22.07.08

Sergey Shokhin, deputy head of the Federal Customs Service (FTS) announced to members of the Association of European Business that the customs system is set to be overhauled. A concept of phased transition to the new system is to be prepared by August 1.

The FTS, however, has refrained from making additional comments. Then President Vladimir Putin issued an order to transfer customs duties to posts at the border (rather than in cities) in 2003.

Currently, the border control facilities have neither the appropriate hardware, nor specialists to process or store the cargo. Implementation of the new system would require additional measures to draw customs specialists to the borders, including providing them with living accommodations and developing a work schedule for them on a rotation basis or as a long-term work assignment. The announced changes create additional questions for importers who have entered into long-term contracts with agents for customs clearance services in the inland facilities. With the current situation, most fear that such a change will only lead to much greater processing times.

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Source: Российский налоговый портал