One of the main tasks of customs bodies is to ensure lawfulness of movement of goods across customs border. Therefore, all goods including vehicles that are exported from or imported into customs territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan are subject to customs control.

Forms of customs control include wide range of customs bodies’ actions such as verifying the existence and authenticity of documents, verbal questioning, examination and inspection of goods and vehicles, personal examination, inspection of premises and territories, post-customs control and others.

As seen from above-mentioned customs control is quite a complicated process of interaction of customs bodies with business entities. In this regard, effective operation of each foreign economic activity participant and the economy in general heavily depend on levels of transparency and simplicity of implementation of each customs control forms.

In accordance with international standards (Kyoto Convention), customs control should be maintained at a minimum level which is necessary to meet its main purposes and should be conducted selectively with implementation of risk management methods.

Thus, the draft Customs Code in new revision should express new ideology of customs administration envisaged in Kyoto Convention and promote formation of the system of customs control which facilitates integration of Uzbekistan’s economy into world market by means of simplification of customs procedures, as well as by introduction of the system of risk analysis and management as a main strategy for implementation of customs control and interaction with business.

In the framework of activities, aimed at elaboration of the draft Customs Code in new revision, the joint project of United Nations Development Programme and State Customs Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan ("Improving the System of Customs Administration in the Republic of Uzbekistan") organized a meeting of Expert Council to discuss issues of customs control covered in the draft Customs Code in new revision.

The objective of the Expert Council meeting was to continue constructive policy dialogue among the Government, private sector and other involved parties on joint discussion of the clauses of the draft document regulating issues of customs control.

Among the issues discussed during the course of event were such issues as necessity of examination of goods only in customs control zones; specification of actions which might be considered as an intention of export of goods; revision of list of persons obliged to provide customs bodies with commercial documents necessary for customs control; specification of criteria according to which customs bodies make decisions on extension of period of customs registration (from three to ten workdays) and others.

At the close of the meeting participants agreed to additionally consider discussed remarks and suggestions and submit them for consideration to the Working Group on elaboration of the draft Customs Code in new revision.