Imported goods clear customs in four hours

Ukraine has an expedited procedure for customs clearance of goods recognized as humanitarian. Their clearance takes place as a matter of priority, in accordance with existing laws and regulations, the Information-Analytical Bulletin of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine informs.

Thus, according to the Ministry of Revenue and Duties, about 10 tons of humanitarian aid was brought to Ukraine in 2013 for a total 41 million USD. According to the Ministry of Revenue and Duties, the custom clearance for these goods took just four hours.

Experts remind that, according to item 2 of the Resolution #278 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated 17.04.2013, humanitarian goods go through the customs border of Ukraine as a priority without any preliminary customs declaration and without making customs payments as specified in section X of the Customs Code, provided its recipient is recorded in the Unified Register of humanitarian aid recipients. In January, on the proposal of the Ministry of Revenue and Duties, the Cabinet exempted humanitarian cargo whose clearance period had already expired, from warehousing charges. The existing procedure allows goods to move across the border towards the recipients as quickly as possible, given the fact that all procedures are performed.

Government experts say expanded use of electronic services and reducing the number of required permits accelerates customs procedures for other cargo. Thus, Ukraine implements European standards for the customs operations.

According to experts of the Ministry of Revenue and Duties, at the moment the decision on recognition of cargo as humanitarian aid is made by the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, and the Ministry of Revenue and Duties performs customs clearance of such goods in a matter of priority established by law. Then, the cargo is sent to the location of the recipient and is handed over to him for temporary storage. As noted by the Ministry of Revenues and Duties, all goods pass through the border unimpeded.