Mongolia Humanitarian Background

For more detailed database on disasters by country, please see the Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters:

EMDAT information on Mongolia

Calamities and Seasonal Affects

NOTE: During the celebration of Naadam (July 11-13th) and Lunar New Year it can be difficult to find transporters.

Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response

Government

The State Emergency Commission (SEC) chaired by the Deputy-Prime Minister is the lead decision maker for both political and operational issues during a national emergency.  The SEC is responsible for raising issues brought forward by NEMA and the wider humanitarian community with the government such as funding requests and asset requirements.  This is activate when an emergency has occurred. The SEC is comprised of 10 key Ministries/Agencies that are responsible for disasters and crisis management.  The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is tasked with supporting the SEC in overall crisis management, including interdepartmental and inter agency planning, and is responsible for first response search and rescue. There is an Earthquake commission which is a working group comprising representatives from various ministries and agencies which provides recommendations to the GOM.  At the provincial level the governor of each province would lead the emergency response. During emergencies, requests for assistance from the armed forces must be approved by the President.  To use military assets such as vehicles or airports all requests must be made through the SEC (State Emergency Committee).  They would operate as a separate response unit that would be appointed by the Ministry of Defence to provide transport and manpower.

For information on Mongolia Government contact details, please see the following link:

4.1 Mongolia Government Contact List

Humanitarian Community

There is a Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) comprised of NEMA, UN agencies in Mongolia, the IFRC, World Vision and Save the Children International.  Line ministries act as co-leads of the various clusters. There is only a small number of humanitarian agencies in Mongolia.  Few agencies hold contingency stock or have warehouse space.

 For information on Mongolia Humanitarian contact details, please see the following link:

4.2 Mongolia Humanitarian Agency Contact List

For information on Mongolia humanitarian background additional information, please see the following link: 

 Mongolia Additional Humanitarian Information

Mongolia Earthquake Risk

Mongolia Emergency Clusters

Mongolia Linkages Between Clusters and Government Ministries

Mongolia Minimum and Maximum Temperatures

Mongolia Severe Winter Dzud 2010

Note: The information provided in the attached documents, which has been taken from the old DLCA, does not match the structure of the new LCA and is therefore provided separately

Mongolia Regulatory Narrative

For information on Mongolia National Regulatory department contact details, please see the following link: 

4.1 Mongolia Government Contact List

Mongolia Customs Information

The Customs General Administration sits within the Ministry of Finance.  It is governed by the Customs Law of Mongolia - 2008. During an emergency the law allows for the movement of goods across the border without the normal customs procedures.  When a shipment arrives it may be released before all customs procedures are completed and the paper work for clearing can be done after the fact. It was indicated that there would be no need to apply to the Ministry of Finance for exemption of taxes as would be the normal procedure in non-emergency situations.  To clear goods, consignees contact the Customs General Administration of Mongolia directly.  The Customs General Administration would then alert the port of entry to facilitate customs clearance. 

There is an agreement by the government that during a humanitarian emergency customs and all other agencies at entry points would operate 24 hours a day. Taxes and duties that apply to standard shipments are - 10%VAT and 5% import tax. At each point of entry there are representatives from Customs, Immigration, Border Protection and Agency for Specialized Inspection. UN Agencies and a number of the INGO's in Mongolia have Special Status Agreements with the Government for tax exemption on humanitarian shipments.

Duties and Tax Exemption

For contact information regarding government custom authorities, please follow the link below: 4.1 Mongolia Government Contact List

Emergency Response:

[Note: This section contains information which is related and applicable to ‘crisis’ times. These instruments can be applied when an emergency is officially declared by the Government.  When this occurs, there is usually a streamlined process to import goods duty and tax free.]

Exemption Regular Regime (Non-Emergency Response): 

[Note: This section should contain information on the usual duties & taxes exemption regime during non-emergency times, when there is no declared state of emergency and no streamlines process (e.g. regular importations/development/etc.).

Exemption Certificate Application Procedure: 

Exemption Certificate Document Requirements

If freight charges are not included in the invoice then the invoice for freight charges must be presented also.

Customs Clearance

1. Organisation prepares a letter requesting tax exemption for their shipment.
2. All necessary documents are presented to the general customs in Ulaanbaatar. They will then issue a letter of exemption.
3. All necessary documents and the letter of exemption from general customs is to be presented to the respective customs centre (ie: Ulaanbaatar Airport). The respective customs centre will issue a customs clearance form that is to be presented for release of goods at the dispatch point.
4. At the dispatch point a customs official will be appointed who will take you to your shipment and release it.

Clearance of goods through customs take a minimum of 10 days.

General Information 

Customs Clearance Document Requirements

NOTE: Food, medicine, seed and second hand clothing must be inspected by the General Agency for Specialized Inspection. A sample from each shipment must be lab tested. The General Agency for Specialized Inspection has a representative at each border crossing these are the Department of Border Specialized Inspection (quarantine). If a large shipment of food or medicine is to be imported the consignee can contact the agency and arrange for a sample to be tested in advance. Additionally items such as food, medicine, hospital equipment and second hand clothing requires an import license that must be applied for at the Ministry of Health. If grain is being imported into Mongolia or transited through, a fumigation certificate must be provided.

Transit Regime

Goods being transited through Mongolia will be registered at the port of entry by the customs office. This shipment will then be tracked by the Customs General Administration of Mongolia. Once it gets to the port of exit it will be stamped and the file will be close.  This is all done through an online system that links the various customs offices around the country.  A freight forwarder is responsible for the safety of the goods.

For information on Mongolia Customs contacts and focal points, please see the following links: 

4.1 Mongolia Government Contact List

4.2 Mongolia Humanitarian Agency Contact List

For information on Mongolia Customs additional details, please see the following documents: 

Mongolia Customs Information by Entry Points

Mongolia International Entry Points

Note: The information provided in the attached documents, which has been taken from the old DLCA, does not match the structure of the new LCA and is therefore provided separately