Inviolable union
New Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) came into effect on 1 January 2018, having replaced the Customs Code of the Customs Union. When speaking at the XIV International Transport Forum “Yug-Transshipment-2018”, Sergey Sokolov, Adviser for Customs Formalities and Customs Control, Department of Customs Legislation and Law Enforcement Practice, told about changes streamlining customs procedures.
Streamlined transit
Taking into consideration the requirements of today’s logistics, customs transit procedures have underwent the greatest changes. The decision dated 13 December 2017 (No 170) specified customs formalities related to extension of transit period, changing the point of cargo delivery, cargo operations both within EAEU and via the territories of the third states, emergency procedures as well as completion and termination of customs transit procedure.
Sergey Sokolov emphasized that the document covers real demands with an opportunity to apply for extension of transit period and for changing the point of cargo delivery by email.
Besides, importers/exporters involved in operations via the territories of the third states (beyond EAEU) can now obtain a general permit for cargo operations valid throughout a calendar year.
Decision No 139 streamlines the trade between the states of EAEU involving crossing of the third states’ territory (Kaliningrad, Armenia).
Decision No 138 covers the transit of unassembled/disassembled goods with zero rates set for components.
For goods carried by water and air transport the document forces transition of the third states’ territory without application of customs transit procedures.
Some changes relate to vehicles for international transportation (VIT) and containers.
In particular, reusable tare, spare parts and equipment are treated similar to VIT. Containers delivered to EAEU by water transport and then reloaded to railway and road transport for delivery to recipients in EAEU are treated as vehicles for international transportation.
“Taking into consideration that vehicles for international transportation are not an object of transaction but an instrument, the rules for extension of their stay in the territory of EAEU are quite mild”, said Sergey Sokolov.
Elena Tkacheva
