India To Remove 10% Customs Duty On Covid Vaccine Imports: Report

On Monday, the government announced that vaccines that anyone over the age of 18 will be eligible for the Covid-19 vaccines.

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New Delhi: India which has started to import vaccines from different countries has decided to waive off its 10% customs duty in an attempt to fight against the surging cases. 

Although, India is not the only one that levies customs duty on vaccine imports, other South Asian countries, including Nepal and Pakistan, as well as Latin American nations such as Argentina and Brazil levy vaccine import tariffs ranging between 10% and 20% according to the Reuters report. 

Foreign vaccine supply

Russia's Sputnik V vaccine are due to arrive soon meanwhile the Indian government has urged Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson from the United States to sell their products to India.

An unnamed senior government offical told Reuters that the government was considering allowing private entities to import approved vaccines for sale on the open market without its intervention. He added that they mighht be given the freedom to set their own price. 

Currently, India regulates the sale and purchase of all Covid vaccines. 

Vaccines for all above 18

From May 1st, everyone above the age of 18 will be eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine announced the Center on Monday. Aside from which the Center decided that vaccine manufacturers would supply 50% of their monthly Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) released doses to the Centre and would be free to supply the remaining 50% doses to the state governments and in the open market.

Also, private hospitals would have to procure their supplies of Covid-19 vaccine exclusively from the 50% supply earmarked for other than Government of India channel. Private vaccination providers shall transparently declare their self-set vaccination price. The eligibility through this channel would be opened up to all adults, i.e. everyone above the age of 18.