Summary of the Agreement on the Temporary Importation, free of duty, of Medical, Surgical and Laboratory Equipment for use on free loan in Hospitals and other Medical Institutions for purposes of Diagnosis or Treatment (ETS no. 033)

The Agreement is designed to enable countries in urgent need to obtain the necessary material free from customs duties for a renewable period of six months, especially steel lungs in the event of an epidemic or a catastrophy. Under the Agreement measures are provided for in addition to those already taken by WHO and the Red Cross.

The Additional Protocol (ETS No. 110), opened for acceptance by the Contracting Parties to the Agreement, in Strasbourg, on 1 March 1983 and entered into force on 1 January 1985, provides for the accession of the European Union to the Agreement by signing it.

Agreement on the Temporary Importation, free of duty, of Medical, Surgical and Laboratory Equipment for use on free loan in Hospitals and other Medical Institutions for purposes of Diagnosis or Treatment

Open for signature by the Members of the Council of Europe, in Strasbourg, on 28 April 1960.

Entry into force: 29 July 1960.

Summary of the treaty