Georgia. On border control measures taken in the TRACECA countries with regard to the pandemic of the coronavirus (COVID-19) as of 10 April 2020

11.04.2020

№	Name of measures	Status of their application
1	Non-discriminatory approach towards freight vehicles and drivers	☒Equal conditions are provided for drivers irrespective of the country of registration of a vehicle or the nationality of a driver
2	Limitation of the border check points to perform transport of goods	☒ The operation of checkpoints was not restricted Clarifications: Road, railway, air and marine cargo international movement related customs formalities are being conducted without any restriction while applying hygiene checks on drivers/ personnel conducting the freight transportation on the borders
3	Creation of the “green corridors” at the border crossing points.	☒The movement mode 24/7 is provided Clarifications: Cargo movement is available via all land/air/marine border crossing points for 24/7
4	Accelerated border crossing through the “green corridors”	N/A
5	Reduction of border crossing procedures	☒Border crossing procedures were not amended ☒ Border crossing procedures were supplemented by sanitary norms observance (including disinfection of a vehicle on the border ☒, passport inspection for revealing of stay in the countries under the unfavorable situation ☒,etc. ☒) Clarifications: In accordance with the International Health Regulations, the driver will be screened at the border and if the symptoms of influenza/fever are confirmed at the entry customs crossing point entrance will be denied. Georgian citizens have permission for entering into Georgia and the driver will be the subject to quarantine. - In this case the cargo may enter the territory of Georgia if: 1) the driver is changed by another driver from a non-risky country. The initial driver should return; and - the means of transport should be fumigated/sanitized; or - If it is possible but not mandatory to change the truck by another truck from a non-risky country. Of course the trailer should be fumigated/sanitized and the initial truck should be returned). 2) Transport means might be moved to the nearest customs control zone and cargo trans loaded to another means of transport/sanitized - it is highly recommended that the driver/personnel should wear a protective mask during interaction with customs officers. *Movement of freight vehicles moving from foreign countries to the territory of Georgia shall be performed under the following conditions: Freight vehicles registered in a foreign country* shall move through the territory of Georgia under the following conditions: After completing the procedures at the customs checkpoint, means of transport shall move non-stop to a final destination. Stopping is allowed only at specially designated areas - STOP POINTs, places for purchasing compulsory civil liability insurance policy (https://www.tpl.ge/en/salespoints), and parking lots located in the vicinity of customs checkpoint; Specially designated STOP POINT areas will serve for trucks for refueling, paying the road fee, compulsory civil liability insurance policy of the owner of a motor vehicle registered in foreign countries. Availability to purchase personal necessities, food, WC and etc. In case of emergencies/ special needs (car accident, health problems, etc.), the driver should contact the relevant services and should remain in the cabin of the truck until the representatives of those services get to the driver. For these purposes the driver shall call the Emergency and Operative Response Center at 112; The truck should leave the territory of Georgia: - In case of transit movement (except for the movements from/to customs check point "Kazbegi" ) transport means shall leave the territory of Georgia within 24 hours from entering the country; - In other case (including the import movement and transit case of entering/leaving via customs checkpoint "Kazbegi") within 48 hours. The time periods required for carrying out the customs formalities and stopping at parking lots located in the vicinity of Georgian State Customs Border Crossing Point shall not be counted. It is strongly recommended to make only non-cash payment (online purchase, plastic card, etc.) and to use the personal protective equipment (medical mask, gloves, etc). Note: STOP POINT located at: Urbnisi– Kareli districts, cadastral code: 68.16.45.054; Terjola– Trejola district, village Siktarva, cadastral code : 33.08.38.224; Gori – Gori district, village Tiniskhidi, cadastral code: 66.44.02.033; Zestaponi – Zestapoini district, village Argveta, cadastral code: 32.03.34.211. Violation of rules (vehicle without permission to leave, stopping in forbidden areas, violation of terms of movement, etc.), except when weather conditions or other external factors makes it difficult and / or impossible to follow rules, the vehicle driver will be fined with 3000 GEL for the violation of the State emergency regime in accordance with Presidential Decree №1 of 21 March 2020, Article 8, and will be placed in 14-day quarantine, means of transport will be taken to the impound lot. Leaflets with the above-mentioned information in six languages (Georgian, Armenian, Azeri, English, Russian and Turkish) will be given to drivers of trucks upon entry into the country
6	Health screening	☒Health screening is performed by applying the cameras without stop of the border crossing procedure. ☒Screening with the aid of remote thermometers is performed within one minute. ☒ Screening is not performed in case of availability of a certificate of a medical institution of the country where he underwent corresponding tests ☒ In case of revealing the disease a driver is provided with medical care and temporary storage of a vehicle Clarifications: According to the Decree of the Government of Georgia N 164 of 28.01.2020 (Consolidated version of 01.04.2020): b.d) in order to reduce the risk of the spread of coronavirus in Georgia, requiring from persons arriving in Georgia who have travelled in countries nominated by the WHO as countries with the risk of epidemic (the People’s Republic of China, South Korea, the Republic of Italy, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Austria, the Republic of France, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of Spain, the Confederation of Switzerland, the Kingdom of Norway, the Kingdom of Denmark, and from 00:00 am of 18 March 2020 – all other countries) in the previous 14 days, or who have travelled through such countries: b.d.a) to present an appropriate certificate of testing for coronavirus (a specific laboratory polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test) issued within the previous 3 days by an appropriate laboratory of the country of departure or transit (except for the countries with the risk of epidemic as determined by WHO)
7	Other inspections of documents and goods	☒Other kinds of documents and goods’ inspections are not carried out
8	Possibility of temporary relaxation regarding the requirements to driving and rest times for drivers	☒Temporary measures in respect of the requirements to driving and rest times for drivers are implemented
9	Availability of the corresponding sanitary conditions for transport industry workers along the main transport corridors	☒ Sanitary conditions on the border of the country at border crossing points were provided
10	Other measures	Indicated below

