EU EXTENDS CUSTOMS AND VAT WAIVER FOR IMPORTS OF COVID-19 MEDICAL AND PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
On 22 December 2021, the Commission extended for 23 EU Member States, at their request, the temporary waiver of customs duties and Value-Added Tax (VAT) on imports from non-EU countries of medical devices and protective equipment used in the fight against COVID-19. The Commission Decision prolongs until 30 June 2022 the customs duties and VAT relief available under the already existing exemption for the Member States concerned, which was set to expire at the end of 2021. An indicative list of goods falling under the Commission Decision is available here.
Some Member States still face challenges in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic, and imports of these goods into the EU remain significant. The measure aim to continue to support Member States financially in getting equipment such as masks or ventilators to the medical staff and patients that need them most.
More information on the Decision and the exact details of the waivers can be found here.