PPE, face mask completely tax-free

The revenue authority has exempted all forms of tariffs and taxes on import of raw materials of personal protective equipment (PPE) and face masks to facilitate domestic manufacture the gears to fight the pandemic.

The import benefit came a week after the National Board of Revenue exempted value-added tax on local manufacturing of PPE and surgical face mask in production, trading and supply stages until June 30.

In its notification on May 14, the NBR also offered the zero-duty import benefit for raw materials of PPE, face masks until June 30. The benefit is effective already.  

However, only the Industrial Import Registration (IRC) certificate holders, pharmaceutical manufacturers, garment makers and medical instruments manufacturers will be able to avail the privilege.

The move comes following appeals from the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), medical equipment makers and pharmaceutical companies.

The Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) also recommended for the removal of import duty for ingredients of PPE and face masks to encourage domestic making.

The ingredients of PPE and face masks had attracted up to 89 per cent total tax incidence, said a senior NBR official.

On March 22, the NBR withdrew import tariff on raw materials used in hand sanitisers, coronavirus testing kits and re-agents and on PPE in its bid to increase the supply of the materials to strengthen the capacity of the country to tackle the deadly disease.