DISCUSSION OF NEW EDITION OF CUSTOMS CODE

On February 16, the National press center of Uzbekistan hosted a press-conference on the theme "New edition of the Customs code is the legal basis of improvement of customs procedures". The event was organized by the State Customs Committee jointly with the Legislative chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It was also attended by representatives of the media.

The Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated January 20, 2016 "On approval of the Customs code of the Republic of Uzbekistan" was adopted by the Legislative chamber of Oliy Majlis on November 17, 2015, and approved by the Senate on December 3, 2015. This act shall enter into force on April 21, 2016.

The Customs code in new revision has been worked out in order to further the formation of a single legislative framework of customs, consistent with international standards, to ensure uniform application of legal norms and approaches at all stages and levels of customs administration, improve the integrity and transparency of customs regulation of foreign economic activity.

The code contains the norms of the previous edition of the Customs code, the Law "On customs tariff", other laws, decisions of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and a number of interdepartmental normative-legal acts regulating the issues of organization of customs control, customs clearance, customs payments, procedures for issuing permits, as well as issues of interaction with the traders.

The customs code comprises 12 paragraphs, 59 chapters and 412 articles. The code reveals a wide range of issues related to customs business and customs legislation in time, includes a detailed and well-articulated conceptual apparatus aimed at a uniform interpretation and application of a set of norms and rules. The new version has fixed the 31st notion, the current edition of the code has 16 concepts.

The code clearly defines 16 types of customs regimes, conditions of their use, the order of application of customs duties, the validity of customs regime, the requirements for its completion.

The code provides an exhaustive list of forms of customs control, under which customs control is carried out. It introduces 5 new forms of customs control, such as getting explanations, customs inspection, checking labeling special stamps, customs supervision, customs control after the release of goods.

According to the new revision, the term for the number of documentary inspections by customs authorities after the release of goods has been reduced to one year, while in the previous revision the term for a maximum period of customs control after the release of goods was up to three years.

The new revision in more detail regulates the issues related to customs payments. Particular attention is paid to the payment of customs duties. It defines the terms of provision, the size and features of customs payments.

New types of customs payments are defined: insurance obligations for payment of customs duties and bail.

The new Customs code also provides for the application of information technology. When establishing the workflow system, the documents required for customs clearance may be submitted in electronic form. Electronic declaration and use of electronic digital signature will significantly simplify and will accelerate the procedure of customs control. Information exchange with customs services of other states and foreign trade operators and declarants will get improved.

The code also provides for the issuance of permits with the use of information technology via a principle "one window". The submission of documents to the customs authorities on the principle "one window" will reduce the burden of forced communication between participants of foreign economic activity with the public authorities.

An important component of this principle is to minimize the number of documents that the participant of foreign economic activity must submit to the competent state authorities to issue permits. This is achieved through building effective inter-agency cooperation with customs authorities.

The law stipulates that the current Customs code and Law "On customs tariff" of the Republic of Uzbekistan will cease to be in force from April 21, 2016.

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