Against the background of changes in the external economic situation and the growth of parallel imports, cases of illegal import of goods have become more frequent in Russia. This creates risks not only for suppliers, but also for those who purchase and sell foreign products on the domestic market. Chief Customs Inspector Vasil Garipova told the webinar how businesses can verify the legality of the origin of goods and avoid claims from regulatory authorities.
The customs authorities record an increase in the volume of inspections not only at checkpoints, but also on the territory of Russia itself. The checks concern not only importers, but also those who are indirectly involved in the turnover: shopkeepers, warehouses, distributors. The reason is the need to stop the sale of goods illegally imported in circumvention of the EAEU rules.
If the goods were delivered without proper declaration, with forged documents, outside official checkpoints or in violation of the regime, they are considered to have been moved with violations. In this case, liability may occur even for those who did not directly participate in the importation, but purchased such goods.
According to Article 56 of the EAEU Customs Code, the duty to pay duties also falls on the final owner of the goods if he knew or should have known about the illegality of their importation. Moreover, the liability in such cases becomes joint and several: both the supplier and the buyer are obliged to pay the duties.
To avoid these risks, when making transactions on the territory of the Russian Federation, you need to carefully check the documents. The invoice must include the declaration number for the goods. If there is no such information, there is a high probability that the goods were imported illegally.
If violations are detected, the customs may recognize the goods as illegally moved and seize them. However, businesses are given the opportunity to legalize such goods. To do this, you need to declare them again, pay the fees and submit documents confirming compliance with the requirements. Penalties are not charged in this case.
Also, every entrepreneur can request information about the status of goods through the FCS: through his personal account, the Unified Portal of Public Services, or personally at the customs department. For the request, you need to specify the declaration number, the country of origin, the quantity of the product and its position in the declaration. The response is received within 5-10 business days, free of charge.
Thus, today, checking the legality of the origin of goods is not just a formality, but an important measure to protect businesses from fines and losses. Knowing your rights and opportunities helps to minimize risks and build a legal, transparent business even in conditions of high turbulence in the market.
