In Brief
Myanmar has imposed a ban on the products from other countries, including Thailand through the border areas. The announcement of Customs Department, Ministry of Planning and Finance and Industry (No.1-TaKa (OSS)/2021(3)) issued on 19 April 2021, and the Announcement of Trade Department, Ministry of Commerce (No.2020-2021 (0607) issued on 18 April 2021, and other relevant announcements of Trade Department have been issued to impose four kinds of products that are prohibited to import to Myanmar, comprising of:
1) All kind of soft drinks;
2) All types of coffee mix and tea mix;
3) instant coffee; and
4) Sweetened condensed milk/raw milk.
This regulation will be effective on May 1, 2021 and enforced to the importation through Thai-Myanmar border checkpoints, including 1) Myawaddy; 2) Tachileik; and 3) Kawthaung. However, importation by seaborne routes and by air are still allowed, but there may be increasing of the relevant costs.
Exceptional
There is exceptional condition in case that you import the products by sea instead of land importation. The following list of import documentations have to be prepared to present at the customs checkpoint:
| No. | Documents |
|---|---|
| 1. | Proforma Invoice |
| 2. | Packing List |
| 3. | Sale Contract |
| 4. | DO/BL |
| 5. | Import License/Import Permit |
| 6. | Other necessary documents |
Our opinions
The Announcements have been issued and administrated under the Military Council. Therefore, it is believed that these Announcements are linked to the political crisis in Myanmar. Most Myanmar people started to boycott the purchase of goods from junta-linked companies that seized power on February 1, 2021 to overthrow the Civilian Government.
Although importation by sea is allowed, Burmese and foreign Traders estimate that the closure of seaborne routes would make difficulties to importation and destabilize the food market.
As the case maybe, the military council’s restrictions on border trade have led to a return to the black market; some border traders also said that corruption could occur. Presently, Chinese products are not used in the country that supports the coup government. Campaigns are underway not to buy.
Should you have any further inquiries or require any assistance, please let us know.
Yours sincerely,
Somphob Rodboon
Managing Partner
Somphob.R@ilawasia.com
ILAWASIA Co., Ltd.
Htar Su May
Paralegal
Htar@ilawasia.com
ILAWASIA Co., Ltd.
Jessupa Na Pomphet
Associate
Jessupa.N@ilawasia.com
ILAWASIA Co., Ltd.
