ARMENIA IS GOING TO IMPROVE OPERATIONS OF CUSTOMS WAREHOUSES

RIA Oreanda
Aug 8 2008
Russia

Yerevan. OREANDA-NEWS . On August 06, 2008 RA Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan called a consultative meeting to discuss the ways of improving
the operations of customs warehouses, reported the Official website
.

The meeting was attended by members of the Supreme Council on New
Revenue Management Practice Introduction (SCRM), customs warehouse
executives. Tigran Sargsyan briefed them on the new requirements
and standards applicable to customs warehouses under the licensing
procedure which seek to streamline and improve their activities.

The Prime Minister stated in part:

"Our common goal is to improve the quality of services rendered by
customs warehouses throughout the country. This is supposed to call
for the combined efforts of both the customs authorities and customs
warehouse executives. In view of the above, all our undertakings
should be clear and predictable to you."

In stating those key legislative requirements binding upon both customs
service officers and warehouse operators, the Prime Minister said:
"Firstly, we must rule out any wholesale or retail trade from customs
warehouses whatsoever. We will have this rule strictly enforced. No
activity other than the one stipulated in the law and specified in
the license shall be carried out in customs warehouses. Secondly,
spaces for customs warehouses have to be clearly defined.

Thirdly, any possibility of getting in goods bypassing the customs
and taking them away from customs warehouses must be ruled out. The
fourth essential requirement bears on the compliance with the safety
standards. We are going to demand for access to all your contracts
signed with security services so as we can henceforth deal only with
licensed entities responsible for the service provided.

Together with you, we must provide the conditions necessary for
self-declarations.

This means that favorable working conditions should be created for
customs-brokers. The last requirement concerns the proper equipping of
customs warehouses which calls for investment. I mean the availability
of state-of-the-art weighing and recording devices, means of conveyance
etc. to ensure that the whole process in customs warehouses is subject
to control by both you and the customs service. We are determined to
ensure compliance with the foregoing regulations, and I would like
to ask for your cooperation in giving effect to them."

No questions having arisen with the executives of customs warehouses
regarding the above-stated requirements and standards, the Prime
Minister advised that they may turn to the RA Customs Committee by
the Government for any clarification concerning these issues.

In conclusion, once again the Prime Minister underscored the need for
working jointly towards improving the operations of customs warehouses.