Serbian Government adopted as a result of the state of emergency due to spread of the Covid-19 virus set of measures directly influencing Logistic and Distribution:

  1. Public transport (including intercity bus and rail traffic) at the territory of the Republic of Serbia stopped operating. The exemption from the ban on public transport is possible only based on a special permit. Ban does not apply to cabs, passenger vehicles (own transportation) and transportation for employees.
  2. All border crossings (road, river and railway) are closed. Only transport trucks and other persons with special permit can enter the territory of Serbia.
  3. International airports in Belgrade and Niš have been closed for commercial traffic. The airports are still open for: cargo and mail transport, humanitarian flights, and state aircrafts and special purpose flights. Serbia’s air space remains open to all overflights.
  4. The operation of all facilities and shops within shopping malls has been prohibited, except for grocery stores and pharmacies.
  5. Closure of public service counters does not apply to the Tax Administration, Customs Administration and the Treasury Administration.
  6. There is temporary export ban on sugar, flour, oil, semi-processed oil, whole sunflower seeds, and sanitizers.
  7. There is temporary export ban on medications, expect for medications which are produced but not registered at the territory of the Republic of Serbia (i.e. medication produced only for the foreign markets) and medications in transit statues within the Serbian customs area.

On the other hand, Serbia has not imposed any bans on import of the goods. Moreover, the Serbian Prime Minister called for the need to maintain free movement of goods and to intensify communication at a time when the whole world is confronted with the problem of the COVID-19 virus.

The COVID-19 event has hit various industries, but not all of them are affected to the same level of damage. Travel and hospitality, consumer goods, electronics and retail have been significantly impacted. It is obvious that companies will seek mechanisms different from the current models of supply and distribution, to recover from business disruption cause by COVID-19 global spread. We may see in the future the new channels of sale (for example boosting online business), diversification of suppliers, establishing its own production of row material and spare parts, etc. All those changes and developments will certainly result in need for redefining of contractual relationships between the subjects in supply chain – from a supplier to consumer or customer, as well as with complying with legal requirements different from those which govern current dominant model of business operation.