Advanced Customs Control.

Technology plays a great role in increasing both the efficiency of inspecting cargo and the number of consignments that can be inspected. Container inspection technology helps customs to answer the question of paramount importance: What’s in the box? There are a number of technical means to assist security checks. Some are used to screen objects for threats and are capable of detecting explosives and weapons of mass destruction, including radioactive, chemical and biological agents. These include X-ray and gamma-ray, pulsed fast neutron analysis, thermal neutron activation, radiation and vapor detection. Others are used to identify individuals or vehicles allowed into a restricted area, or to authenticate a driver or individual loading goods. Technology such as global positioning systems and bar codes can be placed on cargo and used to identify to identify freight being shipped or to track the shipment. Closed-circuit television is used to record the loading of a container onto the ship or aircraft. Video cameras monitor and store images and the container can be inspected by viewing the archived video. Usually these technologies are deployed at border crossings and in sea and airports. Radiation scanning technology is already used at many portals in our country. It enables customs to scan and detect means of transport and the cargo with a limited delay for trade.

Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus

The customs union is a form of economic integration involving two or more sovereign states that stipulates that there be free trade between the member states and a common tariff policy on trade with non-member states. The customs union is the third stage in the process of economic integration between states, after the creation of a free trade area and prior to the declaration of a common market.

The CU has five major elements: (1) duty-free and quota-free trade among the territories of the member-countries; (2) a shared description and classification of tradable products and goods; (3) a common valuations procedure for tradable goods; (4) a common level of protection and trade policy relative to imports from territories outside the jurisdiction of the customs union; and (5) a common administrative structure governing customs operations, trade policy, and revenue collection.

The Customs Union between Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus came into existence on January 1, 2010. The three states will go on with economic integration and remove all customs borders between Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia since July 1, 2011. Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus have launched a customs union as a first step towards forming a broader EU-type economic alliance of former Soviet states.

A breakthrough in integration - this is how experts see the launch of the Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus. The total population of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan is about 180 million people. The three former Soviet republics account for almost 83 % of the economic potential of the former USSR. The agreement eases trade among the three large former Soviet economies without fully abolishing all duties and tariffs. After the removal of customs barriers between these countries their economy may enter a qualitatively new level and receive better options to enter the international market.  The creation of the Customs union will intensify the industrial cooperation between the three states and creation of new working places.