Baltic States – CIS, Estonia, Russia, Transport

While initially August 14 was supposed to be the time of transition to the new regulations, on Friday it was announced that the changes in the Russian customs would be postponed till September 14, reported LETA.

"The decision of the Russian Federal Customs Service (RFCS) to implement the demand for extra guarantees in case goods are transported to Russia and as transit via Russia on the basis of the TIR convention has not made just Estonian road carriers and institutions handling the issue worried but also many states and international organizations;" said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Minna-Liina Lind. The extra obligation is a burden to transport companies as well as to customs institutions, Lind said.

The aim of the changes is to guarantee that customs regulations are adhered to and that customs taxes are paid in time to the budget of the Russian Federation, says the RFCS, adding that the TIR carnet guarantee is not sufficient.

The Association of Estonian International Road Carriers secretary general Toivo Kuldkepp said that it is not understood at the moment who would pay for that extra guarantee.

Estonian economy and communications ministry PR department head Kalev Vapper said that it is not just to leave the extra guarantee burden to the transport companies. "Transporters cannot bring an order to companies importing goods to Russia who don’t pay customs taxes," he said.