On January 14, chairman of the State Customs Committee, Vice-Chair of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Europe region Safar Mehdiyev and WCO Deputy Secretary General Ricardo Treviño Chapa held a videoconference.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a tremendous risk to the health and safety of people throughout the world and seriously jeopardizes future economic prospects on an international scale.

On 7 January 2021, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) published the latest list of businesses handed fines for breaching strict regulations aimed at preventing criminals from laundering illicit cash.

In trend, in November 2020, exports continued their recovery that began in June. They thus rose to 92% of their average level for 2019 (+4 points compared to September). Imports remain stable at 91%.

Turkey and the United Kingdom extended their free-trade deal on 29 December 2020, days before Britain formally leaves the European Union, to keep up the existing flow of goods.

Within the framework of the Belarusian-Chinese intergovernmental cooperation Committee, a Commission on customs and quarantine cooperation was established.

A National Workshop on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy for Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina was carried out from 16 to 18 December 2020. The Workshop was delivered by the WCO Secretariat whereas financed by the Customs Co-operation Fund of Japan (CCF/Japan) and technically supported by the ROCB Europe.

In order to differentiate the application of forms of customs control, the customs authorities apply a subject-oriented approach, namely, the participants in foreign economic activity are categorized into low, medium and high risk categories.

On 7 December, the European Commission welcomed the adoption of important new measures which will enable Member States to relieve EU hospitals, medical practitioners and individuals of Value-Added Tax (VAT) when acquiring coronavirus vaccines and testing kits.

On November 26, a ceremony was held to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Academy of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Spain's Institute for Fiscal Studies (IEF).

Nearly 25,000 units, in the form of pills, tablets, ampoules and the like, were seized by the Customs during this year's international action against illegal medical devices and counterfeit drugs, Operation Pangea XIII. The Norwegian Medicines Agency's analyzes confirm that consumers are being deceived. (Illustration photo: Hampus Lundgren)

In close cooperation with the WCO Secretariat, ROCB Europe coordinated a National Webinar Program for Moldova Customs on Authorized Economic Operator’s (AEO) Mutual Recognition, which was held virtually from 2 to 4 December 2020.The Webinar was delivered by the WCO Secretariat and accredited experts while it was technically and financially supported and arranged by the ROCB Europe.