Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2021-07-05

Submission of Regulations issued under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No.1 of 1969 for approval in Parliament

- Action has been taken since April 2020 to limit the importation of goods in order to ease the pressure on external reserves and the financial market which caused by unexpected economic crisis resultant by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the Tariff Determination Committee appointed by H.E the President has taken following steps to safeguard local industries and to continuously facilitate for the importation of essential commodities:

* Granting permission to import goods which were permitted to import on suppliers' credit facility as general importation of goods.

* Further continue the importation restrictions on selected Agro products, plastic goods,ceramic products,vehicles and wooden products.

* Granting permission to import oxygen and respiratory apparatus only on the recommendation of the National Medicinal Regulator Authority.

* Listing out the importation of gold and face masks under the Import Control License System.

Therefore, the proposal made by the Hon. Prime Minister in his capacity as the Minister of Finance to submit 03 regulations issued under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No.1 of 1969 and published in the Government Gazette dated 2021‑06‑11, for approval in Parliament, was approved by the Cabinet.