The EU is suspending customs duties and value-added tax on medical equipment used to combat the new coronavirus pandemic, the European Commission announced Friday.
- The waived taxes and duties apply to items that governments distribute for free to medical personnel or to people affected by or are at risk of the virus, the Commission said in a decision.
- The relief will apply to items like protective equipment for medical staff, testing kits, and ventilators, the Commission said in a statement, also released Friday.
- The Commission on Mar. 20 invited all member states and the U.K. to apply to waive the levies and all did so, the Commission said.
- The measure applies retroactively from Jan. 30 and will last six months, but may be extended.
To contact the reporter on this story:
To contact the editors responsible for this story:
Learn more about Bloomberg Tax or Log In to keep reading:
See Breaking News in Context
From research to software to news, find what you need to stay ahead.
Already a subscriber?
Log in to keep reading or access research tools and resources.