BOC resolves customs clearance delay within a day

Subject of complaint: Ivano-Frankivsk Customs, Main Department, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast State Fiscal Service (Ivano-Frankivsk Customs)
Complaint in brief: At the end of May 2017, an importer of chemicals based in Ivano-Frankivsk requested that the BOC help challenge a delay in the clearance of industrial chemicals by Ivano-Frankivsk Customs.
Actions taken: On the day the complaint came in, the BOC investigator organized a conference call between the Complainant and Ivano-Frankivsk Customs officials to clarify the circumstances of the hold-up.
It turned out that Customs and the Complainant had conflicting opinions over procedure of an expert review of the samples of the imported goods. The Customs official asked the Complainant to come to the checkpoint to check the goods in his presence to assign a customs classification. The Complainant instead proposed that Customs take the necessary samples, and to provide him decision of the Head of the Customs to extend the duration of the customs clearance which usually should last not more than 4 hours.
Result achieved: Through the mediation of the BOC, the Complainant agreed to go to the Customs point the following day and provide the goods for expert review. With the assistance of the Council’s experts, the issue was resolved in less than a day.