COVID-19: Consequences for customs

COVID-19 also has consequences for foreign trade.

This entry was updated on 23 March 2020 and reflects the information currently available to us.

Due to the worldwide crisis caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the global demand for protective medical equipment has increased significantly. In this context, the European Commission has introduced an authorisation requirement for the export of certain products (in particular, protective medical equipment) to non-EU destinations. The authorisation requirement entered into force on 15 March 2020 with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/402. Exceptions to the authorisation requirements include exports to Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, as well as certain overseas countries and territories, and exports to the Faroe Islands, Andorra, San Marino, and Vatican City (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/426 of 19 March 2020).

A national decree in Germany on foreign trade in certain goods (e.g. protective spectacles, face masks, gowns, suits, and gloves), issued on 12 March 2020, which envisaged an authorisation requirement for supplies of protective medical equipment from Germany to other EU Member States, was subsequently repealed on 19 March 2020.