Advocacy for Explicit HS Tariff Codes for Insecticide Treated Bednets to Facilitate Trade and Increase Access to Life-saving Malaria Control Commodities

The UN recognizes the need for multi-sectoral involvement for successful malaria control and elimination. In addition to contributions from international donors and public sector engagement, large-scale private sector involvement is required for increased access to life-saving interventions. International/regional forums have called for elimination/reduction of taxes and tariffs on anti-malaria commodities such as (long-lasting) insecticide treated bednets (ITNs/LLINs). Leaders of African countries (where most malaria deaths occur) have made commitments to eliminate/reduce taxes and tariffs on anti-malaria commodities. The online database of the Geneva-based International Trade Center, a joint UN-WTO body, contains information on tariff codes (and associated descriptions and tariff percentages) using the Harmonized System (HS), is internationally consistent across countries at the 6-digit level. Countries can add country-specific codes. Analyzing ITN/LLIN information from this database, we present detailed findings on tariff codes, descriptions, and percentages for 76 countries. About half of malaria-endemic countries have explicit bednet tariff codes. Codes and descriptions vary greatly. Most Francophone West-African countries have one tariff code, the description referring to “moustiquaires impregnee”. East-African countries have one code, referring to “mosquito nets” (presumably intended for ITNs/LLINs). Some countries, e.g. Madagascar, have many codes. Some of the descriptions distinguish between untreated and treated bednets, others refer to “hand-made” bednets, etc. For countries without specific bednet tariff codes/descriptions, we describe a methodology to infer approximate tariff percentages. Advocacy for clear, explicit, unambiguous HS tariff codes/descriptions for ITNs/LLINs is urgently needed to (i) encourage trade in these life-saving products, and (ii) allow assessment of progress to eliminate/reduce tariffs.