Customs to speed up clearance of imported vaccines

Tribune News Service 
New Delhi, July 15

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) on Thursday put in place a three-step Customs Response Plan (CRP) for instant clearance of imported vaccines.

The CRP is based on the understanding that any delay in customs clearance would only damage the vaccine, in view of its special requirement of storage at very low temperatures. Also, CBIC is acutely conscious of the importance of the vaccines reaching the users without any loss of time, stated an official press release.

The plan builds upon CBIC’s experience in the early days of the pandemic, as demand for medical supplies had surged.

The CBIC said it had paid special attention to the findings of the WHO that the arrival and the subsequent customs clearance of vaccines and their transport to the primary vaccine store are the most critical stages. Experience shows that this is often the time when mistakes are made, and delays occur.

The CRP by the customs department aims to eliminate that.