Source: IMPACCT/UN OCHA
02.09.2020
COVID-19 Myanmar Bulletin n° 3 - CIQP : 2 September 2020
BORDER CLOSURE MEASURES
Sea freight:
Port operations are functioning normally, with 1-2 day delays in vessel berthing. There is no impact on shipping-lines operations.
In terms of shipping restrictions for vessels whose previous port call was from COVID-19 high-risk countries:
• Various restrictions apply at different ports in terms of crew change, shore leave and quarantine. For more information, please visit Wilhelmsen.
Yangon Regional Government has now imposed a curfew from 10 pm to 4am until further notice; trucks are unable to operate on the road and there may be delays in cargo discharging for direct delivery vessels.
(source: various, Wilhelmsen, 27 August 2020).
At Yangon Seaport, there are no restrictions on sea cargo imports or exports in Myanmar.
At Land Border Points:
• Thailand-Myanmar: Truck and Customs operations are as normal at Myawaddy.
• China-Myanmar: a reduced number of trucks are operating at the Muse border crossing point and only cargo trucks are allowed to cross the border. Drivers who are from Myanmar must wait at transit points for Chinese drivers to take over the truck for off-loading of cargo. Customs are operating as normal.
• India-Myanmar: Tamu border crossing point remains closed.
(WFP, 7 May 2020).
Land borders with Bangladesh, China, India, Laos and Thailand are closed until further notice, however these borders remain open for trade/cargo movement, excluding the restriction(s) listed above.
Truck operations are delayed due to curfew measures. There are truck driver shortages due to curfews and quarantines imposed by regional and state governments.
(International SOS, undated).
IMPORTATION and CUSTOMS PROCEDURES
Myanmar’s Ministry of Commerce (MOC) lifted the fee requirement to obtain an import license for pharmaceutical raw materials used to manufacture medicines and medicinal equipment on 12 April 2020.
(source: MOC, 12 April 2020).
Effective 1 April 2020, 91 import HS codes and 73 export HS codes temporarily do not require import / export licenses.
Changes to importation procedural requirements:
• According to an update on 7 May, at Yangon Seaport during the COVID-19 response period, Customs Departments have allowed processing with colour-scanned copies of documents instead of original documents. The documents this applies to includes Form D / Form E, B/L and other commercial documents for time being. Originals documents must be presented within one month or once courier services from overseas resume. Failure to do so results in duties, taxes and penalties;
• Customs have reduced the number of documents which must be attached to import and export declarations when using electronic Myanmar Automated Cargo Clearance System (MACCS);
• The MOC now allows on-line import and export license applications for more HS codes.
• Some manual processes have been suspended and most shipments are assigned to the yellow channel, meaning that they are subject to fewer inspections.
(source: WFP, various).
AIRPORT STATUS and FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS
All inbound international passenger and commercial flights into Myanmar are suspended until a further extended deadline of 30 September 2020. This does not apply to:
• Medical evacuation flights;
(source: IATA, 27 August 2020).
IMMIGRATION and QUARANTINE
Passengers are subject to quarantine for 14 days.
Passengers must have a medical certificate with a negative COVID-19 test result. This does not apply to nationals of Myanmar.
(source: IATA, 27 August 2020).
All visa exemptions are suspended as well as visa on arrival facilities.
(source: IATA, 27 August 2020).
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13.07.2020
- All inbound international passenger and commercial flights into Myanmar are suspended until a further extended deadline of 31 July 2020.
- Yangon Regional Government has now imposed a curfew from 10 pm to 4 am until further notice trucks are unable to operate on the road and there may be delays in cargo discharging for direct delivery vessels.
Source: https://vosocc.unocha.org....