BISHKEK: In a significant move to streamline customs operations within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov has ratified a protocol that amends the customs code agreement, focusing on the importation, storage, and handling of e-commerce goods.

According to Trend News Agency, the newly ratified protocol, approved by the Kyrgyz Parliament on September 18, 2024, introduces substantial changes to the EAEU Customs Code initially established on April 11, 2017. The amendments are aimed at adapting the customs procedures to better accommodate the growing sector of e-commerce across the union’s member states. The protocol details the rules and conditions for importing e-commerce goods, their storage and use within the customs territory, and outlines the customs operations related to temporary storage, declaration, and release of these items.

One of the key features of the protocol is the introduction of a new role known as the e-commerce operator. This operator is tasked with managing
the customs procedures for e-commerce goods in their respective EAEU member state. To undertake this role, operators must be registered with the customs authority. The amendments also establish specific requirements that these e-commerce operators need to fulfill, ensuring a standardized approach across all member states.

This legislative update is expected to enhance the efficiency of customs operations related to e-commerce, which is a rapidly growing industry within the EAEU. By simplifying and clarifying the procedures, the EAEU aims to foster an environment that supports the digital economy and enhances cross-border trade facilitation among its member countries.