Korea Customs Service Applies 'Special Customs Clearance Procedures' for COVID-19 Vaccines

A schematic diagram comparing the general customs clearance procedure and the special customs clearance procedure for COVID-19 vaccines. Provided by the Korea Customs Service.

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The Korea Customs Service will apply special customs clearance procedures for the import of COVID-19 vaccines.

On the 28th, the Korea Customs Service announced that it will apply special customs clearance procedures to enable the rapid transportation of COVID-19 vaccines.

Considering the vaccine characteristics that require a short storage period and maintenance of appropriate temperature, the aim is to eliminate obstacles during the vaccine transportation process through expedited customs clearance.

First, the Customs Service will allow importers to submit 'pre-arrival import declarations' so that customs import inspections can be completed before the vaccine arrives, and customs inspections will be omitted.

Additionally, the requirement to provide guarantees for tariffs and value-added tax imposed on vaccines and packaging containers upon import will be waived to ensure rapid approval of declarations, and procedures for bringing vaccines into bonded areas will also be omitted.

When the aircraft carrying the vaccines arrives in Korea, the vaccines will be loaded onto dedicated transport vehicles on the runway and immediately transported out.

On the same day, the Customs Service conducted a simulation training and pre-inspection of this special customs clearance procedure at the Incheon Airport cargo terminal.

Customs Commissioner Noh Seok-hwan stated, “We will thoroughly implement special customs clearance procedures to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are supplied domestically without any disruption, and we will make full preparations to enable rapid on-site response through close cooperation with related agencies.” He added, “The Customs Service plans to conduct a final inspection and re-monitor the overall preparation status, including customs clearance procedures, as soon as the vaccine import schedule and quantities are confirmed.”