According to the Decree No 164 of 28 January 2020 of the Government of Georgia on the Approval of Measures to Prevent the Possible Spread of the Novel Coronavirus in Georgia and the Emergency Response Plan for Cases of Novel Coronavirus Disease the LEPL Revenue Service within the governance of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia shall ensure:

a) Within its competence, the distribution of leaflets (instruction booklets) among passengers arriving from areas with coronavirus transmission upon their entry into the country;

b) handling of passengers (including transit passengers) arriving from coronavirus affected areas (identified by the WHO as high-risk zones) through international airports and other customs checkpoints:
b.a) according to the information received, the collection of detailed travel history data for each such passenger;
b.b) screening in accordance with the International Health Regulations;
b.c) the immediate provision of information to the National Center;
b.d) in order to reduce the risk of the spread of coronavirus in Georgia, requiring from persons arriving in Georgia who have travelled in countries nominated by the WHO as countries with the risk of epidemic (the People’s Republic of China, South Korea, the Republic of Italy, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Austria, the Republic of France, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of Spain, the Confederation of Switzerland, the Kingdom of Norway, the Kingdom of Denmark, and from 00:00 am of 18 March 2020 – all other countries) in the previous 14 days, or who have travelled through such countries:
b.d.a) to present an appropriate certificate of testing for coronavirus (a specific laboratory polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test) issued within the previous 3 days by an appropriate laboratory of the country of departure or transit (except for the countries with the risk of epidemic as determined by WHO);
b.d.b) in the case of failure to present the certificate referred to in sub-paragraph (b.d.a) of this paragraph, to undergo an epidemiological examination first, and then a mandatory 14-day isolation procedure in accordance with the procedures established by the Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia;

c) the entry into the country of freight vehicles coming from the coronavirus affected areas (identified by WHO as high-risk zones) on condition that the drivers of the freight vehicles are replaced by other natural persons, who are not in the risk groups (including those entering from areas with coronavirus transmission) and the following requirements are met:
c.a) proper disinfection of the freight vehicle is carried out under the supervision of an authorized person of the customs authority;
c.b) the driver of the freight vehicle (the person who was driving the vehicle at the moment of crossing the customs border of Georgia) is subject to return (in the case of a foreign national) or placement in quarantine at a relevant medical institution depending on his/her clinical condition;
c.c) a tractor unit of the freight vehicle is replaced with a tractor unit which is not considered as posing a risk of spreading coronavirus. At the same time, under the supervision of an authorized person of the customs authority, a trailer of the freight vehicle is properly disinfected, and the original tractor unit (the tractor unit which was used for transportation to the customs territory of Georgia) is sent back;

d) the provision of information to importers and, in order to minimize the risks associated with road transportation, the giving of recommendations on the transportation of cargo into the country by rail transport (if possible);

e) the screening of drivers of vehicles coming from coronavirus affected areas (identified by WHO as high-risk zones) in accordance with the International Health Regulations, and if suspect cases are identified during screening, the inspection of the documentation related to such cases, and:
e.a) the immediate temporary isolation of the person in question on site and the implementation of the measures provided for in sub-paragraph (c) of this paragraph;
e.b) if it is not possible to temporarily isolate the person on site, the transfer of the person with an escort to the nearest customs control area and the implementation of the measures provided for in sub-paragraph (e.a) of this paragraph.
Note: within the scope of sub-paragraph (e) of this paragraph, sub-paragraphs (c.a) and (c.b) of this paragraph shall apply to the entry into the country of light motor vehicles and buses.

