Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2024 19:23:07 +0100 (CET) Message-ID: <1438665837.2858.1711650187514@ece-prd-lx-31.unog.un.org> Subject: Exported From Confluence MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; boundary="----=_Part_2857_502486120.1711650187511" ------=_Part_2857_502486120.1711650187511 Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: file:///C:/exported.html
Source: IMPACCT / UN OCHA
07.08.2020
Mauritius- Oil Spill in the context of COVID-19
The = government of Mauritius has closed the country=E2=80=99s air space to preve= nt and fight spread ofthe imported Covid-19 infection in Mauritius. The Mau= ritius Police Force has been mandated to ensure compliance with the conditi= ons of the Sanitary Curfew. (Mauritius Revenue Authority, 16April 2020)On 6= August 2020, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Int= ernational Trade alerted the international community to an imminent risk of= oil spill of Tier 3 following the running aground of a bulk carrier vessel= , MV Wakashio, on the reef of Pointe d'Esny in Mauritius.Bulletin = on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures Nr 1 (7 August 2020)<= /span>
IMPORTATION and CUSTOMS PROCEDURES
Temporary elimination of VAT on imports of protective masks, breathing a= ppliances and hand sanitizers (HS 6307.90.30;
9020.00.00; 3808.94.10); and goods (except furniture) to be used for the= construction of purpose building for a residential
care home, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Permanent Delegation of Maurit= ius to the WTO, 16 April 2020)
1. Activation of the Relief= Consignment Mechanism MRA
Customs is giving expedited release to relie= f consignments
arriving by special chartered air flights. G= oods cleared in this
category include Covid-19 Test Kits, medicam= ents and
pharmaceuticals, face masks, sanitizers, rea= gents and other
goods of prime necessity. Moreover, clearanc= e for essential
goods such as basic necessities is being pri= oritised. In line with
WCO recommended Best Practices, our national= legislation
makes provision for the treatment of Relief = Consignments.
2. Removal of duties and Ta= xes on PPEs VAT has been removed
on hand sanitizers, protective masks, gloves= , test kits, and other
related medical equipment (taken effect sinc= e 24 March 2020)
3. Waiver of penalties and = interest for late payments:
Given the lockdown prevailing in Mauritius, = stakeholders who
are unable to effect payment on or before th= e prescribed
deadline under the Deferred Payment Scheme (= DPS), were
waived from payment of penalty or interest f= or late payment of
Customs duty, excise duty and taxes. Storage= charges have been
waived for those stakeholders who have not b= een able to take
delivery of their consignments during Sanita= ry Curfew and lock
down.
4. A communiqu=C3=A9 has been published on MRA website = and a
communication line between Customs and external
stakeholders has been established for the smooth running of operations.<= /p>
Economic operators have been provided a common
email address and a dedicated phone number to contact
Customs at any time for any urgent issues: telephone number 5
259 6950, email address headoffice@mra.mu.
5. Web-based submission of Customs declarations MRA
Customs negotiated with the Service Provider to allow, free of
charge, web-based access to the CMS by ALL economic
operators transacting business with Customs. This initiative
enables brokers/freight forwarders and other declarants to work
from home. The Facilities for the electronic submission of
Customs Declarations, including electronic payment of duties
and taxes, are available on the CMS. (WCO, 16 April 2020)
Sea ports: Prior to starting bunkering operations or pr= ovisions
loading, harbor radio should contact master of vessel regarding
health status of all crew members and inform health authority
so that permission from health authority can be granted.
(Wilhelmsen, 16 July 2020)
The core services of Mauritius Revenue Authority Customs are
operational at Custom House, Mer Rouge, PATS, Plaine
Magnien and at the SSR International Airport, with a skeleton
staff, in view of enabling the clearance of goods and outgoing
passengers.
MRA Customs at Plaine Corail in Rodrigues is also operational
with a skeleton staff in view of providing the core services.
Facilities for the electronic submission of Customs Declarations,
including electronic payment of duties and taxes, are available
on the Customs Management System. (Mauritius Chamber of
Commerce and Industry, 21 March 2020)
IMMIGRATION and QUARANTINE
All passengers are required to undergo a PCR test within 5 days
of travel and to present same at check-in and on arrival.
In Mauritius another PCR test is carried out and the result are
obtained in less than 24 hours.
Normally, passengers stay on a 14 days quarantine and further
PCR test carried out on the 7th and 13th day if the quarantine
period.
Considering the threat of the oil spill, the authorities may waive
the 14 day quarantine if the PCR test on arrival is negative. (Civil
Aviation of Mauritius, 6 August 2020)
Holders of Laissez-passer issued by the United Nations, SADC
or from other internationally recognized organizations are
exempted from needing a visa. (Republic of Mauritius website
visa portal, undated).
