System of customs transit of goods to the EAEU

2023: The EAEU began to use navigation seals to track traffic

On April 3, 2023, an agreement on the use of navigation seals for tracking traffic in the Eurasian Economic Union, signed by the heads of member states, entered into force. This was reported on the website of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC).

The navigation seal is a device with which control over the movement of goods and vehicles is remotely ensured, the EEC press service explained. They added that the use of this technology allows, at a distance of hundreds and thousands of kilometers online, to observe the vehicle and record each illegal action with goods in the sealed cargo compartment, if they take place. Due to the use of navigation seals, "transparency" of transportation is ensured.

The use of navigation seals allows you to observe the vehicle at a distance of hundreds and thousands of kilometers online and record each illegal action with goods

In March 2023, an action plan was approved to introduce a navigation monitoring system in the EAEU countries. In accordance with it, mandatory tracking of certain categories of cargo using seals will begin in January 2024. At the same time, a phased implementation of the system is provided depending on the range of goods and the type of transport with which they will be transported.

This approach will ensure a soft adaptation of transport participants and government agencies to new, modern working conditions, the ECE emphasized.

At the same time, by April 2023, a pilot project is being carried out to track lumber exported from Belarus through the territory of Russia outside the EAEU using navigation seals. It will last until June 1, 2023. In addition, by the end of April 2023, a navigation experiment should be launched between Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

However, participation in these events is voluntary. The agreement itself provides that certain types of goods will be transported within the EAEU (at least in the territory of the two countries of the Union) with the mandatory use of electronic navigation seals. These are alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, the so-called. "Sanctioned" goods that are prohibited from being imported into at least one EAEU state. True, by decision of the ECE, this list may expand.^[1]

2021: Creation of a unified system for tracking cargo transportation in the EAEU

In March 2021, the creation of a unified customs transit system in the EAEU and the use of navigation seals for tracking freight traffic were discussed by Oleg Pankratov, a member of the board for customs cooperation of the Eurasian Economic Commission, and Vladimir Orlovsky, chairman of the state customs committee of Belarus.

The latter noted that the two-year experience of Belarus in the development of this project was taken into account. According to Oleg Pankratov, a single system of customs transit of goods to the EAEU should be built on a mutually beneficial basis, and transit transportation through the customs territory of the union should become attractive for third countries.

The meeting discussed issues of determining the types of transport and categories of goods for which navigation seals will be used, and the composition of the information contained in the navigation seal.

EAEU forms a unified system for tracking cargo transportation

Plans for the development of an international treaty on a unified transit system and the creation of a system for tracking goods using electronic navigation seals within the EAEU are included in the strategic directions for the development of Eurasian economic integration until 2025, which were previously approved by the heads of state of the EAEU.

An electronic navigation seal is actually an on-board computer carrying all the information necessary for transportation. The service allows you to receive in real time reliable information about the location and safety of the cargo.

Earlier, Deputy Minister of Transport of Russia Alexei Semenov said that the electronic seal will become one of the systems that will be introduced in the near future and which will help digitally integrate Russia into international transit.

All cargo data is recorded in the seal itself, which helps government agencies and businesses ensure traceability and control over the movement of cargo along global chains.^[2]

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