Clarification from the State Revenue Committee Regarding Issues at the Meghri Agarak Checkpoint

Auroranews has received numerous reports from listeners today regarding various issues at the Meghri Agarak checkpoint. In particular, it has been noted that regardless of the weight and price of goods, everyone is required to fill out a declaration without exception. This has resulted in long queues, with individuals waiting at the checkpoint for 4-5 days.

Auroranews reached out to the State Revenue Committee, where they stated: “The State Revenue Committee, considering the cases of individuals importing goods for entrepreneurial purposes under the guise of personal use, deems it necessary to remind citizens of the legislative regulations regarding personal use goods. Specifically, according to Article 256, Clause 4 of the Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union, the classification of goods transported across the customs border of the Union as personal use goods is carried out by the customs authority based on: 1) a verbal or written request from the individual regarding the goods transported across the Union's customs border, using a passenger customs declaration; 2) the nature and quantity of the goods; 3) the frequency with which the individual crosses the customs border of the Union and/or the frequency with which goods are transported across the customs border for that individual or at their address.

The quantitative characteristics of the criteria specified in sub-clauses 2 and 3 above, and/or additional criteria for classifying goods transported across the customs border of the Union as personal use goods (including categories of goods that cannot be considered as personal use regardless of quantity), are established by the Commission of the Eurasian Economic Union. Furthermore, the definition of personal use goods is set out in sub-clause 46 of Article 2, Clause 1 of the Code. These are goods intended for individuals that are not related to the exercise of entrepreneurial activities for personal, family, household, and other needs and are transported across the Union's customs border by accompanied or unaccompanied baggage, international postal shipments, or other means.

At the same time, during the customs control operations carried out by the customs authorities, numerous cases have emerged where individuals import goods through state border crossing points that, by their nature, quantity, and especially based on the frequency of importation by the same individual, cannot be considered as being imported for personal use and are evidently being imported for entrepreneurial purposes.

In light of this, the SRC is urging individuals importing goods for entrepreneurial purposes to register with the relevant authorities in accordance with the provisions of the Armenian legislation and to declare the goods being imported through the appropriate customs procedures.