Exporting Used Medical Equipment to Morocco

Question

We are planning to export Used Medical Equipment to Morocco from UK. Is it possible to get following info by any source, please:

1. Do we need to get an EUR -1 form? And what is the advantage of getting this form and how easy/ difficult is it?

2.Do we need to declare the items we are planning to export to someone (e.g. HMRC, etc)? And can it be done after you ship your goods?

3.Is there any database containing info about Hospitals/ Clinics in Morocco and List of Medical Equipment Sellers in Morocco?

4. What is the cheapest way to send container to Casablanca/ Rabat/ Marrakech? Can anybody give any contact details of good shipping companies, please?

5.To gain some experience of the whole process, we are planning to send some stuff to Morocco for personal use to one of my friend who is starting a clinic there. Do we still have to get EUR-1 form? Do we need to declare to HMRC? Can we claim VAT paid here as goods will send immediately to Morocco?

Any help will be appreciated
many thanks
Pankaj Singh
[email protected]
+447527448685

Answer

Hi Pankaj,

Regarding your EUR1 requirement, I suggest that you speak to your local Chamber of Commerce, which based on your location I think is the Northamptonshire Chamber who have an office in Milton Keynes. Try 01604 490490 and speak to Brigid Hodgkinson as she has lots of experience.

You can then apply online for your EUR1 via www.e-zcert.com

Hope this helps.

Kind regards,
Ian James.

Answer

1. Do we need to get an EUR -1 form? And what is the advantage of getting this form and how easy/ difficult is it?
ANS – If applicable the holding an EUR1 may allow the goods to be imported into Morocco for a reduced rate of customs duty

2.Do we need to declare the items we are planning to export to someone (e.g. HMRC, etc)? And can it be done after you ship your goods? ANS. This must be done before the goods are shipped unless you have special HMRC approval to do it after. It is a legal customs requirement. It is a an offence to ship goods with out and could incur fines and / or jail depending on the seriousness of the case . We provide customs declaration software for that purpose to a range of clients. visit www.e-customs.com

3.Is there any database containing info about Hospitals/ Clinics in Morocco and List of Medical Equipment Sellers in Morocco?
ANS don’t know, contact the British Embassy in that country or the equivalent for the country in the UK

4. What is the cheapest way to send container to Casablanca/ Rabat/ Marrakech? Can anybody give any contact details of good shipping companies, please?
ANS. There are loads of companies and all offer different rates and level of service. You could also use freight forwarders visit www.bifa.org who can provide a solution.

5.To gain some experience of the whole process, we are planning to send some stuff to Morocco for personal use to one of my friend who is starting a clinic there. Do we still have to get EUR-1 form? Do we need to declare to HMRC? Can we claim VAT paid here as goods will send immediately to Morocco?
ANS. That is not personal use. It will be regarded by the authorities as a commercial movement. Therefore all necessary customs formalities are likely to apply. VAT zero rating can be applied if there is proof the goods were exported outside of the EU from the UK

I hope that helps
Howard

Answer

1. One assumes the product(s) were produced in and are of EU origin. It would not be difficult to obtain this document and your local Chamber of Commerce should be able to advise. It might also be that Morocco has a zero duty rate for these products whether or not you have an EUR1.

2. Also, speak to UK’s MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency)

3. This is some random information that I had to hand although could be a little out of date:
– Morocco has a list of approved medical devices for procurement or reimbursement, but that list is a recommendation only.
– For medical devices they do not have a procurement policy (for purchasing or donations) although procurement is done on a national level.
– There are technical specifications to support procurement, but these are not publically available.
– In terms of size they have around 15 MRIs, 40 CT, scanners and 45 Mammographs. I (think) they have around 75 hospitals.
– They do have an available national list of all medical devices for different types of healthcare facilities (but I do not have this to hand).
– They use the Universal Medical Device Nomenclature System™ (UMDNS) which is a standard international nomenclature and computer coding system for medical devices used upon classification upon import.
– They have minimal local medical device production and indeed rely on these products from the EU, it being around a $200 million market (85% of their market)

4. A forwarder can help. We can independently advise you about this if you like.

5. You should definitely speak to the MHRA too.

Rgds
Gavin

Export Action Plan