On August 30 and 31, 2023, MERCOSUR held its CXIX (one hundred and nineteen) meeting of the Technical Committee No. 2 on “Customs Affairs and Trade Facilitation”, within the framework of the Pro Tempore Presidency of Brazil.
This intergovernmental body, which organically depends on the MERCOSUR Trade Commission and meets periodically to advance the fine print of the customs integration process, discussed various issues approved for 2023 and received reports from the Technical Subcommittees (SCT) and Ad Hoc Groups (GAH), bodies that are made up of customs officials specialized in the areas of information technology, valuation, procedures and legal matters.
El detail of the meeting, held at the MERCOSUR Secretariat (Montevideo), is as follows:
El SCT of Customs Procedures and Informatics reported progress in the implementation of the System SINTIA (Computerization of the International Cargo Manifest/Customs Transit Declaration and monitoring of the International Customs Transit operation) and the proposals to improve its security. The possibility of implementing the system was also discussed. INDIRA using the MERCOSUR Customs Declarations Data Model.
El SCT for the Prevention and Fight against Customs Offenses continued with the analysis of the information that can be exchanged by each State Party, updating the points of contact within the framework of Decree CMC No. 26/06 referring to the “Agreement on Cooperation, Exchange of Information, Data Consultation and Mutual Assistance between the Customs Administrations of MERCOSUR”
El GAH VUCE shared various advances of the States Parties and the status of the proposal for exchange of fishing certificates between Uruguay and Paraguay that is currently implemented.
El GAH OAS exchanged information on the progress of the respective Authorized Economic Operator Programs and the activities within the framework of the OAS MERCOSUR Work Program, as well as the situation of the bConnect Project for the exchange of information of AEO operators using the blockchain tool.
It was also agreed that work will be carried out with the SCT for Border Controls and Operations to evaluate the effective implementation of the benefits agreed upon within the framework of the Mutual Recognition Agreements.
According to official information provided by Uruguayan Customs, the next meeting of Technical Committee No. 2 will be held in November.
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