Customs service implements mandatory declaration of international mobile equipment identities
New customs clearance rules for mobile phones came into effect in Ukraine on September 4. Importers are now required to specify the unique IMEI code in customs declarations for every device brought into the country. This was reported by Minfin, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
The State Customs Service has implemented this mechanism to strengthen control over the electronics market and counter the illegal import of hardware. These new requirements are intended to encourage businesses to operate exclusively within the legal framework by paying all required taxes and customs duties.
Projected budget revenues
According to experts, the de-shadowing of the mobile device segment will enable the state budget to secure over 5 billion UAH in additional revenue annually. The implementation of this regulation is also aimed at identifying devices that entered Ukraine without undergoing mandatory customs procedures.
Tech circulation control system
Customs authorities have already begun building a database containing identifiers for all officially imported devices. In the future, this data may be utilized by relevant agencies to verify the legal origin of smartphones directly within retail chains.
This approach will allow for tracking the entire lifecycle of a gadget, from the moment it crosses the border to the end consumer. It is expected that this will significantly complicate the operations of illicit suppliers and foster fair competitive conditions for legitimate businesses, while simultaneously reducing the share of counterfeit products on the market.
Illustrative photo: Shixart1985 / CC BY 2.0
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