Vladimir Meshcheryakov, an aide to the head of the Russian Federal Customs Service, said: "As of January 1, 2007, Russia is introducing a new form for both freight customs and transit declarations, which corresponds to the single administrative document used in European Union countries and the European Free Trade Association."
He said the move to unite freight customs and transit declaration into a single document was an intermediary step for Russia to join the Common Transit Procedure Convention in the future.
The customs transit procedure is aimed at ensuring freer movement of goods, and simplifying customs formalities. It stipulates a temporary suspension of duties and taxes normally due on goods imported into the customs territory. The procedure is based on a convention between the EU and members of the European Free Trade Area (EFTA). The convention covers 32 states.
Meshcheryakov said Russia's membership in the convention will simplify transit procedures, "first of all because of the need to fill out of electronic transit declarations only once, in the country of departure."
He added that the convention will make Russia attractive as a transit country between Europe and Asian-Pacific nations.
It will take Russia several years to join the convention, Meshcheryakov said. Work on introducing electronic customs declaration procedures will be conducted within the framework of pilot projects, he said.
Meshcheryakov represented Russia at the two-day Customs 2007 Conference, held in the Finnish town of Muonio on December 14-15. The conference was attended by the heads of customs services from the European Union, as well as from Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine and Bulgaria.
