FACILITATING INTRA-OIC TRADE:
Improving the Efficiency of the Customs Procedures in the OIC Member States
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Bahrain Customs through its web page provides information on relevant laws, required
documents, procedures, OFOQ Single Window Facility, international relations,
Hotline, e-services, tariffs, exchange rates, announcements, contacts, information on
mobile services etc.
3.1.4. Appeals
The Customs Administrations of the Member States can be grouped into three
categories with regards to appeal procedures.
First group of Customs Administrations do not have written or functional appeal
procedures. For the countries in this group, it is difficult to find a way to apply for
appeal or to get any response to the submitted appeals.
Second group of Customs Administrations have defined their appeal procedures.
However, the appeal procedures are not compatible with the international standards. In
some of these countries for example, the appeals are required to be made to the top
official or minister responsible for customs. Their decision is final.
The last group of countries has clearly identified appeal procedures which describe in
detail the procedures to be followed in application and consideration of these
applications. For example according to OECD (2013), Turkey has clear and modern
appeal procedures and performs significantly better than the OECD average in the area
of appeal procedures (See Box 6 in next page).
In order to increase the transparency, the countries are encouraged to publish the
information including the appeal procedures on the internet. Some of the Customs
Administrations provide detailed information on appeal procedures on their official
websites. However, many of them do not provide such information. They are usually
publishing the Customs Law or Code, which are mostly in domestic language.