Belarus  intends to accede to the international convention on the simplification and harmonization of customs procedures. The information was released by First Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Committee of Belarus Vladimir Goshin at the 28 September session of the International Affairs and CIS Relations Commission of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus.

Vladimir Goshin presented a bill on Belarus’ accession to the convention and laid down its framework. In his words, the convention is the key international customs document that specifies regulations of foreign trade relations and non-tariff customs regulations that the World Customs Organization has adopted. Over 60 countries have already signed the convention, including all European countries, the USA, Australia. Out of the CIS states Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have signed the convention while Russia and Ukraine are on the way to signing it.

Key principles of the convention are the use of new technologies, introduction of modern forms of customs control, the desire to establish a mutually beneficial partnership between commercial companies and customs bodies. Belarus’ accession to the convention and its implementation will allow greatly reducing the time required for most customs procedures and will contribute to Belarus’ accession to the WTO, believes Vladimir Goshin.

The House of Representatives of the National Assembly is supposed to read the bill on Belarus’ accession to the international convention on the simplification and harmonization of customs procedures at the autumn session that will bein on 4 October 2010.