Disasters, Conflicts and Migration

[1] WHO (2020). Panama country profile. Extracted from who.int/countries

For a more detailed database on disasters by country, please see the Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters Country Profile. 

Seasonal Effects on Logistics Capacities

Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response

Government

The National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC) is the entity empowered to respond to emergencies caused by natural or anthropogenic disasters. The SINAPROC is also empowered to establish policies and action plans directed to reduce disaster vulnerabilities and impacts, nationwide.  (Law No. 11 of February 2005).

The moment disaster strikes, all public, private and non-governmental entities linked to the civil protection, must coordinate actions in accordance to that established by the SINAPROC.  For such effects, SINAPROC has an Emergency Operations Center (COE, for its acronym in Spanish), whose purpose is to maintain coordination between the different competent authorities in order to provide attention, protection and assistance to the affected population. COE’s organization chart is comprised of six divisions: Emergency & Response; Health; Infrastructure & Public Services; Logistics & Humanitarian Assistance; Shelters; and Security.  Each of these divisions coordinate field related response actionsand are designated by a coordinating entity and supporting institutions.

The decision on the declaration of a state of emergency, issuance of an international appeal or offer of humanitarian assistance befalls over the President of the Republic. Next, it will be the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the General Secretariat who will be in charge of the diplomatic coordination for the request, transit or offer of assistance.  In this context, SINAPROC takes the role as humanitarian management coordinator through the Coordination Center for Humanitarian Assistance (CCAH, for its initials in Spanish) interinstitutional body in charge of the humanitarian cargo movement and response actions.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs more so counts upon its Coordination and Information Center (CECODI, for its acronym in Spanish), assigned likewise, to the General Secretariat, created to offer assistance and follow-up to Panamanians abroad in case of force majeure.

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List.

Humanitarian Community

International Organizations with offices and activities in Panama:

For more information on humanitarian agency contact details, please see the following link: 4.2 Humanitarian Agency Contact List.

Binding regulatory authorities relavant to humanitarian logistics

• Civil Aviation Authority: An entity of the State assigned to carry out the general process of supervision in civil aviation matters. It processes overflight and landing permits of aircrafts involved in humanitarian assistance.
• National Customs Authority: It establishes the control for the entry, transit and departure of goods.

The National Customs Authority does not have a department for regulating goods, a prior control takes place upon presentation of the Customs Declaration.  The control over types of goods is carried out by each relevant body or institution as required by law.  All shipments entering into the national territory must comply with the inspection processes in accordance to the activity, type of goods and transportation mode.

• General Directorate of Immigration and Naturalization: Ensures that all personnel from international missions and international rescue groups abide and comply with the migratory requirements established by law.
• Ministry of Agricultural Development (Executive Directorate of Quarantine – DECA, for its initials in Spanish): Ensures that of all quarantine related goods entering the country meets the necessary requirements. Documents crucial for the introduction of phytosanitary and zoosanitary goods consist of the following: cargo manifest; phytosanitary or zoosanitary certificate of origin; and the import license. In the case of search and rescue caninesfor humanitarian  purposes, in addition to the corresponding documentation, a certification must be submitted by the humanitarian entity, indicating the reason of entry.

DECA is responsible for implementing the provisions of the National Directorate of Animal and Plant Health, on matters of external and internal quarantine, and of the internal control for the mobilization of animals and plants, in order to protect the phytosanitary state of the national agricultural patrimony.  In addition, to ensure the adequate application and implementation of phytosanitary and sanitary provisions in force.  

The Executive Directorate of Agricultural Quarantine is created by Law No. 23 of 15 July 1997, under the direct arrangement of the Directorate General of the Ministry of Agricultural Development.  

• Panamanian Food Safety Authority (AUPSA): Ensures compliance and implementation of food safety laws and regulations as to the introduction of food to the national territory, under strict scientific or technical guidelines.  

