On Thursday 23 July, the European Commission decided to extend for three months the temporary exemption from customs duties and VAT for medical devices and protective equipment imported from non-Member States and deemed as essential in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.
To justify its decision, the Commission explained that “the number of coronavirus cases in Member States still represents a risk to public health, and shortages of medical devices are still being reported in Member States”.
The Commission made its original decision on 3 April, at the height of the pandemic (see EUROPE 12461/11). It was initially due to run from 30 January 2020 to 31 July 2020.
The Commission has indicated that, on 11 June, it consulted all of the Member States and the United Kingdom about the need for an extension and received their agreement. The measure will therefore apply until 31 October 2020 without interruption.
The measure covers masks, protective equipment, testing kits, respirators and other medical equipment distributed or provided free of charge to anyone affected by Covid-19 or involved in tackling the pandemic. It applies both to government bodies, including hospitals, and to registered charities. (Original version in French by Marion Fontana)