The Government has decided to implement the automated “Single Window” system at the customs starting from August 1, 2016.

The Ministry of Finance has been pursuing the systemic reform of the customs service aimed to eradicate corruption, to prevent smuggling and customs rules violations, to automate customs operations, to simplify customs procedures, to improve customs contacts with other countries etc. With this purpose the Ministry of Finance elaborated a draft law on authorized economic operators (AEO) which was unanimously adopted by the Parliament. Also, a procedure for the automatic distribution of customs declarations was implemented and a number of international agreements on mutual customs assistance were signed. The next step in this direction is the implementation of the automated customs processing system “Single Window”.

The adopted Government’s decree stipulates that all kinds of control (customs, sanitary, phytosanitary, ecological, radiological etc.) are to be carried out using the customs IT system. It significantly simplifies and speeds up customs procedures, since the united electronic database enables various authorities and customs offices to automatically exchange information about goods passing the Ukrainian border.

According to the decree, controlling authorities have 4 hours to decide to examine a consignment. Otherwise the principle of “default consent” is applied, i.e. the IT system automatically grants release which is the reason to complete the customs control and customs clearance.

Also, goods are examined simultaneously by all agencies not later than in 24 hours after the time proposed by the respective economic entity.

Thus, the implementation of the “Single Window” procedure at the customs makes it possible to simplify and to reduce the number of customs formalities, to reduce their duration, to minimize the human factor in decision-making by customs offices and other controlling authorities as well as to delete opportunities for corruption and to foster international trade.