Belarusian customs officers will check the purpose of vehicles imported by individuals

April 15, Minsk /Lilia Krapivina - BELTA/. Vehicles intended for commercial use are being imported into Belarus under the guise of personal use vehicles. This was reported to BELTA by the State Customs Committee of Belarus, commenting on the statistics of vehicle imports in the first quarter of 2010. During this period, legal entities imported trucks and cargo-passenger minibuses with a gross vehicle weight of up to 5 tons 5 times less compared to the same period in 2009. At the same time, the number of such vehicles imported by individuals doubled. This indicates that vehicles intended for commercial use are being imported under the guise of personal use vehicles. In this regard, the State Customs Committee has decided to strengthen control over the determination of the purpose of vehicles imported by individuals. Now, customs chiefs or their deputies are empowered to determine the purpose of this category of vehicles. When presenting a vehicle for customs clearance, an individual is not required to take any additional actions or submit additional documents and written statements, the committee noted. All verification measures are carried out during customs control operations. A customs clearance certificate is issued no later than one business day following the day of commencement of customs clearance (registration of a customs declaration for personal use goods). The purpose of trucks and cargo-passenger minibuses will be determined based on several criteria. These include written explanations of the purpose and methods of using such a vehicle, and documents explaining the necessity of acquiring the vehicles. This may also include information on the availability of similar vehicles registered to the person. Other circumstances confirming the necessity of using such vehicles by an individual for personal property purposes are also taken into account. The results of vehicle inspections can also serve as a basis. In this case, the absence or presence of signs that characterize the presented vehicle as special is taken into account. Special vehicles (e.g., refrigerated trucks, vehicles equipped with special mechanisms, fasteners, manipulators) cannot by their nature be classified as goods for personal use. Given that the specified verification measures cannot be carried out at border customs clearance points, such vehicles are directed to departmental customs clearance points closest to the place of residence. If the person who imported the vehicle disagrees with the customs decision, they can appeal to the State Customs Committee of Belarus. -0-