Import Of Goods Into Armenia Through Yellow Customs Zone Simplified

IMPORT OF GOODS INTO ARMENIA THROUGH YELLOW CUSTOMS ZONE SIMPLIFIED

Noyan Tapan
April 10, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, NOYAN TAPAN. At the April 10 sitting, the Armenian
government approved the bill on making amendments to the RA Law on
Customs Service, as well as the amendments in the decision to establish
the methods of customs control. The deputy chairman of the RA State
Customs Committee Gagik Khachatrian said during a briefing after
the sitting that the purpose of the decision is to reduce customs
officer-importer contacts to a minimum.

In his words, the new decision allows customs brokers and economic
entities to declare the goods imported by them in a self-declaration,
while an automated program will check reliability of the declaration
without the participation of a customs officer.

G. Khachatrian said that this change applies only to goods imported
through the yellow zone. Previously, during the import of goods,
the procedure included checking of documents, customs examination,
in case of necessity – also detailed examnation, whereas now only
documents will be checked, and a partial examination may be made
based on a written report of the customs officer.

According to G. Khachatrian, the procedure of importing goods through
the red and green zones has remained the same. By information of March
2008, 60% of goods imported into the country passed through the green
zone, 15% – through yellow zone, while the rest passed through the
red zone.