On 02 October Myanmar acceded to the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures, also known as the Revised Kyoto Convention or RKC, making Myanmar the 123rd Contracting Party to the RKC.
Having entered into force on 03 February 2006, the RKC is regarded as a blueprint for effective and modern Customs procedures. It is the international standard for making Customs regulatory procedures as efficient and effective as possible. The Convention contains several important principles, including transparency and predictability of Customs actions; standardisation and simplification of the goods declaration and supporting documents; simplified procedures for authorised persons; maximum use of information technology; appropriate Customs control to ensure compliance with regulations; use of risk management and audit-based controls; coordinated interventions with other border agencies; and partnership with the trade.
The RKC is instrumental for global trade facilitation efforts, especially the implementation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and to meet the challenges of Customs in the 21st Century. Within the current context marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is worth mentioning that the RKC contains, in its Specific Annex J5, relevant standards and recommended practice aiming to facilitate the movement of relief consignments and equipment imported for humanitarian purposes.
The World Customs Organization (WCO) Secretary General (SG) welcomed Myanmar’s accession, saying that it demonstrated Myanmar’s commitment to implementing Customs procedures adapted to the international trade environment. The SG strongly encouraged other WCO Members to accede to the RKC as soon as possible.
The RKC will enter into force for Myanmar on 02 January 2021.
Story by: Riaan de Lange