Draft new version of the Customs Code of Uzbekistan published for public discussion

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – A draft new version of the Customs Code of Uzbekistan published for public discussion.

The document contains unified definitions of all terms and concepts used in it that are consistent with international practice and will be basic for other acts in the field of foreign economic regulation. The developers of the bill took into account that any vagueness of the wording or inaccuracy makes it possible for each of the participants in the customs legal relationship to interpret the rules in their own way, the CCI press service reports.

The concept of “customs regime” in the draft law is considered as “customs procedure”. The new term “special customs procedure” is included.

Duplicate norms (10 articles) found in other by-laws are excluded from the bill. In the current edition of Customs Code, 107 articles relate to customs regimes; in the proposed draft, only 43 articles are devoted to them.

The issuance of permits by the customs authorities when placing goods under customs procedures and permissive documents in the field of customs is canceled. State regulation of the activities of the customs carrier is also excluded.

The procedure for placing, changing, selling, storing and performing other operations in accordance with the selected customs procedure is provided for in detail to be regulated in a separate resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers. The draft code reflects the general principles.

The bill represents a new ideology of customs administration, aimed at creating a fundamentally new model of the relationship between participants in foreign economic activity and customs authorities. Therefore, the basic directions of the development of the customs system, promoting the development of foreign trade, reflect the specific legal mechanisms binding on the customs authorities. According to the developers, the new Code should both be conducive to doing business, and maintain a strong, capable customs service.