Medical and railway station staff members transfer boxes of protective masks and other supplies arriving at the Wuhan Railway Station, Wuhan, Hubei province, Jan 31, 2020. (PHOTO / CHINA DAILY)

Foreign materials donated by overseas donors for prevention and control of the pneumonia outbreak caused by novel coronavirus will be exempted from import tax until late March, China's General Administration of Customs announced on Saturday.

To further support the prevention and control of the epidemic, a favorable import tax policy will be implemented from Jan 1 to March 31, the GAC said in a statement.

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The government has removed customs duties, and VAT and sales taxes for charitable donations in goods and equipment, such as reagents, disinfection items, protective materials, ambulances, anti-epidemic vehicles and sterilizing vehicles.

Domestic government branches, companies, social organizations, Chinese residents and foreign citizens who live in China are entitled to gain the tax exemption for epidemic prevention and control goods imported from overseas and areas under special customs supervision, according to the GAC.

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Foreign donations without clear recipients will be received by the Red Cross Society of China, All-China Women's Federation, China Disabled Persons' Federation, China Charity Federation, China Primary Health Care Foundation, China Soong Ching Ling Foundation and Cancer Foundation of China.