Armenia

30.04.2020

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

• Importation of a number of medical goods, also required and used in relation to the
  spread of COVID-19 pandemic, as well as a number of basic food products is subject to
  0% import duty for the periods up to the 30th of June, 2020 for some of these goods and
  up to the 30th of September, 2020 for other goods, in accordance with the lists, approved
  (amended) by the resolutions № 21 dated 16 March 2020, № 33 and № 34 dated
  3 April 2020 of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission;
• Measures aimed at facilitating the cross-border transportation of basic necessities

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

• Decision No. 382-A of 27.03.2020 of the Government of the Republic of Armenia “on
  regulating the process of importing goods to the Republic of Armenia from 27 March
  2020 to 31 May 2020, including in the framework of responding to risks caused by the
  spread of the new coronavirus”;
• The Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission "on amendments to some decisions
  of the Customs Union Commission on the approval of the list of goods imported by the
  Eurasian Economic Union Customs area for consumption by the Eurasian Economic
  Union Member States". Decision No. 21 of 2020;
• Decision No. 33 of 03.04.2020 of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission "on
  making amendments to some decisions of the Customs Union Commission and
  approving the list of important goods for import";
• In order to ensure continued daily monitoring of import and export of goods of strategic
  importance in relation to the spread of COVID-19 pandemic and emergency regime
  announced in the Republic of Armenia, including medical goods and basic food
  products, analytical reports based on big data analysis tools, combining information from
  various databases, have been developed and are used to ensure appropriate supply of
  such goods, as well as monitor the values thereof;
• The State Revenue Committee has ensured 24/7 operation of certain functional units of
  the Customs Service, including particular divisions of IT Department, also a direct
  communication channel with the commandant, appointed under the emergency regime
  announced in the Republic of Armenia, is available;
• The Eurasian Economic Commission has approved a list of critically important goods for
  which a tariff exemption is provided in a form of release from import duties, in case of
  importation of goods into the territory of the Eurasian Economic Union member states
  from 1 April to 30 June 2020. The list of these products includes separate agricultural
  and food products, as well as a number of ready-made medicines and medical products;
• The list of products used in the production of medications has been expanded, as well
  as for medicinal products, the import of which is carried out from April 16 to September
  30, 2020 without paying customs duties, providing that the authorized body in the field of
  health has approved their intended use;
• The procedure for issuing "A" type certificates is also temporary simplified for developing
  and less developed countries. The adopted decision allows the use of a paper or
  electronic copy of the above-mentioned document for a period of 6 months and allows
  for the non-submission of the original certificate during the declaration;
• Due to the coronavirus epidemic, the draft law "On Amendments and Addenda to the
  Tax Code of the Republic of Armenia" was signed by the President of the Republic of
  Armenia, according to which from 21 April 2020, the taxpayer or tax agent pays a
  penalty of 0.04% for each overdue day, instead of the previous 0.075%.

3. Measures aiming at Protecting Customs administrations’ Staff

• Commandant’s order No. 27 of 31.03.2020;
• Work was organized electronically - circular document No. 243 of 16.03.2020;
• Provides staff with personal hygiene and protective equipment, such as thermometers,
  masks, gloves, disinfectants, etc.;
• In order to prevent the spread of the infection, the customs authorities have been
  instructed to organize the service in an alternative manner, while ensuring the
  uninterrupted operation of the customs authorities;
• Strict measures have been taken to protect the customs department by applying the
  principle of maintaining social distance. Pregnant women, staff over 60 years of age,
  staff suffering from diabetes and / or cardiovascular and respiratory diseases have been
  employed remotely. The number of customs officers involved in shifts at border
  checkpoints has been reduced for less interaction;
• On organizing activities aimed at preventing the spreading of the coronavirus in the
  Republic of Armenia State Revenue Committee, order No. 240-A of 13.03.2020, No.
  241-A of 16.03.2020, No. 332-L of 1.04.2020 of the Republic of Armenia State Revenue
  Committee Chairman;
• Measures have been taken to ensure reduction in the need of face-to-face meetings of
  employees of different structural and functional units of the State Revenue Committee of
  the Republic of Armenia. Such measures include implementation and use of project
  management software, available not only in the State Revenue Committee internal
  network, but also from personal computers, also for the staff working from home,
  reducing the need of in-person meetings of project teams, use of video-conferencing
  software, not only for international and interagency but also for interdepartmental
  meetings and discussions.

4. Measures aiming at Protecting Society

• "Strict control over the process of transporting goods by vehicles transported to Armenia
  from high-risk countries" Commandant’s order No. N31, Commandant’s order No. N38;
• The COVID 19 Armenia application launched

The Ministry of Economy reported that Islamic Republic and Iran and Armenia have made some exceptions for the transportation of goods between the two countries that are of “economic importance.” The transfer will take place in the area between the administrative building of the Meghri land border crossing and the bridge, and under the supervision of the State Revenue Committee, Ministry of Health, and the National Security Service. Earlier, the transfer of some medical supplies was also allowed. According to the February 24 decision of the Government, some of the supplies include, respiratory masks, medical safety glasses, single use medical protective garments, disposable medical shoe covers, bandages, cotton, diagnostic tests, ethyl alcohol, breathing apparatus, single and multiple use medical scrubs, surgical gloves, etc. (Source: https://www.gov.am/ru/news/item/9692/)