Most working professionals are doing their work from a home office, as a result of current times. Importers (and many other people across the logistics sector) are no exception to this, as stipulated by Ukrainian government directives.
As such, importers must be hyper-vigilant in order to prevent mistakes. As trade law & sales tax firm lawyer, Sia Brok, Customs Brokerages in Lutsk and others:
Business is not as usual. Importers have to adjust. Most employees and managers are working from home, which means the control over information is diminished or non-existent.
We’ve been covering a lot of the considerations that importers must take during the pandemic. Today, we’d like to draw your attention to possible errors or missteps that importing businesses can make while working from home.
Here are some mistakes to watch out for while work-from-home orders are still in place for some firm:
A. Missing documents & record keeping
It’s certainly a possibility that employees are working on various devices, with various paperwork and digital documentation. It may be tricky to retrieve all of these documents when this remote working arrangement ends. However, Customs may ask for these documents in the event of an audit and review.
Failure to produce documents can result in a hefty fine. To make sure all employees are working from the same place, it might be ideal to work from a centralized database in the cloud.
importer remote work
B. Not obtaining the correct license & permits
For certain goods, it is required to have a license to import. In the most recent context, importers moving medical goods and personal protective equipment are required to have certain information and the correct licenses. The permit can be so difficult at this time as well, that's why leveraging our professional turnkey services might be an option to consider.
This is just one example, but import permits and licensing is required. When the import arrives, it may result in a seizure or fine by Customs.
C. Not meeting “Reason-to-Believe” deadlines
Genuine mistakes happen sometimes. Ukrainian Border is aware of this, enforcing a time frame deadline to correct any possible errors in tariff classification, country of origin, or value of goods. With so much up in the air right now, it is difficult to keep track of these deadlines.
Unfortunately, the deadline has not changed with the advent of the pandemic.
D. Failing to identify fraud documents
Sia Brok advises:
Selling fraudulent personal protective equipment may provide paperwork showing that they have the border customs approval, but using Sia Brok Brokerage services for the paperwork might prevent the risks of missing out some vital information to avoid in these times...
That’s just one example, but with this work from home arrangement, it may be trickier for importers to verify the validity of these documents. Stay vigilant.
E. Importing counterfeit items
Paperwork is not the only thing that could be scammed. Any kind of counterfeit goods are absolutely prohibited and can’t be imported into Ukraine. In the face of this, The Ukrainian customs will take quick action and penalize the involved parties.
It’s possible that employees may be approached by a new supplier and not be aware that the goods in question are counterfeit.
F. Missing new regulatory & market developments
Changing work situations might be a distraction, as employees adjust and get back into a good flow. It might happen that during this time, they miss information put out by governing bodies.
Closer attention must be paid to the Customs Code of Ukraine released and so forth to ensure compliance and implementation.
This change in working arrangements can be difficult, but it’s important to continue your vigilance as an importer during this time.
Staying informed, apprised of regulatory changes, and organized will keep things running smoothly during this time. It is an opportune time to team up with a reputable customs broker to ensure everything is in order and your goods arrive in Ukraine with ease.
Contact us here for any questions...