f) within its competence, the imposition of the following restrictions on crossing the Georgian border:
f.a) in terms of air traffic:
f.a.a) only citizens of Georgia and their accompanying family members shall have the right to enter Georgia from the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation through the airspace from 14 March 2020, and after 00:00 am on 18 March 2020 from all the other countries, for two weeks;
f.a.b) in accordance with the decisions of the executive authorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation, the movement for the citizens of third countries (except for citizens of third countries who are travelling together with citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia, and the Russian Federation, and who are their family members) shall be restricted from leaving Georgia for the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia, and the Russian Federation through the airspace;
f.a.c) transit passengers travelling by air through the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia, and the Russian Federation, who are passing through the airspace of Georgia without stopping, shall not be restricted from leaving Georgia;
Note: within the scope of sub-paragraphs (f.a.a) and (f.a.b) of this paragraph, a spouse, child or parent of a person shall be considered as his/her family member, which must be evidenced by appropriate documentation;
f.b) in terms of land traffic:
f.b.a) only citizens of Georgia and their accompanying family members shall have the right to enter Georgia from the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation through land customs checkpoints from 14 March 2020, and after 00:00 pm on 18 March 2020 from all the other countries, for two weeks;
f.b.b) in accordance with the decisions of the executive authorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia, and the Russian Federation, only citizens of these countries (the Republic of Azerbaijan or the Republic of Armenia or the Russian Federation) and their accompanying family members shall have the right to leave the territory of Georgia for the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia, and the Russian Federation through land customs checkpoints;
f.b.c) international cargo transportation by land to the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation through the territory of Georgia shall be carried out smoothly, in accordance with the relevant rules and regulations and under the control of the responsible authorities;

g) the restrictions set forth in sub-paragraph (f)(f.a.a) and (f.b.a) of this article shall not apply to:
g.a) representatives of diplomatic missions accredited in Georgia and of international organizations, and their family members;
g.b) family members of citizens of Georgia, irrespective of their citizenship;
g.c) persons coming on a humanitarian mission, if there is a need for such a mission (doctors, volunteers, etc.);
g.d) stateless persons with a status in Georgia;
g.e) persons having a neutral identity card and/or a neutral travel document;
g.f) persons having refugee status in Georgia;
g.g) members of official delegations, if an appropriate decision is made;
g.h) drivers involved in international freight transportation, personnel involved in international railway transportation related to the carriage and escort of cargo by railway, and aircraft crew members;

Note:
1. The citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation, and their family members, who are travelling in transit through the territory of Georgia from the third countries, shall travel through the territory of Georgia in an organized manner, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, under the supervision of the relevant authorities;
2. Within the scope of sub-paragraphs (f) and (g), a spouse, child or parent of a person shall be considered as his/her family member, which must be evidenced by appropriate documentation;

h) taking into consideration the epidemiological situation, on the basis of the proposals of the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, a restriction on taking out (export and re-export) from Georgia certain pharmaceutical products and medical items as a provisional measure.

3. The LEPL National Food Agency and the LEPL Revenue Service shall prohibit the import of live animals from the People’s Republic of China.
4. The LEPL Georgian Public Broadcaster shall be requested to provide the general public with accurate and necessary information on the outbreak of coronavirus, and the measures aimed at reducing the risk of exposure to the virus.
https://matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/4821121?publication=13
www.stropcov.ge - prevention of Coronavirus Spread in Georgia.

The Government of Georgia has set up a website to inform the public about the coronavirus. The website contains information on all measures taken by the Government of Georgia, as well the information disseminated by the World Health Organization. In addition, at StopCov.ge statistical information on number of cases in Georgia and all over the world as well the recommendations on prevention of the spread of the virus is available.

State of Emergency
Georgia declared the state of emergency starting 21 March till 21 April in connection with the pandemic situation over the novel coronavirus in the country.
https://matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/4830372?publication=0

The government has issued Ordinance No 181, 23 March 2020 “On the Approval of Measures to be Implemented in connection with the Prevention of the Spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Georgia”. International air, land and sea transport services for transportation of passengers shall be suspended for the duration of the state of emergency.
https://matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/4830610?publication=2

Period of validity of those regulations.
The period of validity is until the 21 April.

Country:

Georgia

Mode:

COVID-19

Published:

Permanent Secretaritat of the IGC TRACECA