mniraq - The General Commission of Customs confirmed that classifying goods and determining harmonized codes and customs duties are its exclusive responsibility, according to applicable tariff schedules and regulations.
In an official statement, the commission clarified that subjecting any material to inspection or obtaining approvals from the Ministry of Health does not necessarily mean it is classified as a medicine. It noted that health approvals represent sectoral requirements, while determining the classification and customs rate remains the commission's jurisdiction.
It added that legally classified medicines are subject to their designated customs duties, whereas vitamins and nutritional supplements are not automatically treated as medicines. Instead, they are classified based on their nature, composition, technical description, and applicable harmonized code.
The commission emphasized that customs classification is not determined merely by the product's name or the inspecting entity, urging importers and pharmacies to verify information through official sources to avoid public confusion.
