India Mulls Waiving Import Duty On COVID Vaccines, Says Report

New Delhi: India is set to waive the customs duty of 10 per cent on imported COVID-19 vaccines, a senior government official told news agency Reuters on Monday. India is trying to increase supplies to tackle the sudden surge of COVID-19 cases.

The imports of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine are scheduled to arrive soon and the Centre has also urged Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson to sell their products to India.

According to the official, who wished to be anonymous, said the government was contemplating allowing private entities to import approved vaccines for sale on the open market without the government intervention. They could also be given the right to set pricing, the official added.

The sale and purchase of all COVID-19 vaccine shots in the country are being regulated by the Indian government.

Other South Asian countries, that include Nepal and Pakistan, as well as Latin American countries like Argentina and Brazil levy vaccine import tariffs from 10 per cent to 20 per cent.

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