Meeting of BRICS Heads of Customs Administrations Takes Place in Moscow

On 3 September 2024, a Meeting of BRICS Heads of Customs Administrations was held under the chairship of Head of the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation Valery Pikalyov that summed up the results of customs cooperation in BRICS during Russia’s in 2024.

At the meeting, the participants discussed current issues in customs activities. The heads of the customs administrations exchanged views on priority aspects of cooperation in the BRICS format: the development of cooperation in law enforcement; the holding of joint institutional development events; and the fostering of human resource potential.

One of the key topics of discussion was the recognition of Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) institutions in BRICS. The participants agreed to maintain a high level of interaction that would lead to the drafting of a BRICS Model Agreement on the Mutual Recognition of AEO Institutions

A Joint Action Plan for the Mutual Recognition of AEO Programmes and a Road Map for its Implementation were signed to move the initiative along.

The heads of the customs administrations agreed:

• to strengthen cooperation among the customs administrations of BRICS countries;
• to make every effort to sign the BRICS Agreement of Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customers Matters as soon as possible;
• to modernize customs cooperation within the BRICS framework, giving it a more practical format;
• to develop cooperation in law enforcement.

In addition, the Head of the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation stressed the need to combine efforts to provide any assistance necessary to new BRICS members so that they can be included in customs cooperation processes within the association.

Following the meeting, the heads of the customs administrations adopted a Final Document, which consolidates the completed work and outlines areas of future cooperation to develop and increase the efficiency of the customs services of the BRICS countries.

The Roscongress Foundation manages the events of Russia’s BRICS Chairship.