Lockdown restrictions were lifted on 30 May. (WFP, 28 July
2020)
Source: https://vosocc.unocha.org.....
Source: WCO/Mauritius Revenue Authorit= y (MRA)
20.0= 4.2020
____= ___________________________________________________________________________= ______
16.0= 4.2020
Measures taken by MRA Customs
MRA Customs is giving expedited release to relief consignments arriving = by special chartered air flights. Goods cleared in this category include Co= vid-19 Test Kits, medicaments and pharmaceuticals, face masks, sanitizers, = reagents and other goods of prime necessity. Moreover, clearance for essent= ial goods such as basic necessities is being prioritised.
In line with WCO recommended Best Practices, our national legislation ma= kes provision for the treatment of Relief Consignments (an extract of the r= elative legislation is provided at Annex 1).
VAT has been removed on hand sanitizers, protective masks, gloves, test = kits, and other related medical equipment (taken effect since 24 March 2020= ).
(i) Deferred Payment Scheme
Customs is encouraging more businesses especially SMEs to join the Schem= e. Under this scheme Customs allows release of goods, including excisable g= oods, without payment of duties and taxes at time of delivery; operators pa= y by the 7th of next month.
(ii) Duty and taxes suspended regime
Customs has eased the conditions for the approval of bonded warehouses/e= ntities/places. Under this Customs procedure, economic operators can wareho= use goods for a maximum period of 24 months; duties and taxes become payabl= e as and when goods are ex- warehoused.
(iii) Waiver of penalties and interest for late payments
Given the lockdown prevailing in Mauritius, stakeholders who are unable = to effect payment on or before the prescribed deadline under the Deferred P= ayment Scheme (DPS), were waived from payment of penalty or interest for la= te payment of Customs duty, excise duty and taxes. Storage charges have bee= n waived for those stakeholders who have not been able to take delivery of = their consignments during Sanitary Curfew and lock down (Annex 2).
A communiqu=C3=A9 has been published on MRA website and a communication = line between Customs and external stakeholders has been established for the= smooth running of operations. Economic operators have been provided a comm= on email address and a dedicated phone number to contact Customs at any tim= e for any urgent issues (Copy of communiqu=C3=A9 is at Annex 3).
All necessary arrangements have been made to enable a team of Customs Of= ficers to work from home so as to ensure a smooth running of the core and e= ssential services such as monitoring and clearance of consignments through = the Customs Management System (CMS), risk management and excise operations.= Customs Officers involved in post-clerance audit have also been provided w= ith this facility.
All frontline Customs Officers have been provided with Personal Protecti= ve Equipment (PPE)
- face masks, gloves and hand sanitizers - to be used during the perform= ance of their duties at the Port and Airport. The front-liners have been is= sued with Work Access Permit under the signature of the Commissioner of Pol= ice for movement from and to their residence during the Sanitary Curfew.
It is to be noted that officers aged 50 years and above and those having= health issues have been excluded from the team of core staff working at th= e borders. They have, instead, been hooked on the online platform to enable= them to perform their duties safely and securely from their home.
MRA Customs negotiated with the Service Provider to allow, free of charg= e, web-based access to the CMS by ALL economic operators transacting busine= ss with Customs. This initiative enables brokers/freight forwarders and oth= er declarants to work from home.
The Facilities for the electronic submission of Customs Declarations, in= cluding electronic payment of duties and taxes, are available on the CMS.= p>
The optimum use of non-intrusive x-ray scanning is being done so as to m= inimise physical examinations by customs officers.
1. Government has closed the air space to prevent and fight spread of the i=
mported Covid-19 infection in Mauritius.
2. A Sanitary Curfew has been put in force in Mauritius to prevent spread o=
f the Covid-19 infection. The Mauritius Police Force has been mandated to e=
nsure compliance with the conditions of the Sanitary Curfew.
3. There is a vast sensitization campaign launched by Government with the s=
upport of the media and other key stakeholders to encourage population to s=
tay at home to prevent spread of the Covid-19.
4. Daily information is broadcasted to public via all local media on the ev=
olution in number of cases detected, number of deaths, and number of contac=
t tracings among others by a special Committee set up by Government for tha=
t purpose namely the National Communication Committee on Covid-19.
5. There is a dedicated website set up (https://besafemoris.mu/) for =
information sharing on Covid-19 evolution in Mauritius.
6. Government has also set up three schemes as follows:
i) National Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to the poor and needy;
ii) Self-Employed Assistance Scheme (SEAS) to assist self-employed persons =
who have suffered a loss of revenue as a consequence of the lockdown in the=
fight against Covid- 19; and
iii) Wage Assistance Scheme to ensure that all employees in the private sec=
tor are duly paid their salary for the month of March 2020 and MRA has been=
tasked with this responsibility.
Remarks from the International Road Tr= ansport Union
Forthcoming