1 Mongolia Country Profile
Mongolia Country Profile
Generic Information:
"Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Ulan Bator, the capital and also the largest city, is home to about 45% of the population. Mongolia's political system is a parliamentary republic."
Source: Wikipedia (publisher), Mongolia 25 Sept 2013 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongolia
Find the country in the generic links below:
Wikipedia Information on Mongolia
Economist Intelligence Unit information on Monglia*
(*note - this is a paid service)
Humanitarian Info:
UNOCHA information on Mongolia
Facts and Figures:
Wolfram Alpha information on Mongolia
1.1 Mongolia Humanitarian Background
Mongolia Humanitarian Background
Disasters, Conflicts and Migration |
||
---|---|---|
Natural Disasters |
Yes / No |
Comments / Details |
Drought |
Yes | June 2000 |
Earthquakes |
Yes | The three largest cities in Mongolia are located in magnitudes of 7 to 8 seismic active areas. |
Epidemics |
Yes | 2008, Hand, foot and mouth disease outbreak: |
Extreme Temperatures |
Yes | n/a |
Flooding |
Yes | August 1994 |
Insect Infestation |
Yes | n/a |
Mudslides |
Yes | n/a |
Volcanic Eruptions |
n/a | n/a |
High Waves / Surges |
n/a | n/a |
Wildfires |
Yes | May 1990, April/May 1996 |
High Winds |
Yes | April 1991, April 1993 |
Other Comments |
Mongolia is an area prone to earthquakes, especially in its western and central parts where previous earthquakes of a magnitude >8 on the Richter scale have occurred. The risk of earthquake in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar to a significant earthquake is considerable. Other natural disasters such as flooding, snow/wind storms, extreme temperature and droughts that negatively impact the food security of livestock and human being. |
|
Man-Made Issues |
||
Civil Strife |
n/a | n/a |
International Conflict |
n/a | n/a |
Internally Displaced Persons |
n/a | n/a |
Refugees Present |
n/a | n/a |
Landmines / UXO Present |
n/a | n/a |
Other Comments |
The top 10 Natural Disasters in Mongolia (1957 to 2010) sorted by numbers of affected people can be found on the EMDAT website found below |
For more detailed database on disasters by country, please see the Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters:
Calamities and Seasonal Affects
Seasonal Affects on Transport | ||
---|---|---|
Transport |
Comments |
From (month) to (month) |
Primary Road Transport |
Snow and ice can result in roads being closed for several days at a time. Lack of snow pole markers make travel difficult in winter conditions. Availabilty of trucks can be effected during harvest season (Aug/Sept). | Oct - Mar |
Secondary Road Transport |
Snow and ice can result in secondary roads being closed for weeks at a time. Availability of trucks can be effected during harvest seaons (Aug/Sept) | Oct - Mar |
Rail Transport |
n/a | n/a |
Air Transport |
The international airport faces frequent closures because of strong winds, sand or snow storms or unacceptable visibility because of excessive air pollution. | Nov - Apr |
Waterway Transport |
Lakes and rivers freeze over in winter | Oct - Mar |
Seasonal Affects on Storage and Handling (economic, social, climate…) |
||
---|---|---|
Activity |
Comments |
From <month> to <month> |
Storage |
There is very little heated warehousing available in Mongolia making storage of temperature sensitive items difficult during winter months |
Oct - Mar |
Handling |
n/a |
n/a |
Other |
n/a |
n/a |
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 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
1.2 Mongolia Regulatory Narrative
Mongolia Regulatory Narrative
For information on Mongolia National Regulatory department contact details, please see the following link:
1.3 Mongolia Customs Information
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.]
Agreements / Conventions Description |
Ratified by Country? (Yes / No) |
---|---|
WCO (World Customs Organization) member |
Yes 1991 |
Annex J-5 Revised Kyoto Convention |
Yes 2006 |
OCHA Model Agreement |
n/a |
Tampere Convention (on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations) |
signed in 1998, but not ratified. |
Regional Agreements (on emergency/disaster response, but also customs unions, regional integration) |
n/a |
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.).