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Manages the international humanitarian aid and assistance in disaster-stricken cases.
  • Directorate General for International Agencies and Conferences: It is responsible of guiding and coordinating the participation of Panama at conferences, forums and international agencies. In addition to coordinating with Ministries activities with the agencies and developing the position of the State on the multilateral agenda. It also collaborates and promotes the presence of international organizations through the United Nations Regional Inter-agency Center for Latin America and the Caribbean in Panama, and others.
  • Directorate General for Protocol and Ceremonials of the State: Liaison between the diplomatic missions and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  It has within its structure the Department of Privileges and Diplomatic Immunity, responsible for the issuance of humanitarian tax exemption. 
• Ministry of Health (Directorate of Pharmacy and Drug): Ensures that the introduction of medicines, medical material & and equipment, comply with the requirements of the respective laws.

The main functions of the Directorate National of Pharmacy and Drug in the regulation of medicines and vaccines in Panama are:

1. Supervise that medications and vaccines meet the quality standards and/or legal technical requirements set forth in current national and international health standards and regulations.
2. Ensure a lot-by-lot traceability system of Vaccines entering the country.
3. Ensure the population that Medicines and Vaccines are safe and effective, undertaking quality controls on products and vaccines in accordance to current health provisions.
4. Establish permanent monitoring and control in the establishments and places of manufacturing and dispensing of Medicines in the Republic of Panama.
5. Establish permanent monitoring and control of pharmaceutical establishments where Medicines and Vaccines are distributed in the Republic of Panama.

• National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC): National governing body empowered to tend and respond to emergencies caused by adverse events. For more information, see: Country Response Capacity (Government). 

Quality control laboratories for medicines, vaccines and pharmaceuticals

• Specialized Institute of Analysis of the University of Panama: Quality control laboratory that performs physiochemical and microbiological testing of pharmaceutical products. Among the pharmaceutical forms analyzed are found tablets, capsules, oral solutions, intravenous solutions, gels, ointments, emulsions, aerosols, injectables, creams, lyophilize. Reference Laboratory in accordance to Law 1, 2001.

To obtain further information about regulatory agencies, consult the following links:

4.1 Government Contact List

4.3 Laboratory and Quality Testing Company Contact List.

Duties and Tax Exemption

For contact information regarding government custom authorities, please follow the link below: 

4.1 Government Contact List

Emergency Response:

Exemption Regular Regime (Non-Emergency Response)

In Panama, the exemption of import tariffs and taxes for humanitarian aid is regulated by Cabinet Decree No. 12 of 29 March 2016- Article 150(a).  

Tax exonerations are granted based on special laws.  These are independent of the harmonized system code applicable to equipment, goods and other items, necessary for the economic activity of the company or the international organization.

Entities allowed to operate in the country during emergencies are international organizations, as well as Panamanian and government entities that can import humanitarian aid and relief items.

The Law that protects the importer determines the recognition to the right to tax exemption. For example: the Office of the First Lady can import goods for humanitarian aid with the exception of vehicles; whilst the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies does benefit of vehicle exemption.

Exemption Certificate Application Procedure

Exemption Certificate Document Requirements

Customs Clearance

General Information 

Customs Clearance Document Requirements

Transit Regime

Internal transits employ the Internal Transit form regulated by Cabinet Decree no. 12 of 29 March 2016. For the international transit of goods, the resolution 386-2017 (COMIECO-EX) was approved, which regulates the Central American procedure for the facilitation of ground transportation of relief shipments during emergencies, in case of regular shipments the COMRIEDRE65-2001 regulation applies.

For export and imports of relief consignments applies articles 554 to 562 of the RECAUCA (urgent shipments).

Means of transportation adequate to carry non-nationalized cargo under the aforementioned form must meet the following conditions:

• That shutting devices bear the necessary security for authorization;
• That customs seals can be placed easily, in a simple and efficient manner;
• That there are no hidden places in which cargo can be concealed;
• That it does not allow the easy removal or addition of cargo without violating customs seals;
• That all parts of the transport vehicle which can contain cargo should be readily accessible for customs inspection.

The use of custodians applies each time the means of transport does not meet any of the prior requirements employing costs established through Cabinet Decree no. 12 of 29 March 2016.  

For customs bond Article 110 of the RECAUCA applies. 

Admissions of Pharmaceuticals in transit to Panama

The transit of medicines through Panama is only allowed if the agent of the imports company operates in Panama and Central America, and fills out the paperwork in Panama to nationalize the cargo, to be later dispatched to the different countries of destination..  The invoice must declare that these products are destined for other countries and will not remain in Panama.