Public procurement of imported goods to be checked against customs data

The State Customs Service and the State Audit Service of Ukraine have signed an agreement on information cooperation. By exchanging data, auditors will be able to verify the value and origin of imported goods purchased with budget funds or money from international partners.

This was reported by the State Customs Service on October 15.

At the first stage of cooperation, customs information is planned to be used to verify the actual value and country of origin of goods in public procurement. This will allow comparing import data with documents on the use of budget funds and identifying possible discrepancies.

The signed agreement is of a framework nature. It defines general principles for the exchange of information between the agencies, but the specific list of data, format, and procedure for their transfer must still be agreed upon in separate bilateral protocols.

During the meeting, representatives of the services discussed the preparation of the first such protocol and determining the extent of auditors' access to customs information.

According to the Head of the State Customs Service, Orest Mandziy, the new mechanism should reduce opportunities for manipulation with customs value and origin of goods, help identify risky operations and counter abuses in the use of state funds and international aid.

The agency expects that further development of information cooperation will also contribute to de-shadowing the economy and increasing transparency of foreign economic activity.

At the same time, specific deadlines for launching data exchange have not yet been announced. They are to be determined after agreeing on practical mechanisms of cooperation.

Based on materials: State Customs Service of Ukraine