The Armenian Customs Service ( hy, Հայաստանի մաքսային ծառայություն) is a subsidiary department of the State Revenue Committee responsible for

customs Customs is an authority or agency in a country responsible for collecting tariffs and for controlling the flow of goods, including animals, transports, personal effects, and hazardous items, into and out of a country. Traditionally, customs ...

services on behalf of the Armenian government, headquartered in Yerevan.

History

The Armenian Customs Service is the authoritative body which regulates customs services in Armenia, ensures compliance of Armenia's international trade and customs agreements, and is responsible for the collection of customs payments and tariffs for foreign trade. The department was established on 4 January 1992 and ensures that customs regulations are followed for incoming trade and goods to Armenia. Department staff are also responsible to ensure that

contraband Contraband (from Medieval French ''contrebande'' "smuggling") refers to any item that, relating to its nature, is illegal to be possessed or sold. It is used for goods that by their nature are considered too dangerous or offensive in the eyes o ...

items which are prohibited for entry are monitored at all checkpoints. Between 2018 and 2020, the Armenian Customs Service was nominated to represent the Audit Committee of the World Customs Organization, representing the European region alongside the Tax and Customs Administration of the Netherlands.

International cooperation

Armenian State Revenue Committee building

Bilateral agreements

The Armenian Customs Service maintains bilateral customs agreements with the following countries: Austria, Argentina, Belarus, Bulgaria, China, Egypt, Georgia, Greece, Iran, Italy, Latvia, Lebanon, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates. In 2013, the department held training events with U.S. Customs and Border Protection delegates, with the goal to modernize customs services and improve inspection quality. A similar event was held in 2014. In 2017, representatives from the department held cooperation talks with the Federal Customs Service of Russia. In 2021, the Armenian Customs Service launched a twinning partnership jointly with the Finnish Customs and Lithuanian customs services.

Multilateral cooperation

Within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy, Armenia and the European Union have agreements to deepen and expand Armenia-EU relations. The Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement was ratified in March 2021, which facilitates and enhances EU-Armenian trade relations, including harmonizing Armenian customs regulations to EU standards. Armenia is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, which maintains a customs union and free trade zone among five countries in Eurasia. Similarly, Armenia is a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States, which maintains its own customs legislations and rules among all members. Armenia is also a full member of the World Customs Organization and the World Trade Organization.

Multilateral agreements

In addition, Armenia has signed several customs and trade regulatory treaties, including the: * CMR Convention *

Convention on Psychotropic Substances The Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971 is a United Nations treaty designed to control psychoactive drugs such as #Amphetamine-type stimulants, amphetamine-type stimulants, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and Psychedelic drug, psychede ...

Customs Convention on Containers {{Use dmy dates, date=October 2013 The Customs Convention on Containers is a United Nations and International Maritime Organization treaty whereby states agree to allow intermodal containers to be temporarily brought into their states duty- and ta ...

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is a legal agreement between many countries, whose overall purpose was to promote international trade by reducing or eliminating trade barriers such as tariffs or quotas. According to its pre ...

* International Convention on the Harmonization of Frontier Controls of Goods * Montreal Convention * The Istanbul Convention on Temporary Admission * TIR Convention * TRACECA

References

{{Government of Armenia

External links

Armenian Customs Service
official website Government ministries of Armenia Customs services Customs duties International taxation Export and import control Government agencies established in 1992