More resources on Customs

World Customs Organization (WCO) : How to establish and utilize essential goods lists during a disaster
World Customs Organization (WCO) : Counterfeit medical supplies and introduction of export controls on personal protective equipment (English)
World Customs Organization (WCO) : Counterfeit medical supplies and introduction of export controls on personal protective equipment (French)
World Customs Organization (WCO) : Glossary of International Customs Terms (English)
World Customs Organization (WCO) : Glossary of International Customs Terms (French)
World Customs Organization (WCO) : Webpage on COVID-19
World Customs Organization (WCO) : What Customs can do to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic ?
World Customs Organization (WCO), World Health Organization (WHO) : List of priority medicines for customs during COVID-19 pandemic
World Health Organization (WHO) : Handbook for public health capacity-building at ground crossings and cross-border collaboration
World Trade Organization (WTO) : COVID-19 Trade and Trade-related measures

Airports and Flight Restrictions

For detailed information on airports and flight restrictions, please see the HADRA expert group page