Changes in Russian bonded deliveries

St Petersburg, 27.10.2011,

Containerships would like to inform its customers that, over the last days, the time required by Baltics Customs to issue transit documents for Russian deliveries performed under bonded regime has increased significantly in all St. Petersburg port terminals, e.g. Moby Dik, PLP, FCT, as well as at any other Russian inland border crossing point.

The increased procedural burden imposed to cargoes cleared at final inland destination now results in the container staying at sea terminal for several additional days hence creating additional storage costs for cargo owner’s account.

On 26th October 2011 was organised a meeting between Baltic Customs Authorities, shipping lines and main consignees.

The Baltic Customs explained their position towards bonded regime deliveries:

1) Russian customs concept stands for decrease of internal customs posts and moving customs clearance to the RU  borders.

2) Due to importers’ attempts to minimize customs payments, also by means of cargoes bonded deliveries, the  customs control over bonded regime cargoes shall be strengthened, i.e. extra checks of cargoes value and customs codes, X-rays, extra weight checking etc.

3) Special control will be effected regarding cargoes of Harmonized Codes 84, 85 and 90 (equipment).

4) Within this/next week Baltic customs (BC) will issue an order re strengthening of control over bonded regime  deliveries.

5) Should discrepancies in docs be revealed, the BC shall notify the customs of cargo final clearance re “possibility of illegal false declaring”. The same notification to be sent also to port bonded regime declarant.

6) BC is not interested in bonded regime deliveries. Same time, as bonded transit is provided by the law, BC cannot  prohibit it, but will take above measures to make sure that absolute majority of cargoes shall be cleared at BC.

7) Customs will not pay specific control attention to transit of the following goods:
- cargo designated to auto-manufacturers and big enterprises (no criteria of how big it should be was mentioned) located anywhere in Russia;
- excise cargoes;
- cargoes designated to Belarus and Kazakhstan.

8) Similar strengthening of control will also take place in auto border crossing points.All customs posts of Russia are  given the same order to strengthen control over bonded deliveries.

General resume and the main message of the meeting is to increase number of customs clearance at the borders/ports and decrease the bonded regime deliveries.

In order to remedy this situation and avoid any disruption in our customers’ supply chain, we would like to remind you that Containerships Russia is at your disposal for arranging customs clearance at Saint Petersburg port, including phytosanitary and veterinary procedures when relevant.

For more information about this matter, please contact your local Containerships office.