The General Directorate of Customs (DGA) clarified in the last few hours that it has controlled the entry into Argentina of More than 28 million medical products and supplies y 7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines since the beginning of the pandemic, through control operations at Ezeiza International Airport.
The DGA added in the statement: "In a coordinated effort with the Ministry of Health of the Nation and ANMAT, Customs sought to provide the greatest possible speed so that both vaccines and medical supplies reach all corners of the country."
The products brought into the country included more than 17,5 million face masks and protective masks of all kinds, including disposable, three-layer and surgical masks. More than 6 million disposable gloves and 930.000 protective gowns and isolation suits also arrived. There were more than 45 different flights in which these products, which are so necessary to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, arrived.
The DGA stressed that "with 38% of the total, the largest amount of health products was imported by the Ministry of Health of the Nation and the rest was destined for provincial ministries and health institutions."
In the case of vaccines, "since December 24, 2020, doses began to arrive on flights from Russia, India, China and the Netherlands. In 16 shipments, more than 7 million doses have already arrived in the country," the DGA emphasized.
Less time in Customs
The entity clarified that "aware of the health crisis and with the aim of giving it the greatest possible speed, the Customs staff prioritizes times and ensures the integrity of the vaccines to ensure that from the arrival of the plane to the departure with the trucks the period of between 90 and 120 minutes".
In each of the entries, both for vaccines and medical products, Coordinated work with the Ministry of Health and ANMAT is key in order to ensure that all necessary permits and documentation are in place for each arrival.
The agency pointed out that during a regular import of any merchandise, once a plane with cargo has arrived, it must be taken to the warehouse where control tasks are carried out. In the case of vaccines against Covid-19, after the arrival of the flights, Customs agents carry out the control on the runway to speed up the entry, as long as this method ensures the preservation of the vaccines.
In this regard, he indicated that In the process of importing them, Law 27.573 is relevant. sanctioned in October last year, which declares the research, development, manufacturing and acquisition of vaccines intended to generate acquired immunity against the coronavirus to be of public interest, within the framework of the health emergency.
“This regulation exempts vaccines and disposables imported by the Ministry of Health from paying import duties and any other tax, levy, contribution, fee or customs or port tariff, of any nature or origin, including value-added tax, as well as the provinces and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires,” the DGA ruled.
With information from Télam
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