Article 1
Open ↗1. Goods shall be admitted free of import duties as defined in Article 2(1), point (a), of Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009 and exempted from value added tax (VAT) on imports as defined in Article 2(1), point (a), of Directive 2009/132/EC, where the following conditions are fulfilled: (a) the goods are intended for one of the following uses: (i) distribution free of charge by the bodies and organisations referred to in point (c) for the benefit of the persons fleeing Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine; (ii) being made available free of charge for the benefit of the persons fleeing Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine while remaining the property of the bodies and organisations referred to in point (c); (b) the goods satisfy the requirements laid down in Articles 75, 78, 79 and 80 of Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009 and Articles 52, 55, 56 and 57 of Directive 2009/132/EC; (c) the goods are imported for release for free circulation by, or on behalf of, State organisations including State bodies, public bodies and other bodies governed by public law or by, or on behalf of, other charitable or philanthropic organisations approved by the competent authorities of Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia (‘the requesting Member States’) where the goods are intended to be used. 2. Goods referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article may also be admitted free from import duties as defined in Article 2(1), point (a) of Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009, and exempted from VAT on imports as defined in Article 2(1), point (a), of Directive 2009/132/EC, in a requesting Member State other than the requesting Member State where the goods are intended to be used, provided that the goods are imported for release for free circulation by a State organisation, or other charitable or philanthropic organisation, that is approved by the competent authorities and carries out similar activities in the Member State where the goods are intended to be used. The transfer of the goods between the two Member States shall be subject to prior notification by an approved charitable or philanthropic organisation to the competent authorities of the requesting Member State granting the relief from import duties and VAT exemption. 3. Subject to prior notification to the competent authorities of the requesting Member State granting the relief from import duties and VAT exemption, organisations benefiting from the relief from import duties and VAT exemption in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 may transfer goods referred to in paragraph 1, for which relief from import duties and VAT exemption has been granted, to Ukrainian State organisations, or charitable or philanthropic organisations approved by the Ukrainian competent authorities, for distribution of the goods free of charge to persons in need in Ukraine. 4. Subject to fulfilling the requirements set out in Articles 75 to 80 of Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009 and Articles 52 to 57 of Directive 2009/132/EC, goods shall also be admitted free of import duties as defined in Article 2(1), point (a) of Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009 and exempted from VAT on imports as defined in Article 2(1), point (a) of Directive 2009/132/EC where they are imported for release for free circulation by, or on behalf of disaster relief agencies in order to meet their needs during the period they provide disaster relief to persons affected byRussia’s military aggression against Ukraine.