The number of traders whose cargoes are passing via the Vladivostok customs post has grown considerably. Customs officers fail to cope with the flow of goods, Deyta.ru reports.

However, according to Nikolai Loshchinin, the head of the customs post at Vladivostok seaport speaking at a press conference, the cargo clearance procedure is held in accordance with the legislation of the RF regulatory requirements. To prepare customs documents it takes no more than 30 minutes. The complete cargo clearance procedure takes from a half to 8 hours. Almost 2.000 customs clearance declarations are prepared at the customs post. The customs officers work is under severe control, Mr. Loschninin said.

Loshchinin explained the delay was caused by an increase in cargo volumes passing through the customs post. According to him, from the beginning of this year the sea port of Vladivostok has seen 830.000 tons of commercial cargoes, against 506.000 tons a year earlier. In addition, in early 2009, most of imports were automobiles, a more “convenient” cargo for clearance procedure. Now, consumer goods make up the major part of imports, which require additional verification measures. The number of traders has increased from 1436 to 1595 recently.

At the moment, about 20.5 percent of all customs clearance declarations have been prepared and submitted. To remove delays, Mr. Loschinins says, the Vladivostok customs authorities have sent more officers to add 10 percent to the post staff. The customs officers apply mobile screening complexes (MSC), which allows using the X-rays to see the contents of containers.

Mr. Loshchinin suggested that the cargo importers and exporters used more the electronic declaration submissions to cut at least 3 hours spent for cargo clearance procedure.