The Federal Customs Service (FCS) of Russia has clarified the terms for the simplified import procedure for goods from EAEU partner countries—Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. This regime, extended until December 10, 2025, aims to speed up procedures but introduces new, stricter control mechanisms that fundamentally change conventional logistics.
The Core Mechanism: Escort to a TSW
At the heart of this new-old procedure is a three-stage system that cannot be bypassed:
- Border Crossing: The procedure at the border itself can indeed be faster, as the main control is shifted.
- Escort by FCS Mobile Groups: From the moment of entry into Russia until the final point of the route—the warehouse—the truck is accompanied by customs officers. This eliminates the possibility of unauthorized unloading of goods en route.
- Mandatory Delivery to a TSW: The final and mandatory destination is a Temporary Storage Warehouse (TSW). It is here that the main set of customs procedures takes place: inspection, document verification, valuation, and declaration.
What Does “Simplified” Mean and What Are Its Consequences?
At first glance, the term “simplified procedure” can be misleading. The simplification applies exclusively to the moment of crossing the border, which helps avoid long queues at checkpoints. However, in reality, this is a tactical move that shifts the point of control from the border to the interior of the country, making it more thorough and unavoidable.
For businesses, this means:
- Increased Transparency: Schemes involving “reloading” or the “loss” of part of the goods along the way become impossible. The entire volume of cargo that crossed the border is guaranteed to reach the customs warehouse.
- Additional Costs: Using a TSW involves paid services: storage, loading and unloading operations, and clearance. These expenses must be factored into the cost of logistics.
- Need for Thorough Document Preparation: Since the main control occurs at the TSW, all shipping documents for the goods must be in perfect order upon arrival to avoid delays and penalties.
Thus, the FCS is not weakening but reformatting control, focusing on the complete transparency of cargo flows from EAEU countries. This is a strategic step towards the “whitewashing” of the cargo transportation segment and improving the collection of customs duties.