All Over the Globe

Customs again permits

Its personnel to determine independently the cost of products

ALMATY, Sept 23 (THE GLOBE)

Sirs, let�s suppose that you have brought to Kazakhstan a computer from Great Britain. Computers are different, but at the Customs you will have to pay a duty, as if your computer costs US$ 2746 (see the Table). If the cost of your computer is lower, you will have to prove this. But while you will be proving, your product will be kept at the customs warehouse. You should pay for each day when your computer was kept there or you have to pay the duty according to the fixed cost. Them you may prove that your product is cheaper.

To prove this you will have just to bribe a customs officer. The point is that according to the new order No. 402-� (see below), now the procedure of determination of prices of products completely depends on customs personnel.

Against the background of announcement regarding strengthening of the struggle with corruption, the order completely contradictory to common sense has been approved. However, from a customs worker�s point of view, this is absolutely compliant with common sense, as this will allow him to replenish his own pocket.

We would like to know professional�s opinion. THE GLOBE will keep you informed.

By the way, when we received these materials at the Customs, they infected us with a virus.

The order of the Customs Committee No. 402-� dated 28.08.99

�On usage of conditional prices for imported goods�.

Code	Country-producer	Price in US$
8471 41900 computer	Great Britain	2746
	Turkey	800
	USA	815
	France	2078
	Japan	83.52
	Germany	1042
	Poland	2632
8471 60400 printer	Great Britain	2916
	Germany	728
	France	641
	USA	2556
	Poland	887
	Japan	2883
852821900 video-monitor	Hungary	778
	Great Britain	734
	Korea	196
	Israel	752
	Poland	790
	Malaysia	167
	Germany	1000

ORDER:

1. To approve:

- The order of determination of the customs cost of products during while controlling the customs cost of products in the �Issue for a free circulation� regime (Appendix I);

- Conditional prices for the list of imported products calculated on the basis of statistical data of the Freight Customs Declaration (Appendix II).

Chairman M. Nukenov