Page History

07.05.2020

1. Measures aiming to Facilitate the Cross-border Movement of Relief and
Essential Supplies

1.1. Facilitation for the import of medical equipment.

1.2. Offer relaxation and facilitation according to the Commission’s guidance:
https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/covid-19-taxud-response/guidance-customsissues-related-covid-19-emergency_en

1.3. Automatic electronic notification for the release of cargo by the Customs
Authorities to the Port Controlling Authorities.

2. Measures aiming at Supporting the Economy and Sustaining Supply Chain
Continuity

2.1. For companies approved for deferred payment of excise duty and VAT, the
legislation has been amended in order to allow the prolongation of the payments
period.

2.2. On a temporary basis T2L copies instead of originals are accepted, as long as
circumstances prevail making the timely presentation of originals impossible. However
post-controls or other measures apply.
In addition, upon request of the person concerned and if justified under the current
specific circumstances, flexibility may be applied as regards the period of validity of
the proof of customs status.

2.3. The period for taking goods out of the customs territory without the export or reexport declaration being invalidated by the customs office of export is prolonged.
Under the current exceptional circumstances, the customs office of export should not
initiate such invalidation, unless the declarant of the declaration concerned explicitly
requests this.

2.4. Exceptionally during the crisis period and until further notice, when requiring the
provision by importers of origin certificates issued for preferential purposes in the form
of a copy, issued on paper or electronically are accepted. More specifically this applies
to:
- a copy, either in paper or in electronic form (scanned or available online), of the original certificate signed and stamped by the competent
authorities as normally required;
- the certificate, not signed and stamped by the competent authorities as
normally required but with a digital signature of the competent
authorities, or a copy of it, either in paper or in electronic form (scanned
or available on-line).

A copy of a certificate which is not issued in accordance with any of the
two possibilities mentioned above cannot be accepted, unless the
customs authorities of the importing country ascertain their issuance
and authenticity through other means (for instance, via communication
with the customs of the exporting country providing confirmation).
The above apply only to certificates that have been issued since the
start of the CoVid19 crisis where it has affected the possibility to issue
them in due form. For the purpose of this note, such situation is
deemed to exist from 1st March 2020.

Once the exceptional situation ceases, customs authorities will be
entitled to request the importer to present the original certificate.

3. Measures aiming at Protecting Customs administrations’ Staff

3.1. Protection and social distancing measures taken by front line officers, in order to
prevent spreading of the infection and safeguarding the operation of the Customs
Offices in case of an incident during a shift.

3.2. Staff with chronic illness, pregnant women and parents with children under 15
years old working remotely from home by the end of school year.

4. Other Measures

5.1. Further facilitation of the use of electronic payments.

Forthcoming