Russia streamlines customs procedures for goods originating and imported into Russia from Turkey

Pepeliaev Group advises that Federal Customs Service Order No. 2171 dated 18 November 2010 enacted the Instruction on the Specifics of Certain Procedures Performed by Customs Officers with respect to Goods Originating and Imported into the Russian Federation fr om the Republic of Turkey.

The Instruction has been drawn up to promote trade between the two countries, speed up customs clearance, and improve customs control by using preliminary data in relation to goods originating and imported into the Russian Federation from the Republic of Turkey.

This Instruction builds upon the Protocol on Simplifying Customs Procedures signed between the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation and the Customs Department of the Republic of Turkey on 18 November 2008.

The Turkish customs authorities have to submit preliminary data on goods originating and imported from the Republic of Turkey to the Unified Automated System used by the Russian customs authorities. Simplified customs procedures in respect of such goods cannot be used until the customs house that would handle such goods receives the reference number of the preliminary data relating to the goods.

The procedure is quite simple: Turkish companies submit to their national customs authorities reliable data on the goods being exported, the types of products and their invoiced value. Such information must be certified by the Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Trade or another authorised agency. The Turkish customs authorities then send such data to their Russian counterparts to speed up the customs clearance of the Turkish goods at the Russian border.

Under the Instruction, companies using the simplified procedure will be given priority at checkpoints for goods brought into the customs territory of the Customs Union and in the primary places of customs clearance.
The Instruction applies to the cargo customs checkpoint of Vnukovo Airport.

The goods imported under the simplified procedure will not be subject to measures aimed at mitigating risks contained in risk profiles (apart from mandatory risk profiles, Russian nation-wide risk profiles for customs value control, and urgent risk profiles), except wh ere such measures are required to prevent customs offences and smuggling.

This Order of the Federal Customs Service of Russia was registered by the Russian Ministry of Justice on 27 December 2010 and published by Rossiyskaya Gazeta on 12 January 2011. It is due to enter into force on 11 February 2011.
 
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The ‘simplified customs corridor’ scheme for the cargo customs checkpoint of Vnukovo Airport was launched as early as the beginning of 2010.

It was expected that this scheme would be used by many Turkish importers, and the volume of Turkish goods cleared through customs would reach hundreds of tonnes per day. However, it has to be admitted that the simplified import procedure is currently used by but a few companies.

Additionally, please be advised that the Vnukovo Customs House is designed to handle air cargo only, but under Federal Customs Service Order No. 2170 dated 18 November 2010, it is allowed to perform customs procedures in respect of goods originating and imported from the Republic of Turkey and brought into the single customs territory of the Customs Union by road transport in accordance with the Protocol on Simplifying Customs Procedures. This order was registered by the Russian Ministry of Justice on 31 December 2010 and published by Rossiyskaya Gazeta on 21 January 2011. It is due to enter into force on 21 February 2011.

Pepeliaev Group professionals have significant hands-on experience in customs law and foreign trade regulation. They also have an excellent track record in handling administrative proceedings involving alleged violations of customs rules.

Our lawyers can provide any advice that clients may need on the application of the customs legislation of the Russian Federation and the Customs Union. Our professionals represent corporate clients before the customs authorities and in courts to argue client appeals against the decisions, acts and omissions of customs officers. They also defend clients, who face administrative penalties, at all stages of administrative proceedings.

For further details, please contact:

in Moscow – Galina Balandina, Partner, Head of Customs and Foreign Trade Regulation Practice, at +7 (495) 967-00-07 or by g.balandina@pgplaw.ru; Alexander Kosov, Head of Customs and Foreign Trade Regulation Practice Group, at +7 (495) 967-00-07 or by a.kosov@pgplaw.ru; Olga Evseeva, Associate, at +7 (495) 967-00-07 or by o.evseeva@pgplaw.ru

in St Petersburg - Sergey Spasennov, Partner, Head of St. Petersburg office, at +7 (812) 333-07-17 or by e-mail