Staff of Minsk 2 airport violate Customs Code?

The period for completing customs procedures has been prolonged by 10 days due to the lack of customs officers.

In accordance with article 196 of the Customs Code, “the customs body shall clear the goods within one working day following the day of the customs declaration registration”. This period can be “prolonged by the time needed to carry out or complete the customs control procedures with the written permission of the head of the customs body, an authorised deputy head of the customs body or their substitutes and cannot exceed 10 (ten) working days from the day following the day of the customs declaration registration unless otherwise provided for by the Code”.

Reader Siarhei Kuntsevich told charter97.org that the customs service of Minsk 2 national airport did not issue goods on February 6. As it follows from Siarhei conversation with a representative of the airport's customs service, only one customs officer works there.

“I do not have time today. I am working alone today. I cannot fill in 70 customs declaration forms a day. I can fill in only 20 forms. In this shift, on Saturday, only I work with declarations. Two inspectors will be filling in forms tomorrow, so you will get something by Monday,” the customs officer said on the phone.

The period for completing customs procedures for the reader's goods was prolonged by 10 days due to the lack of staff

“The lack of staff is probably considered to be a good excuse for prolonging the period for customs procedures. But you have to pay for storing your goods. They don't do it on time, but I have to pay,” the reader notes.

He writes that similar violations take place regularly.

“I have to wait for three or four days without reply each time,” the reader complains.