Government of India

Ministry of Finance

Department of Revenue

Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs

To

All Principal Chief Commissioners/Chief Commissioners of Customs/Customs (Preventive),

All Principal Chief Commissioners/Chief Commissioners of Customs & Central tax,

All Principal Commissioners/Commissioners of Customs/Customs (Preventive),

All Principal Commissioners/Commissioners of Customs & Central tax,

All Principal Director Generals/Director Generals under CBIC.

Subject: Expediting Customs Clearances for Covid related imports made by Indian Red Cross society-reg.

Reference is invited to Board Instruction No.07/2021 dated 24th April 2021 requesting the field formations to give high priority for Customs clearance of import of goods relating to COVID 19 pandemic, including medical grade oxygen, specified equipment for production, transportation and distribution of oxygen, equipment for oxygen therapy to COVID patients and COVID-19 vaccines etc. Donations of COVID-related material and medicines from foreign Governments have also started arriving at our ports.

2. In wake of the extraordinary situation owing to the COVID pandemic, the issue of providing seamless clearance to such relief material received from foreign Governments and imported by Indian Red Cross Society was discussed in a meeting chaired by Cabinet Secretary on 27.4.2021. It was decided that in all cases of covid related imports facilitated by Ministry of External Affairs and/ or imported by Indian Red Cross society, permissions/ licences/ authorizations required from other Government Department/Agencies prior to the clearance of goods, if any, would be deemed to have been given. In other words, such cases need not be referred to those agencies or the requirement may be suitably waived.

3. In view of the above decision, the Customs formations are requested to give the highest priority to these consignments and facilitate their clearance in the shortest possible time.

(Ananth Rathakrishnan)

Deputy Secretary (Customs)