New temporary by-law: COVID-19 Response Goods

30th April, 2020

Please be advised that the Government has announced that they are gazetting a new by-law that provides for duty free importation of prescribed medical or hygiene products for use in the COVID-19 response.

The by-law will be backdated to 1 Feb 2020 and therefore refunds of duty paid on the prescribed goods that have been imported after that date will be available.

The wording of the by-law is:

By-law 2019608 to Item 57 – Goods to be used in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
1.  This by-law may be cited as Customs By-law No. 2019608.
2.  This by-law shall be deemed to have taken effect on 1 February 2020.
3.  For the purposes of Item 57 of Schedule 4 to the Customs Tariff Act 1995 (the Customs Tariff), the following medical or hygiene products are prescribed:

(a) any of the following equipment that, when worn, is capable of limiting
the transmission of organisms to humans:
(i) face masks;
(ii) gloves;
(iii) clothes or gowns;
(iv) goggles, glasses, eye visors or face shields;

(b) disinfectant preparations classified to heading 3808 in Schedule 3 to
the Customs Tariff, excluding hand sanitisers;
(c) soaps;
(d) COVID-19 test kits, reagents and viral transport media.

Please contact your SCC Customs Team at sales@sccargo.com.au should you have any questions on the use of the new by-law.