The Customs Union – a free trade area

The Customs Union it is an agreement of several countries about the establishment of the territory where united rules for handling products does work and where introduced preferential customs regimes.

In 2007, the union was formed by Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. The result of six years of community activities was the development and introduction of modern interstate standards – technical regulations, the increase in sales volumes between the countries, strengthening economic and political connections between the three countries.

Governing body of the Economic Community is The Commission of The Customs Union. It is the regulatory body, except this in each of country work the Interstate Councils. Handling of products on the territory of the Customs Union and outside the community is in accordance with the decisions of the Commission. Experience shows that such an effective form of government accelerated the process of integration of the three countries.

Basic functions of the Customs Union Commission

The governance of the Customs Union operates in the following areas:

• customs tariff and non-tariff regulations;

• security control of export and import of products;

• control of legality passing trades;

• tax policy;

• macroeconomic policies;

• development, implementation of technical regulations;

• migration policy;

• state procurements;

• monopoly and competition policy;

• maintaining statistics of domestic and foreign trade community.

The Customs Union Commission has the right to take protective, countervailing, anti-dumping measures in relation to countries which participating the community.

Prospects of the development of the Customs Union

Negotiations to expand the union are ongoing with various countries: Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, South Korea and India. All of these countries and possibly others in the next year or two may become members of the Customs Union.

Interest in cooperation with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan due to the fact that these three countries are promising as providers of valuable raw materials for industry and as consumers.

Exports to countries of the Customs Union

You can deliver your products to the Customs Union countries after certification or declaration of products. The procedure involves checking the goods in compliance with the requirements of technical regulations of the Customs Union. Establishing the conformity of the product occurs by testing and examination of the documentary.

For formal verification of product, compliance to the technical regulations of the Customs Union after the examination is issued a certificate or declaration.

If you are interested in exports to Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, all necessary permits can be issued in a certification centre “Rostest Latvia”. Our company is accredited in accordance with established procedure, included in the register of the Customs Union and has the right to register appropriate documents.

In order to start the procedure of certification is sufficient to apply to our Russian or Latvian office by e-mail or website.