G/MA/W/162  
 
13 November 2020  
(20-8135) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Market Access  Original: English  
 
 
COVID -19 – WORK UNDERTAKEN BY THE WCO SECRETARIAT  
IN THE DISASTER RESPONSE PHASE  
(UPDATE SINCE 1 JUNE 2020)  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANIZATION  
The following communication, dated 12 November, is being circulated at the request of the World 
Customs Organization.  
 
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The WCO response to the disruptions brought by the pandemic continues to be centered around 
three pillars:  
 
1) communication and sharing of information;  
2)  partnerships; and  
3) capacity building  
 
In terms of communication and sharing of information, since 1 June, we have issued two updates to 
the HS Classification reference for COVID -19 medical supplies. The current version is version 3.01  
and it is available in 6 languages.  
 
On 26 October 2020 the WHO published a new List 124 - COVID -19 (special edition) under the 
International Nonproprietary Names for Pharmaceutical Substances (INN). The new list contains 
25 substances which are pertinent to the treatment of COVID -19. Given the importance of these 
substances, the WCO and the WHO agreed to continue to work together by coordinating the drafting 
of a docum ent on the HS classification of these 25 substances. This document will be discussed at 
the 36th Session of WCO Scientific Sub -Committee from 16 to 27 November 2020 with the 
attendance of the WHO experts. It is believed that guidance on the classification of these 25 
substances in the HS will contribute to facilitating trade in products containing them if there is 
progress in the treatment of COVID -19 by using them, as their movement across borders will be 
expected to increase.  
 
In early June 2020, the WCO issued the 4th edition  of the WCO Secreta riat Note on “What Customs 
can do to mitigate the effects of the COVID -19 pandemic” document, highlighting and categorizing 
measures that Customs can implement to mitigate the effects of the COVID -19 pandemic.  
 
Enforcement Operation STOP was conducted from  11 May to 12 July 2020 with the involvement of 
99 Members, the RILO network, and a number of stakeholders, such as NTERPOL, the UNODC, OLAF, 
Europol and the private sector represented by Novartis, Servier, Pfizer, Sanofi and UL. The scope of 
the operation  covered the  targeting and inspection of consignments that may contain counterfeit, 
substandard and illicit pharmaceutical products and other goods posing a threat to health and safety. 
The report of Operation STOP was launched at a webinar held on 6 Octob er 2020.  
 
With the financial support of the Government of Japan, in July 2020 the WCO launched the WCO 
COVID -19 Project. The project aims at improving the capacity of Customs administrations in 
developing and least developed countries to address the challe nges related to COVID -19, other 
infectious diseases and disruptive events. The project was entrusted with the development of WCO 
Guidelines on disaster management and supply chain continuity, and with the delivery of capacity 
building activities at the reg ional and national levels.  G/MA/W/162  
 
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  The topic of the role of Customs in mitigating the effects of the COVID -19 pandemic was on the 
agenda of the Spring and Autumn 2020 Permanent Technical Committee (PTC) sessions. During its 
227th/228th Sessions held from 15 May to 3 July 2020, the PTC took note of the information on WCO 
instruments, tools, initiatives and databases that can be utilized in the efforts to address the various 
COVID -19-related challenges faced by Customs and their stakehold ers, and noted the challenges, 
practices and lessons learned associated to the COVID -19 pandemic shared by Members and the 
observations shared by private sector delegates and other observers. The PTC also took note of the 
proposals, to be discussed further , for future WCO work with regard to the role of Customs in the 
different phases of the disaster management cycle, namely conducting a review and gap analysis of 
existing instruments and tools, developing a new tool dealing with business continuity and the  role 
of Customs in the different phases of the disaster management cycle, as well as developing a 
database or compendium of best practices, and agreed to keep the topic on the agenda of future 
PTC meetings.  
 
At its 229th/230th Sessions, held from 28 Septe mber till 29 October 2020, the PTC took note of the 
update on the progress made under the WCO COVID -19 Project and the development of draft WCO 
Guidelines on disaster management and supply chain continuity, noted the importance of these 
guidelines in view of the role of Customs administrations in facilitating the expected movements of 
vaccines around the world, and took note of the guidance, comments and suggestions made by 
delegates.  
 
The WCO continued promoting the role of Customs in mitigating the effect s of the COVID -19 
pandemic at various fora.  
 
The WCO delivered a presentation at the informal meeting of the Trade Facilitation Committee (TFC) 
held on 30 September 2020. In addition to the WCO report on TFA implementation assistance and 
activities during  COVID -19, the WCO provided a written report on the Mercator Programme 
assistance to the TFC Meeting held from 20 to 22 October 2020.  
 
 
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