Customs Service will apply New Computerized Transit System by April 2009

The Customs Service will implement a New Computerized Transit System (NCTS) until April 2009. The system will permit to simplify the customs procedures and improve the processing capacities of the customs offices and posts. It is used in 31 states, including 27 EU member states and four members of the European Free Trade Association, Info-Prim Neo reports. At a meeting of the working group that monitors the implementation of Moldova’s Millennium Challenge Corporation Threshold Country Program, the Customs Service’s director general Viorel Melnic said that they are now working on the adjustment of the legislation, procedures and information technology to the NCTS standards. There were worked out amendments to the Customs Code and created a new additional test-module to the information system ASYCUDA World for monitoring online the use of the financial guarantees presented by economic entities. Training seminars for the Customs Service employees are organized with the help of experts from Lithuania and of the U.S. ICITAR project on the prevention and combating of corruption in police bodies. Only the Customs Service and the Border Guard Service will work at the one-stop offices of the border crossing points. The tax levying and control functions of the other services will be transferred to the two services. In order to simplify and make the customs procedures more efficient, there is applied the risk criteria mechanism – customs control based on selectivity, “home clearance” of the economic entities. The simplification of the customs procedures and enhancement of the processing capacities of the customs offices and posts is one of the three major objectives of the Customs Service included in the Threshold Country Program. The other two objectives are: to insure probity among the employees of the Customs Service and to encourage the economic entities to observe the law. Tatiana Busuncian, executive director of the Pro Marshal Center, the NGO selected to monitor the implementation of the Threshold Country Program in customs and police, approved of the process of recruiting personnel for the Customs Service. From June 2007, the vacancies have been filled by contest. Twenty-one persons have been employed this year. Robert Coburm, manager of the project on the prevention and combating of corruption in customs and police, said he is optimistic that the objectives for the Customs Service stipulated in the Threshold Country Program will be achieved. He appreciated the cooperation with the economic entities, including the prompt informing about the implemented changes and the systematic organization of training seminar. Moldova’s US$24.6 million Threshold Country Program was approved in late 2006 and covers a period of three years. It includes measures aimed at combating corruption in the legal, fiscal and customs systems, in police and other areas as well as measures to strengthen the institutional capacities of the public authorities and the monitoring capacities of the civil society. The successful implementation of the Program is one of the factors that will enable Moldova to become eligible for full MCC assistance. Another important factor is the formulation of a country program on sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction with the broad participation of the society – the Compact Program. The Moldovan authorities have already submitted this program to MCC.