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23.07.2021
2. Suspension of visa on arrival facilities. 3. Passengers are subject to medical screening and quarantine for 21 days. 4. Airline crew are subject to medical screening and quarantine. 5. Passengers must have a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result. The test must have been taken at most 72 hours before departure. Source: https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/world.php |
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18.08.2020 Bulletin n° 2 - CIQP : 17 August 2020 (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures) ______________________________________________________________________________ 19.06.2020 COVID-19 [Bhutan] Bulletin n°1 – CIQP : 19 June 2020 (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures) IMPORTATION AND CUSTOM Customs, land, sea (updated 7 May 2020) • Zero-contact Customs clearance procedures have been established at land borders where consignments and goods are brought into the country in foreign transport vehicles with foreign drivers; • Health measures have been put in place by the government to contain the spread of COVID-19 across land borders through Customs entry points. (Source: Bhutan Department of Revenue and Customs, 7 May 2020) The contact points for the main border-crossing points are as follows: Contact point for Paro International Airport:
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7 May 2020 ZERO CONTACT CUSTOMS CLEARANCE PROCEDURE; from a Landlocked Country perspective considering BHUTAN Customs Administration’s COVID-19 containment measures PART I: LAND CUSTOMS STATION 1. Bhutan’s international trade landscape Bhutan is a landlocked Himalayan country squeezed between two giants; China and India. Overall, about 95% of Bhutan’s international trade substantially happens via land and only about 5% via Air. Further, due to very high Himalayan range and rugged terrain on its north, east and west, Bhutan’s trade is largely with India from its southern land borders which constitutes about 80% of the overall trade volume. Goods imported into the country from countries other than India also transit via India. 2. COVID-19 pandemic challenges Given the international trade landscape of Bhutan, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have posed immense risk and challenges to the cross-border regulatory and law enforcement agencies. On a positive note, it has led to a high-level border coordination and cooperation among all the border agencies, not only in Bhutan but globally as well. Due to immense risk posed by COVID-19 and strategic role Customs hold in the international trade supply chain, greater responsibility has been bestowed upon Customs to safeguard ones Nation at all cost. Under such conditions and given limited resources and technology advancement, Bhutan Customs initiated innovative measures to minimize risk. A zero contact Customs clearance procedures have been considered at the land borders where huge volume of consignments and goods are brought into the country in foreign transport/carrier with foreign drivers. 3. Measures put in place The Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) has initiated various response strategies to contain the community spread of COVID-19 and stop its influx into the country from across the border. Thus, putting greater pressure and responsibility on Customs especially at the land borders where the transporters/carriers are largely illiterate. To ensure a successfully containment, Bhutan Customs adopted innovative measures which are briefly presented below with the aim to achieve zero contact Customs clearance and release consignments with minimal interference by the Customs officials. 3.1. Zero contact clearance procedures (Overview); At a glance, loaded vehicles enter the customs area and documents are placed by the foreign driver themselves in the assigned drop box. The vehicle is then directed to transshipment bay to transship into the Bhutanese vehicle. While transshipment is carried out by assigned individuals in a planned manner using proper protective gears and maintaining appropriate physical distance, the foreign driver is escorted to the temporary makeshift to rest and wait until the transshipment is completed. When the transshipment is done, the foreign driver will drive his empty truck and exit Customs area/border gate. Concerning the hard copies of the documents placed in the drop box (electronic declarations are also available), it will be kept overnight to contain the virus to the extent possible. In addition, Customs not only facilitate trade and clear goods but also makes sure that all the Customs areas are disinfected before and afterwards of the clearance procedures. In the whole process, Customs officials have zero contact with foreign nationals with absolute physical distance maintained and follows disciplined process steps. Further, relaxation was enhanced for the physical examination unless any specific intelligence received or substantial breach determined. 3.2. Strict screening of travelers; Since the land borders being very porous and movement of people and travelers across the border with India being free, the entry and exit gates are under strict surveillance after the outbreak of COVID-19. Though the free movement of people being temporarily suspended, the Customs officials assist the health officials in screening the thermal temperatures for the travelers entering into the country. 3.3. Separate entry and exit point for normal vehicles crossing borders; As a functional requirement, various standard operating procedures have been developed designating separate entry and exit point for the foreign and Bhutanese vehicles crossing borders with the aim to minimize people contact. 3.4. Relief of Duty and Taxes (Section 47 and 75 of the Customs Act of Bhutan, 2017) To sustain Bhutan’s fragile economy and to ensure an uninterrupted supply of essential goods into the country, smooth cross-border business/trade transactions are maintained without any hindrance. To mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the traders and business community at large, the RGoB deferred the payment of duty and taxes by three months (April-June, 2020) for identified importers importing essential goods categorized as basic necessity. 3.5. Customs administrative and service building cordoned To minimize the risk posed by COVID-19, Customs administrative and service building areas has been immediately cordoned. Only the pertinent service provider mainly Customs Clearing and Forwarding Agents (CFA’s) are permitted to enter the area. Even the traders are barred from entering the service building. Further, the CFA’s manpower has been reduced and their office as well re-structured in line with social distancing procedure. 3.6. Safety measures for loaders For the safety of self-employed loaders stationed at the Mini Dry Ports (MDP), protocol for transshipment of goods in the Customs area has been developed. The protocol entails loaders to maintain good physical distance amongst themselves at the time of transshipment, unloading and loading of the goods besides washing hands regularly. These loaders are basically the unemployed youth and volunteers who suffered loss due to closure of their business. 3.7. Other initiatives Use of Druk Trace App for “Contact Tracing” by helping with the identification of people who may have come in direct contact with a COVID-19 infected person while visiting public places or while using public transportation. With the aim to reduce mass gathering in the office, the Customs officials mostly working over the desk or computers have been directed to work remotely from their residence. Beside mentioned above, Bhutan Customs has also put into practice the WCO indicative list of harmonized codes shared as supplementary note for emergency supplies. Ensuring uninterrupted supply chain during the COVID-19 Pandemic
PART II: INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 4. Customs clearance objectives and principles during COVID 19:
5. Clearance of Passenger
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