The IIAC team joins the congratulations on the International Day of the Customs Officer on the official portal of the Federal Customs Service. Every year on January 26, customs officers all over the world celebrate their professional holiday – International Customs Day. The date was not chosen by chance – it was on this day in 1953 that the first session of the World Customs Organization, then known as the Customs Cooperation Council, took place in Brussels.

International Customs Day is not just an occasion to demonstrate the solidarity of customs services around the world, but also an opportunity to take stock of the work in the face of global economic challenges. Last year, the efforts of the customs authorities were aimed at supporting global trade amid restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Thanks to the well-coordinated work of the customs services, the flow of goods between the states was not interrupted, and medical goods, essentials and food were moved as a matter of priority.

Automation of customs procedures and the use of advanced IT technologies make it possible to speed up the clearance of goods. Thus, as part of this work, a digital format for interaction and verification of trade, transport and permit documents was established.

Simultaneously with the simplification of customs procedures, the customs services of different countries are concentrating their efforts on improving the efficiency of customs control, including as part of work aimed at preventing smuggling, preventing the movement of financial resources and objects of a terrorist nature, and counterfeiting.

The Federal Customs Service of Russia pays close attention to international activities, and the main vectors of international cooperation are outlined in the Strategy for the Development of the Customs Service until 2030, the implementation of which began last year. In particular, a contractual basis was laid for direct interaction between the customs services of Russia and Switzerland, together with colleagues from Uzbekistan, an international legal framework was created in the field of counteracting dubious financial transactions and laundering of proceeds from crime, an automated exchange of information about goods was successfully tested, including their value being moved between Russia and China.