18/04/2023 (Agence Europe) – The European Commission adopted on Monday 17 April a decision extending to 10 Member States the current possibility to temporarily exempt from customs duties and value added tax (VAT) imports from third countries of food, blankets, tents, electricity generators and other life-saving equipment for war-affected Ukrainians. The extension of this measure, requested by 10 Member States, will apply retroactively from 1 January 2023 and remain in place until 31 December 2023. The measure will apply in Estonia, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. The original decision was applied from 24 February to 31 December 2022. This exemption applies to goods imported by charities and State organisations, notably hospitals. (AD)