OREANDA-NEWS. On August 06, 2008 RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan called a consultative meeting to discuss the ways of improving the operations of customs warehouses, reported the Official website www.gov.am.

The meeting was attended by members of the Supreme Council on New Revenue Management Practice Introduction (SCRM), customs warehouse executives. Tigran Sargsyan briefed them on the new requirements and standards applicable to customs warehouses under the licensing procedure which seek to streamline and improve their activities.

The Prime Minister stated in part:

"Our common goal is to improve the quality of services rendered by customs warehouses throughout the country. This is supposed to call for the combined efforts of both the customs authorities and customs warehouse executives. In view of the above, all our undertakings should be clear and predictable to you."

In stating those key legislative requirements binding upon both customs service officers and warehouse operators, the Prime Minister said: "Firstly, we must rule out any wholesale or retail trade from customs warehouses whatsoever. We will have this rule strictly enforced. No activity other than the one stipulated in the law and specified in the license shall be carried out in customs warehouses. Secondly, spaces for customs warehouses have to be clearly defined.

Thirdly, any possibility of getting in goods bypassing the customs and taking them away from customs warehouses must be ruled out. The fourth essential requirement bears on the compliance with the safety standards. We are going to demand for access to all your contracts signed with security services so as we can henceforth deal only with licensed entities responsible for the service provided.

Together with you, we must provide the conditions necessary for self-declarations. This means that favorable working conditions should be created for customs-brokers. The last requirement concerns the proper equipping of customs warehouses which calls for investment. I mean the availability of state-of-the-art weighing and recording devices, means of conveyance etc. to ensure that the whole process in customs warehouses is subject to control by both you and the customs service. We are determined to ensure compliance with the foregoing regulations, and I would like to ask for your cooperation in giving effect to them."

No questions having arisen with the executives of customs warehouses regarding the above-stated requirements and standards, the Prime Minister advised that they may turn to the RA Customs Committee by the Government for any clarification concerning these issues.

In conclusion, once again the Prime Minister underscored the need for working jointly towards improving the operations of customs warehouses.