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SOURCE: WCO/General Administration of Customs and Excise

20.03.2020

Belgian Customs Administration Corona Measures – best practices
Version 20 March 2020
Protective equipment


Export
Despite the fact that procurement has increased and additional production has been
encouraged, the current level of Union production and existing stocks of protective
equipment will not be sufficient to meet the demand within the Union. Therefore, the EU has
issued Regulation 2020/402 of 14 March to control the export of protective equipment.
For the Belgian Customs Administration, that means:
o Selection system does not release the items of the annex of the regulation for
export. Goods can only be cleared for export after verifying officers confirm
that the shipment does not contain protective equipment OR if a licence is
available.
o The necessary capacity is provided for the control of the measures
o There is ongoing concertation with major Belgian industrial stakeholders on
the operational side of the regulation
o The competent authority provides certification for traders that are not targeted
by the regulation (e.g. protective gear for automotive industry that has no
medical use).
Import
The Belgian Customs Administration issued temporary measures to allow relief of VAT and
Customs duties for donations of equipment for the protection of personnel.
The relief is based on articles 57 – 58 of regulation 1186/2009.
Disinfectants, sanitizers, etc.
Pharmacists shall be allowed, as an exception and for a limited time, to store and use
ethanol. We do require the beneficiaries of the exceptional rules to hold a register.
As a second measure, to increase the production of base substances for disinfectant sprays
and liquids, the Belgian Customs Administration temporarily broadens the products that can
be used for denaturation for this purpose. This enables pharmacists and hospitals to use
alcohols to produce disinfectants based on stocks of available alcohols that would otherwise
receive another destination (industrial use, destruction, etc.)
Measures for customs officers
The minister of Internal Affairs and Safety has listed the Customs Administration as an
essential service for the vital functions of the Kingdom of Belgium.
This means the Customs Administration will continue its core function of protecting the
interests of the Union and facilitate trade.
With this in mind, the Administration took severe measures for protection, based on the
social distancing principle. Legislation, central services, litigation and prosecution, and all
other non-first line officers work from home. Field officers have reduced staff numbers to
allow less interaction.

                                                                                                 

Temporary and limited relaxation of the enforcement of driving and rest times for drivers

Belgium has notified a temporary and limited relaxation of the enforcement of driving and rest times for the drivers involved in the supply chain relating to essential goods and medicine. This relaxation is granted pursuant to Article 14(2) of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006.

Start date: 19.03.2020

End date: 31.03.2020





Remarks from the International Road Transport Union

15.04.2020

On 13 April, relaxations on driving and rest time rules in Belgium have been slightly adapted and limited. For drivers transporting essential goods (food supplies, medicines, medical equipment, fuel), the following applies:

·       Increase of the maximum weekly driving limit from 56 hours to 60 hours.

·       Increase of the maximum fortnightly driving limit from 90 hours to 96 hours.

·       Possibility to postpone a weekly rest period beyond seven-24 hour periods (instead of six).

·       Possibility to take 2 consecutive reduced weekly rest periods, provided that:

a)    the driver takes at least 4 weekly rests in 4 consecutive weeks, of which 2 are regular weekly rests; and

b)    compensation for a reduced weekly rest shall be taken before the end of the fourth week.

For all other drivers, there is the possibility to take the regular weekly rest in the vehicle, provided that it has suitable sleeping facilities and is maintained. Such exemptions apply to national and international goods transport.

Exemptions for both categories apply until 31 May.

Source: FEBETRA

                                                                                                   

09.04.2020

Belgium has agreed to a temporary and limited relaxation of the enforcement of driving and rest times for all drivers of vehicles active in the transport of goods. This relaxation is granted pursuant to Article 14(2) of the EU Regulation 561⁄2006.This temporary relaxation applies from 26/03/2020 and will run until 25/04/2020. It will apply to those drivers involved in the delivery of goods, both domestically and internationally. The following provisions will be temporarily relaxed as follows:

-      derogation to the Article 8(8) of Regulation 561/2006: suspension of the ban on drivers spending their normal weekly rest period in the vehicle cabin.

In addition to this, general derogation and specific derogations for essential transport have been put into place. Belgium has agreed to a temporary and limited relaxation of the enforcement of driving and rest times for all drivers of vehicles active in the complete supply chain for the transport of essential goods and medication. This relaxation is granted pursuant to Article 14(2) of the EU Regulation 561⁄2006. This temporary relaxation applies from 01/04/2020 and will run until 30/04/2020. It will apply to those drivers involved in the delivery of goods domestically and internationally. The following provisions will be temporarily relaxed as follows:

-      derogation to the Article 6(2) of Regulation 561/2006: replacement of the maximum weekly driving limit of 56 hours to 60 hours;

-      derogation to the Article 6(3) of Regulation 561/2006: replacement of the maximum fortnightly driving limit of 90 hours to 96 hours;

-      derogation to the Article 8(6) of Regulation 561/2006: postponement of a weekly rest period beyond six-24 hours period;

-      derogation to the Article 8(6): reduction of the regular weekly rest period from 45 hours to 24 hours without any compensation.

Source: FEBETRA

                                                                                                         

Employers' federations and trade unions in the Belgian road haulage sector and logistics service providers for third parties have made a joint call on all those involved to ensure, to the extent possible, the protection of all those in the haulage and logistics industry who are working during the COVID-19 pandemic. The call relates to stringently respecting all current measures in place regarding general hygiene, social distancing and the use of equipment at workplaces. The letter is available here.

Source: FEBETRA


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UNECE Sustainable Transport Division