Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine,
Thu, December 22, 2005
KYIV – The Verkhovna Rada has adjusted customs clearance procedures with norms of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Of 226 votes needed, 268 MPs backed on the whole bill 8223-1 on amendments to several legal acts (concerning the customs processing of goods).
An explanatory note to the law reads that the adoption of the document should ensure harmonization of the Ukrainian legislation concerning determination of products’ origin countries with norms of the WTO.
Apart from this, the bill is aimed at improving and simplifying the customs clearance procedure, control over determination of the customs taxation base and completeness of tax payments, and also at increasing responsibility of customs agencies.
The project is amending several articles of the customs code, saying that in general, these changes correspond to basic foundations and regulations of the European Union’s Customs Code, General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade Treaty, Agreement on Rules of Origin and Special Supplement to the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures.
At present, this sphere is regulated by the Customs Code, laws on single customs tariff, on amendments to several legal acts concerning import duty on goods imported to Ukraine’s customs territory, intergovernmental agreements, and the general agreement of tariffs and trade.
As Ukrainian News reported, Ukraine expected to join the WTO during the organization’s December ministerial conference in Hong Kong. The current customs code was adopted in 1991. -30-
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