KIEV: Ukraine’s customs reform efforts will focus on putting in place necessary human and technological resources so as to create favorable conditions for businesses, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has said.
Addressing a press conference on June 21, 2016, Groysman said that the Government is particularly looking to modernize customs technology, create a modern system of video monitoring and surveillance, update customs software and increase access to global databases, and support the personal development of Ukrainian customs officials.
The Finance Ministry in May announced that it is launching an electronic, automated platform from August 1, 2016, to enable controlling bodies and customs offices to automatically exchange data on consignments passing Ukrainian borders.
Ukraine has lately increased scrutiny of its customs clearance system. In January 2016, Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko asked the tax authority to examine all customs declarations released under the IM40EA procedure, to detect violations and system abuse by customs officers. Jaresko pointed out that the risk assessment systems are not perfect and sometimes enable customs officials to apply the simplified procedure to companies that actually do not have the right to enjoy this exemption.
