Sri Lanka lifted import restrictions on certain raw materials but will still ban a wide range of imports, including certain automobiles, furniture, agricultural goods and other items, according to a June 3 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The country lifted import restrictions on materials used “in the production of export goods or import substitution items,” the report said, such as cement, steel, plastics and rubber, the HKTDC said. However, restrictions are still in place for certain fruits, dairy products, seafood and certain auto products, the report said. The ban, introduced in April, arose from a “decline in export earnings” and tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Three men were arrested in Singapore after importing more than $1 million worth (in Singapore dollars) of counterfeit cigarettes, Singapore customs said in a June 2 notice. Authorities discovered the illegal imports after the customs agency seized three cigarette containers that had been awaiting reexport to other countries, the notice said. The containers contained more than 1.5 million packets of counterfeit cigarettes, the notice said. Singapore officials also raided “multiple locations” linked to the three men, and said investigations are ongoing. Each of the men faces a maximum $100,000 fine and a five-year prison sentence, or both.

Singapore will update its “Strategic Goods (Control) Regulations,” including changes to record-keeping requirements, brokering activities, certain technology transfers and more, Singapore Customs said in a June 1 notice. The changes take effect Aug. 3.

Cambodia is close to adopting an anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism legislation to reduce domestic crime and terrorist financing, according to a June 1 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The legislation, which has received Cabinet approval and next goes to the lower house of the legislature, before undergoing final review by the country’s Senate and its king, aims to bring Cambodia’s laws in line with international best practices, the report said. Cambodia’s money-laundering and terrorist financing controls have been called inadequate by the regional body Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering and the Financial Action Task Force, of which Cambodia is a member, HKTDC said.

India announced restrictions on certain alcohol-based hand sanitizers “in containers with dispenser pumps,” according to a June 1 notice from the country’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade. The notice contains Harmonized System codes for the restricted products. India previously restricted exports of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, (see 2005060023), but this notice, “with immediate effect,” only prohibits exports with the dispenser pump packaging.

China will ban imports of Indian pigs, wild boars and their products due to a recent outbreak of African swine fever in India, China’s General Administration of Customs said May 27, according to an unofficial translation. China said it will destroy all imported Indian pigs, boars and pig products, and if incoming ships or aircrafts have pigs or boars from India on board, they will be “sealed up” and not opened “without customs permission” during the cargo’s time in China. Violators of the ban will face customs penalties, China said.

India lifted export restrictions on the painkiller paracetamol, the country’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade said in a May 28 notice, effective immediately. India previously lifted export restrictions on formulations made of paracetamol but kept restrictions on the paracetamol active ingredient (see 2004200021).

Singapore Customs’ TradeNet will undergo system maintenance from 4 a.m. to noon local time on Sunday, June 14, it said in a May 28 notice. The agency is advising users to avoid submitting applications “involving amendment, cancellation, refund and stock related permit applications” during this time. This is in addition to usual maintenance on Sundays from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m.

India is restoring physical submissions of certificates of origin for certain exports to Thailand and Vietnam, according to a May 22 notice. India previously allowed certain agencies to issue electronic certificates of origin but had received complaints from exporters about problems “obtaining preferential access” in Thailand and Vietnam due to the digital certificates. India said applications for certificates of origin should now be submitted manually. Electronic certificates are still available for exports to other nations under India’s trade pact with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Vietnam will only allow certain temporary imports of goods for reexport at certain border checkpoints beginning in 2021, according to a May 26 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The checkpoints, which will be designated as “international border gates or main border gates,” will allow imports of all goods that are stored in a bonded warehouse before being reexported. Use of other border gates for temporary imports will be “strictly prohibited,” the report said.