Foreign trade news
and changes in legislation

As previously reported, since 20 June 2009 the Federal Customs Agency of Russia (the FTS of Russia) strengthened customs control over the import of mobile phones due to becoming more frequent cases of declaring inauthentic information regarding importing mobile phones. In general, the control measures have exercised good influence on the transparency of the mobile phones market.

In most cases, the customs authorities were furnished with inauthentic information on the weight and technical characteristics as well as on the models of the mobile phones and it was of great importance when determining the customs value thereof and resulted in reduction in collection of customs payments.

The measures taken by the FTS of Russia for the purpose of strengthening the customs control over importing mobile phones, are based on the application of the risk management system (SUR). Due to such measures, within less than 2 months the corrections of the customs value were made for the total amount over 11.5 mln. rubles. It means that said measures are reasonable and that there is a risk of further inauthentic declaration of mobile phones.

Regarding the NOKIA, Sony-Ericsson, LG, and Samsung companies importing mobile phones into Russia under direct contracts (without intermediaries) the FTS of Russia has increased practices of optional customs examinations using the random number generator (random sample). The random sample is made with the use of special software to be applied within the risk management system framework without participation of customs officials and therefore it permits to avoid corruption events. For example, no more than 20% of the customs declarations of the total amount thereof are subjected to the customs examination while regarding the NOKIA, Sony-Ericsson, LG, and Samsung companies that percentage is 3%.

When strengthening control over the import of the mobile phones into the Russian Federation, the customs authorities neither breach the rules for customs clearance including the rules regarding refusal in accepting the cargo customs declarations nor exceed the time terms of release of goods stipulated by the Customs Code of the Russian Federation (three working days). About 50% of the customs declarations are released within one day. The time terms for checking customs declarations are extended for the period of more than three working days in 26% of the cases and only within the powers stipulated by the Customs Code. Inter alia, the customs authorities are entitled to extend the time for checking customs declarations if the goods presented for customs clearance are not divided into separate packing lots based on the goods categories and/or descriptions.

The Federal Customs Agency of Russia, 17 August 2009, customs.ru