EBA warns Ukrainian businesses about possible customs clearance difficulties
MOSCOW. Nov 1 (Interfax) - Conditions of customs control and clearance for both imported and exported goods will become tougher starting on November 7 after Ukrainian executive and legislative authorities discarded proposals postponing the introduction of these regulations, Ukrainian media reported citing a statement of the European Business Association (EBA).
"In particular, companies that have failed to get relevant simplifications and benefits provided by the Ukrainian Customs Code or the Convention on Common Transit by November 7, 2023 will have to present goods to customs," the statement said.
The provisions allowing not to present export goods to customs officers will be removed from the Customs Code, it said.
The number of companies that got simplifications within the framework of the authorized economic operator status and under the joint transit regime is rather insignificant, namely, less than 10, it said.
A working meeting of the Verkhovna Rada Financial Committee attended by representatives of the Finance Ministry and the State Customs Service did not support the proposal of businesses to postpone abolishing simplified declarations such as EA-type declarations, which allow to complete customs clearance without delivering goods to customs, it said.
Representatives of the State Customs Service reaffirmed their readiness for these changes and, if necessary, switch relevant units to round-the-clock operations.
The State Customs Service will inform through official websites, as well as on social media, of the established free customs control zones, where it will be possible to present to customs officers, declare and seal exported goods without paying for customs terminal services.
"Businesses should plan their business processes taking into account that queues at the customs houses may be not only at checkpoints, but also at the destination and departure customs houses," the EBA said.
As reported, the regulations making customs clearance of goods without presenting them to customs officers possible will become invalid on November 7, 2023. Only companies with the authorized economic operator status will be entitled to such simplifications.
Experts of the American Chamber of Commerce member companies believe the abolition of simplifications, such as the EA-type declaration and 'export without terminal' will only result in higher financial and administrative costs for businesses and queues at customs terminals, especially in the western regions, and an unnecessary burden on customs officers.