MANU/CUCR/0055/2020

Ministry : Ministry of Finance

Department/Board : CBIC Customs

Circular No. : 56/2020-Customs

Date : 30.12.2020

Notification/ Circulars Referred : Circular No.51/2020-Customs, dated 20.11.2020 MANU/CUCR/0050/2020

Citing Reference:
Circular No.51/2020-Customs, dated 20.11.2020 MANU/CUCR/0050/2020  Referred

To,

All Principal Chief Commissioners/Chief Commissioners of Customs
All Principal Directors General/Directors General of Customs
All Principal Commissioners/Commissioner of Customs

Madam/Sir,

Import and export of vaccines in relation to COVID-19 through Courier

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to Customs and other administrations the world over. Right from the onset of the pandemic, the Board has been taking various measures to keep import-export supply chains operational and ensure that critical goods are released expeditiously by the Customs. In this context the Board notes that efficient clearance and distribution of vaccines would be a critical requirement in the collective fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The challenges in doing so is heightened by the fact that the vaccines need to be stored and transported under controlled temperatures and there are multiple stakeholders involved in this process. This necessitates putting in place efficient cross-border procedures for speedy evacuation of the vaccines. Accordingly the Board has proactively reviewed the extant process for cross-border movement of goods and focussed on especially facilitating the Customs clearance of imported/ export of vaccines relating to COVID -19.

2. In order to facilitate the import/ export of vaccines in relation to COVID -19 through Courier, at locations where the Express Cargo Clearance System (ECCS) is operational, the Board has issued the Courier Imports and Exports (Electronic Declaration and Processing) Amendment Regulations, 2020. These new regulations amend the Courier Imports and Exports (Electronic Declaration and Processing) Regulations, 2010 to provide the following:

(i) Imports of and exports of vaccines in relation to COVID 19 has been allowed without any value limitation.