UNJLC is developing an information management tool, the Customs Information Guide (CIG). 

Its purpose is to facilitate and promote the sharing, in line with UNJLC’s mandate, of both duties and taxes exemption and customs clearance information related to the importation of humanitarian aid consignments.

This contributes to the efficient movement of aid consignments by reducing time and costs.

As there is currently no existing guide that combines the characteristics of the already published tools used in the private sector (indexed and searchable data, etc.) with the available customs information provided to the humanitarian world by the OCHA Customs Directory, the CIG is designed as a system which integrates these capabilities.

The UNJLC CIG is an accurate, up-to-date and practical country-by-country online information database for both logistics and administration officers.  It contains information for both emergency and non-emergency situations.  In relation to obtaining a duty and tax exemption, it provides information on national legislations, applicable agreements, and application process details.  For customs clearance, it provides general information, document requirements, transit procedures, and the weight and value band.  The CIG also includes country information such as focal points, entry points and national holidays.

Although the tool is still in the development phase, UNJLC has already collected varying amounts of information for several countries.  The following list highlights them.  If you would like to obtain some information, or have some to offer, regarding duties and taxes exemptions or customs clearance please contact info@unjlc.org.

Countries[1]

Algeria, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, El Salvador, Eritrea, Georgia, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Philippines, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, The Gambia, Uganda, Yemen, Zimbabwe