Organizational Requirements to obtain Duty Free Status |
---|
United Nations Agencies |
During non emergency situations the UN will follow the same procedure to clear goods through customs as NGO's. As they have an MOU with the Ministry of Finance they are able to get tax exemption. UN Agencies are able to receive an exemption for vehicles, spare parts, office supplies and telecommunications equipment. This cargo can be cleared directly with the respective customs point and there is no need to go to the Ministry of Finance and General Customs Administration Bureau. |
Non Governmental Organizations |
To receive tax exemption during non emergency situations NGO's must have an MOU with the Ministry of Finance. New organisation who have not operated in Mongolia need to send a written request to the Ministry of Finance for exemption which takes approximately 72 hours to process. This then allows them to request an exemption to the Ministry of Finance when they are to clear a shipment. NGO's are unable to receive exemption for vehicles, spare parts, office supplies or telecommunications equipment. |
Exemption Certificate Application Procedure:
Duties and Taxes Exemption Application Procedure |
---|
Generalities (include a list of necessary documentation) |
Required documents:
Note: 4 copies of each are required - 1 each for Ministry of Finance, general customs, respective customs and the humanitarian agency. |
Process to be followed (step by step or flowchart) |
|
Exemption Certificate Document Requirements
Food | Shelter,Wash and education | Medicines | Vehicles and Spare parts | Staff and office supplies | Telecoms equiment | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Invoice
|
yes, 4
|
yes, 4
|
yes, 4
|
yes, 4, no exemption for NGO's
|
yes, 4, no exemption for NGO's
|
yes, 4, no exemption for NGO's
|
AWB, BoL, or Other Transport Documents
|
yes, 4
|
yes, 4
|
yes, 4
|
yes, 4, no exemption for NGO's
|
yes, 4, no exemption for NGO's
|
yes, 4, no exemption for NGO's
|
Donation Non-Commercial Certificate
|
yes, 4
|
yes, 4
|
yes, 4
|
yes, 4, no exemption for NGO's
|
yes, 4, no exemption for NGO's
|
yes, 4, no exemption for NGO's
|
Packing List
|
yes, 4
|
yes, 4
|
yes, 4
|
yes, 4, no exemption for NGO's
|
yes, 4, no exemption for NGO's
|
yes, 4, no exemption for NGO's
|
Other Documents
|
An official letter from each organisation must be provided
requesting tax exemption
|
An official letter from each organisation must be provided
requesting tax exemption
|
An official letter from each organisation must be provided
requesting tax exemption
|
An official letter from each organisation must be provided
requesting tax exemption
|
An official letter from each organisation must be provided
requesting tax exemption
|
An official letter from each organisation must be provided
requesting tax exemption
|
If freight charges are not included in the invoice then the invoice for freight charges must be presented also.
Customs Clearance
- Organisation prepares a letter requesting tax exemption for their shipment.
- All necessary documents are presented to the general customs in Ulaanbaatar. They will then issue a letter of exemption.
- 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.
- 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 Information |
|
---|---|
Document Requirements |
n/a |
Embargoes |
n/a |
Prohibited Items |
Nuclear waste, drugs, explosives |
General Restrictions |
Spirits, some pharmaceuticals |
Customs Clearance Document Requirements
Food | Shelter,Wash and education | Medicines | Vehicles and Spare parts | Staff and office supplies | Telecoms equiment | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Invoice
|
yes,original, 4 copies
|
yes, original, 4 copies
|
yes, original, 4 copies
|
yes, original, 4 copies
|
yes, original, 4 copies
|
yes, original, 4 copies
|
AWB, BoL, or Other Transport Documents
|
yes, original, 4 copies
|
yes, original, 4 copies
|
yes, original, 4 copies
|
yes, original, 4 copies
|
yes, original, 4 copies
|
yes, original, 4 copies
|
Donation Non-Commercial Certificate
|
yes, original, 4 copies
|
yes, original, 4 copies
|
yes, original, 4 copies
|
yes, original, 4 copies
|
yes, original, 4 copies
|
yes, original, 4 copies
|
Packing List
|
yes, original, 4 copies
|
yes, original, 4 copies
|
yes, original, 4 copies
|
yes, original, 4 copies
|
yes, original, 4 copiesyes, original, 4 copies
|
yes, original, 4 copies
|
Other Documents
|
Quality certificate & Certificate of Origin
|
Quality certificate & Certificate of Origin
|
Quality certificate & Certificate of Origin & Import
Permit
|
Quality certificate & Certificate of Origin
|
Quality certificate & Certificate of Origin
|
Quality certificate & Certificate of Origin
|
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