Ukraine expedites customs clearance for NCTS users, expands transit simplifications

MOSCOW. July 17 (Interfax) - Ukraine has created a legislative framework to enable the priority passage across the border of goods transported under the common transit procedure and has permitted the internal transit of goods using the NCTS joint transit system, similar to the EU's Union Transit under the EU Customs Code.

The Ukrainian Finance Ministry on its website offered comments on the key innovations contained in legislation passed by the Verkhovna Rada on July 13, Ukrainian media said. The bill is titled "On the introduction of amendments to the Customs Code of Ukraine regarding the use of customs declarations and the electronic transit system under the Convention on simplification of formalities in trade in goods (NCTS) for the transit in conditions of the current Code."

"The Customs Code amendments that have been adopted create a favorable environment for Ukrainian business in terms of opening the T1 declaration at internal customs points, a move that in combination with the electronic queue on the border will relieve the burden on customs points and will reduce the time of getting through the customs for NCTS users," the ministry said.

The legislation also paves the way for additionally simplifying the transit procedure, including the status of authorized senders of international shipments and authorized recipients of international shipments and the possibility of having one transit declaration on goods that are being transported or will be transported in one vehicle (in one container or packaging) from one customs office of departure to one customs office of destination, the ministry said.

Other simplifications include bringing the requirements for sealing all transit shipments, or, when sealing is impossible, for ensuring the identification of such goods in line with the EU's customs legislation and the provisions of the Convention on Common Transit.

The bill was drawn up pursuant to the customs commitments undertaken by Ukraine as part of its European integration process, the Finance Ministry said.