New Customs Code: What Changes Await Customs Procedures, Authorizations, and Declarations
As reported by the "Judicial-Legal Newspaper", the Cabinet of Ministers has reapproved the draft of Ukraine’s new Customs Code. This document is a pivotal Euro-integration bill in the customs sector, designed to harmonise Ukrainian customs legislation with European Union standards.
The State Customs Service clarified that the reapproval was necessitated by the formation of the new Government. Under current legislation, the previous draft law, submitted by the Cabinet of Ministers and registered in the Verkhovna Rada as No. 15295, is now considered withdrawn.
However, the new draft law is identical in content to its predecessor. The State Customs Service confirmed that, following consultations with Members of Parliament, the parliamentary committees' work on preparing the document for its second reading continued uninterrupted and will now proceed with the new draft.
The new Customs Code is a crucial component in fulfilling Section 29, "Customs Union", of Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations. It aims to align Ukrainian customs rules and procedures with EU legislation, thereby transforming Ukrainian customs into a secure border conforming to European standards.
The draft of the new Customs Code was developed over two years, involving specialists from the Ministry of Finance, the State Customs Service, the Reform Project Office, EU4PFM, international experts, business representatives, and the public. Its preparation incorporated assessments from the European Commission and proposals from the business community, which were discussed during more than 60 consultations.
The document’s structure mirrors that of EU customs legislation. Specifically, it mandates a complete transition to European customs terminology, harmonisation of the authorisation system and customs procedures, and introduces new approaches to decision-making, declarations, customs debt determination, application of guarantees, and duty exemptions.
The State Customs Service further noted that the new code is expected to ensure the continuity of business processes. Notably, indefinite authorisations will remain valid, while fixed-term authorisations will continue to be effective until their specified expiration or the completion of relevant operations.
The adoption of the new Customs Code is anticipated to foster Ukraine’s further integration into the European Union’s customs space. It is also expected to assist Ukrainian businesses in adapting to European customs regulations, optimising logistics and production processes, and enhancing competitiveness.
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