Increased Control Over Foreign Drivers of Trucks in Georgia

The Prime Minister of Georgia has announced that, according to a decision made by the intergovernmental coordinating council, the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance has intensified control over drivers of trucks from other countries at customs checkpoints. This measure targets drivers who have been in high-risk countries for coronavirus transmission in the last 14 days, including the People's Republic of China, South Korea, Italy, Iran, Austria, France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Norway, and Denmark.

According to the rules outlined in the government decree No. 164, if a foreign driver arrives in Georgia from a high-risk country, the following procedures apply:

• Trucks engaged in transit transport with non-Georgian drivers must be accompanied by state-authorized personnel from checkpoint to checkpoint throughout the transit period.
• For trucks importing goods into Georgia (non-transit), additional procedures are mandated. If these trucks have come from high-risk countries recognized by the World Health Organization, the following actions will take place upon entry into Georgia:
• The driver of the truck will be replaced by a local individual not associated with high-risk countries (including areas known for coronavirus transmission), fulfilling the following conditions:
• A thorough disinfection of the truck will be conducted under the supervision of an authorized customs officer.
• The original driver (a foreign citizen) must be sent back or, depending on their clinical condition, placed into quarantine or transferred to a medical facility.
• The truck may be hooked to a new tractor unit that hasn't traveled through a high-risk area. During this process, the trailer will also be disinfected, and the original tractor will be sent back.
• If the driver cannot be replaced, the vehicle will be moved to the nearest customs control zone, and the goods will be reloaded onto another truck.
• As for drivers who come from countries where they have not been in high-risk areas over the last 14 days, they will undergo sanitary quarantine control procedures at the customs checkpoint, including a detailed medical history intake and compliance checks with international health regulations, such as temperature screening.
• If a driver exhibits high fever or other concerning symptoms based on the epidemiologist's assessment, the driver will be sent back (except for Georgian citizens), while the procedures mentioned above may apply to the cargo.
• If Georgian citizens display symptoms, the driver must be transferred to a relevant medical institution for further examination.
• Drivers who are in satisfactory health will be allowed to continue their journey without hindrance.

Customs checkpoints will implement strict controls related to the spread of coronavirus around the clock. Quarantine zones have also been established on-site. This information is being provided by the Revenue Service to companies involved in freight transport and representatives of the business sector.