FACILITATING INTRA-OIC TRADE:
Improving the Efficiency of the Customs Procedures in the OIC Member States
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administrative issues in developing-country Customs administrations in two to three
weeks, without sacrificing quality or breadth of analysis (USAID 2009).
2.2. REFORMING THE CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATION
2.2.1. Acceding to the International Conventions
-Revised Kyoto Convention
Many countries have initiated reforms to make the customs procedures easier, faster and
cost effective for the traders. This common objective encouraged the countries to work
together towards designing a global set of standards for customs procedures.
International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs
procedures (Kyoto Convention), which was adopted in 1973 and entered into force in
1974, was revised in 1999 and became effective in 2006. It involves set of standards for
customs procedures and practices. The preamble part of the RKC point outs the
following principles, in particular for simplification and harmonization of customs
procedures:
• The implementation of programmes aimed at continuously modernizing Customs
procedures and practices and thus enhancing efficiency and effectiveness,
• The application of Customs procedures and practices in a predictable, consistent and
transparent manner,
Box 1: TCBaseline Customs Assessment Tool
TCBaseline is developed by the Nathan Associates for the USAID. It offers two quick and
affordable alternatives for measuring the efficiency of a Customs administration: a time
measurement study and a staffing-to-workload analysis.
The TCBaseline time measurement study uses a streamlined methodology for time
measurement uniquely suited to a rapid assessment during a short field mission. Using the
Time Measurement Record form, the assessment team records the time required (1) to
process trucks arriving at a major commercial border crossing, and (2) to process and
release commercial goods at a cargo clearance office. With this information, USAID and
the host country Customs administration can gain a clear understanding of the movement of
traffic through a particular Customs office.
The staffing-to-workload analysis uses information collected for the Management Reporting
section of TCBaseline on the number of Customs employees assigned and the number of
declarations processed in a year to calculate the gross cost to process one declaration as well
as the potential savings of implementing different procedures and staffing levels.
Source: USAID 2009