The Vitebsk transport prosecutor's office conducted an inspection of compliance with legislation during customs control

In May of the current year, the Vitebsk transport prosecutor's office conducted an inspection of the Vitebsk customs officials' compliance with legislation during customs control regarding the import of goods by individuals into the territory of the Republic of Belarus in accompanied baggage, as well as the calculation of customs duties and taxes on such goods for 2019-2020.

During the inspection, it was established that in 2020, there was a significant decrease in the number of processed passenger customs declarations (hereinafter - PCD) in the territory under the jurisdiction of the Vitebsk customs. Thus, during the specified period, individuals processed 25,219 PCDs, whereas in 2019, there were 120,515 PCDs.

According to paragraph 4 of Article 256 of the Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union (hereinafter - CC EAEU), the classification of goods moved across the customs border of the Union as goods for personal use is carried out by customs authorities based on the individual's oral declaration of the goods being moved, as well as written declaration using a passenger customs declaration; the nature and quantity of goods; the frequency of crossing the customs border of the Union by the individual and/or movement of goods by this individual or to their address.

During the specified period, the number of individuals brought to administrative responsibility for violations of the goods declaration procedure also decreased (from 75 to 33). However, the type and nature of the violations committed have not changed. The main type of offense remains the non-declaration of goods transported in excess of established limits, as well as medicines containing psychotropic (narcotic) substances.

In order to prevent violations of customs legislation, as well as to prevent administrative or criminal liability, the transport prosecutor's office strongly recommends that when crossing the border, individuals familiarize themselves in advance with the current norms of legislation on the website of the State Customs Committee, or at border crossing points of the Republic of Belarus, including with customs officers.

Deputy

Vitebsk
transport prosecutor M.A. Sashcheko