State Customs Committee (Azerbaijan)

State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan Republic
Azərbaycan Respublikası Dövlət Gömrük Komitəsi
Coat of Arms of Azerbaijan
Agency overview
Formed January 30, 1992
Headquarters 2 Inshaatchilar Avenue, Baku, Azerbaijan Republic AZ1073
Agency executive
Website www.customs.gov.az

The State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan Republic (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan Respublikası Dövlət Gömrük Komitəsi) is a governmental agency within the Cabinet of Azerbaijan in charge of customs clearance for imports and exports, and regulation of all customs activities within Azerbaijan Republic. The ministry is headed by Aydin Aliyev.[1]

History

Baku Customs Office was originally created in 1809 as a part of Astrakhan Customs District within the Russian Empire. On July 31, 1831 it was transferred to the Transcaucasian Customs District and in 1832 it was renamed to Baku Warehouse Customs. On May 4, 1847 the agency was transformed into Baku Quaranteen Customs Department. On December 8, 1897 according to a new law, the department was transformed into Baku Customs Department again and transferred to Tbilisi Caucasus Customs District on June 1, 1911. From 1918 until 1920, the committee functioned within the Ministry of Finance of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. After establishment of the Soviet rule in Azerbaijan, the committee was restructured in 1929, 1946 and 1955. On January 27, 1989, according to the decree No. 17 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan SSR, Customs Office of Azerbaijan Republic was created and Astara and Julfa check points were transferred under its jurisdiction.[2] The committee was re-established as a governmental agency of Azerbaijan Republic on January 30, 1992 after the breakup of the Soviet Union and restoration of independence of Azerbaijan. Establishment of the committee helped accelerate the commodity turnover in the country and eased the import-export procedures. Over 20 customs chapters and 50 customs check points were set up in Azerbaijan. It was effective in prevention of smuggling of illegal items and good through the state borders.[3]

Structure

The committee is headed by its chairman. The main functions of the committee are enforcing the customs policy of and preparing the development program for customs activity in the Republic of Azerbaijan; preparation of economic programs and licensing of goods and commodities passing through customs check points; collection of taxes and tariffs on goods passing through the border; issuance of certificates; arranging registration of cargo and transport; participation in the development and implementation of state policies for effective utilization and protection of natural reserves in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea; assisting law enforcement agencies of Azerbaijan in combating international terrorism and drug trafficking; provision of statistical data on foreign trade customs and special customs bodies of Azerbaijan; undertaking measures for protection of rights and interests of individuals and legal enterprises while carrying out the customs activities; participation in activities of international customs organizations; arranging scientific researches in the customs sector.[4]

Single Window System

According to the Decree (11 November 2008) by the President of Azerbaijan, “single window” principle started to be applied from 1 January 2009 on the inspection of goods and transportation at the border checkpoints.[5] Customs Committee established a commission working on the implementation of “single window” principle in customs agencies on 18 November 2008 based on the Presidential Decree of 11 November 2008.[6] Technological scheme determining the sequence of issuance of “permit” certificates was approved by the Customs Committee on 22 December 2009. Scheme provided customs officers to issue “permit” certificates at border checkpoints to vehicles, which perform customs, veterinary, photo-sanitary and sanitary quarantine control activities and international automobile transportation in accordance with legislation.[7]

The head of State Customs Committee issued an order on 4 June 2009 to implement “Single window – Automated Management System” at the border checkpoints to control goods and transport crossing the border. In order to expand the implementation of “Single window – AMS”, Customs Committee issued another order on 12 August 2009, which provided to use pilot version of “Single window – AMS” in registration of goods and transportation at all customs offices of Customs Committee.[8]

The process of examining goods and transportation crossing checkpoints at borders, global practices of implementing single window system, international norms and standards relating to this issue were investigated by the State Customs Committee. Customs Committee started to monitor and examine all necessary licenses and permits to let the goods pass through borders according to the new system. Duplication of the process of controlling at the border was abolished and operations on documents were facilitated.[9]

Central database used by different government bodies started to improve after single window system was introduced. Information about kinds of products and transportation passing through border, swapping electronic certificates among appropriate agencies, pre-arrival notifications for declared goods and transportation crossing border, reports on infringement of customs rules, financial reports of trading parties is accumulated by the new system.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "CIA. Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments". Archived from the original on 2010-05-28. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  2. ↑ "AZƏRBAYCAN RESPUBLİKASI DÖVLƏT GÖMRÜK KOMİTƏSİ" [State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan. History]. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  3. ↑ "State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan". Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  4. ↑ "Azerbaijan Portal. THE STATE CUSTOMS COMMITTEE OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN. The history of the Committee". Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  5. ↑ "Single-window: Decree of the President of Azerbaijan (11 November 2008)". customs.gov.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  6. ↑ "Single-window: About the establishment of the commission". customs.gov.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  7. ↑ "Single-window: About the technological scheme of issuing permits". customs.gov.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  8. ↑ "Single window: Expanding implementation of "Single window – AMS"". customs.gov.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  9. 1 2 World Bank Group - Doing Business (2013). Doing Business 2014. pp. 60–65. ISBN 978-0-8213-9983-5. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
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