To help ensure the continuation of the flow of goods and materials, the European Commission has issued guidelines for the implementation of its Green Lanes. These are border management measures and are put in place to protect health while ensuring the availability of goods and essential services throughout the community. The Green Lanes are designated priority routes to ensure the continuation of the flow of goods and materials internally in the EU. They particularly refer to fresh food and essential food products; live animals and feed; agricultural production inputs; medicines, including veterinary medicines; and personal protection equipment (PPE).
To help ensure the continuation of the flow of goods and materials, the European Commission has issued guidelines for the implementation of its Green Lanes. These are border management measures and are put in place to protect health while ensuring the availability of goods and essential services throughout the community.
The Green Lanes are designated priority routes to ensure the continuation of the flow of goods and materials internally in the EU. They particularly refer to fresh food and essential food products; live animals and feed; agricultural production inputs; medicines, including veterinary medicines; and personal protection equipment (PPE).
They also aim to ensure that industrial inputs for the production and maintenance of these processes, transport workers and operators of critical and essential supply chain services in all modes of transport. These should be considered as one of the priority groups in the distribution and allocation of personal protection equipment (PPE) such as disinfection products and gloves.
Important
These clarifications are important for Ireland as they help us get goods to market while ensuring that essential inputs for food production can continue to get access into this country.
The Green Lane border crossings should be open to all freight vehicles, including heavy and light duty vehicles and, where applicable, trains and vessels. And vehicles carrying any type of goods should be able to use Green Lane border crossings.
The Commission also urges member states to set up safe passage transit corridors to allow private drivers and their passengers, such as health and transport workers, to proceed to their work.
These routes could also be used by all EU citizens being repatriated and they should be allowed to pass directly, and with priority, through the country in each necessary direction along the TEN-T Network.
Member states are also asked to ensure that they have at least one airport functional for repatriation and international relief flights.
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