COVID-19 related duty exemptions amount to MVR 9.6 million

Maldives Customs Service, on Wednesday, announced that the exemptions on import duty granted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic amounted to MVR 9.6 million.

At the National Emergency Operations Center press briefing on Wednesday afternoon, Deputy Commissioner of Customs Abdulla Shareef said Customs was working on granting duty exemptions in addition to the duty waivers signed by the President by the powers vested in him under Import/Export Act.

Shareef said Customs was engaged in discussions with the Economic Ministry regarding granting additional exemptions.

The President has already waived import duty and processing fee on hand sanitizer, face shield, protective mask, hand wash, protective gloves, disinfectant, and Personal Protective Equipment - which includes hazmat suits, medical goggles, gowns and coveralls and shoe covers.

The waivers will be in effect for the duration of the state of public health emergency.

Customs reports it has processed MVR 4.9 million in duty exemptions on PPEs, MVR 3.4 million on face masks, and MVR 1.2 million on sanitizers and hand wash so far.

Shareef, who has been in charge of Customs since the death of its former head in April, said that MVR 4.7 million worth of face masks, 240 metric tonnes of disinfectant, and 59 metric tonnes of sanitizer had been imported into Maldives since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic.