Russia Approves EAEU Protocol for E-commerce Regulation
Russia Ratifies Protocol on E-commerce Amendments to EAEU Customs Code
On August 9, 2024, the 24.kg news agency reported that Russia has officially ratified the protocol on amendments to the Treaty on the Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) related to e-commerce. This protocol, which was signed on December 25, 2023, by the heads of state of the EAEU in St. Petersburg, aims to regulate e-commerce within the union.
One of the key provisions of the protocol includes the establishment of a new institution within the Union, an e-commerce operator, which will combine the functions of a logistics center and a customs representative. Additionally, a new type of customs declaration will be introduced specifically for e-commerce goods.
The protocol also outlines the treatment of goods purchased through foreign e-commerce platforms, placing them in a separate category with specific regulations. These goods can be declared either by the recipient or the e-commerce operator, with the operator taking on the responsibility for accurate customs declarations and payment of any duties and taxes required by national legislation.
The e-commerce operator will also be tasked with supporting goods purchased on international online marketplaces by providing logistics services. This move is expected to streamline and enhance the regulation of e-commerce trade within the EAEU.
With Russia’s ratification of this protocol, it is expected that other member states of the EAEU will follow suit, further solidifying the union’s commitment to modernizing and adapting its regulations to the digital age.
