CUSTOMS POLICY AND TARIFF

The field of Customs Policy and Tariffs within MoFTER include customs policy in BiH, customs tariffs of BiH, bilateral and multilateral agreements on customs cooperation, rules of origin for products concerning preferential treatment, information from other contracting parties in customs cooperation agreements, certification of specifications, exemption from paying customs duties, for reconstruction and reconstruction projects, in cases when this Ministry is in charge.

The Department for Customs Policy and Free Zones is responsible for BiH's customs policy and measures for its realization; making laws and bylaws regulating the operation of free zones; alignment of customs procedures and regulations with EU regulations; preparation of foreign trade regulations and regulations in the field of taxation applied in customs policy; customs and non-customs protection instruments; agreements on co-operation with relevant international organizations, institutions and state departments of individual countries in the field of customs policy; certification of specifications for the exemption from payment of customs duties, for renewal and reconstruction projects, in cases when this Ministry is in charge.

The Customs Tariff Department is in charge of proposing the harmonization of the Customs Tariff of BiH with the Harmonized System in accordance with the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, developed and monitored by the World Customs Organization and the EU Combined Nomenclature; monitoring WTO requirements; and the corresponding harmonization of the Customs Tariff in accordance with the international agreements concluded by BiH with certain countries or groups of countries; update; prescribing codes and the like.

The Department is responsible for interpreting and explaining the Customs Tariff and giving an opinion on the application of the Customs Tariff in relation to the classification of goods into the Customs Tariff, which requires a high level of knowledge and experience, since it is a very complex and professional matter.

We perform regular tasks related to the preparation of the proposal of the Decision on temporary suspension and temporary reduction of customs rates for import of certain goods. The above Decision is made annually and the goods covered by this Decision are raw materials, because they are used by BiH producers in their own production for the manufacture of finished products, which can not be obtained on the domestic market in quantities and quality required for production of finished products.

During the preparation of the proposal of the Decision for next year, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH performs detailed analysis of the import of these goods, by each tariff code, in the previous period, by quantity, value, importer, product use, etc. Similarly, the Ministry makes tours of the largest beneficiaries of this Decision, by way of which it exercises full control over the application of this Decision. The same procedure is followed when considering new applications.

The Department for Monitoring the Implementation of Customs Regulations is in charge of creating and overseeing the implementation of customs regulations, monitoring the implementation of the rules of origin, and their control and supervision, performing administrative supervision over the implementation of the Regulation on special conditions for recording and marking flour placed on the market.
The rules of origin are specific provisions that are prescribed by the protocols of origin which are an integral part of any free trade agreement. If the goods satisfy certain prescribed rules of origin, they acquire the status of goods with preferential origin, thereby achieving, in the process of importation, with the presentation of prescribed evidence, the right to apply a preferential rate of customs duty on those goods.

The issue of origin is very complex, as many goods contain materials of mixed origin, the criteria of origin are different for different materials, and the calculations are complex. Preferential rules of origin have economic significance and are often used as a development tool.
Given this high importance of the origin of goods in international trade in goods, business entities, freight forwarders and the customs administration need to be sure that they know and understand certain rules of origin that apply. Therefore, the Customs Regulatory Compliance Department is constantly working on raising awareness and capacity building in the area of ​​rules of origin, organizing workshops, developing manuals and giving expert advice, analysing and interpreting the application of rules of origin to all interested parties. We value the most important direct contact with all stakeholders. We cooperate directly with businessmen, the Indirect Taxation Authority, the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the chambers of commerce of the Entities and the Brčko District. We launched an initiative for the conclusion of the Regional Convention on Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Preferential Rules on the Origin of Goods, which entered into force in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 1.11.2014. The Regional Convention opened for Bosnian and Herzegovinian businessmen the possibility of obtaining preferences in the import of goods into the Contracting Parties of the Regional Convention, with the prerequisite for concluding a free trade agreement with them.

We perform regular activities related to control and supervision regarding the determination of the origin of goods through visits to business entities, the Indirect Taxation Authority and the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and we submit information about them annually to the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Department for Research, Analysis and Planning of Customs Tariff Policy Measures is responsible for monitoring and researching measures of customs tariff policy, internal market, markets of EU countries, CEFTA countries and third countries in the field of customs tariff policy; preparation of drafts and proposals of legal and sub-legal acts within the competence of the Department and the Sector; monitoring, studying and conducting analyses of the application of customs tariff policy, preparation of reports related to customs tariff measures, preparation of professional policy, preparation of reports related to customs tariff measures, preparation of expert basis for determining economic and development policy in the area of customs tariff policies, planning a customs tariff policy measures and proposing ways for their implementation; participates in the production of analytical, informative and other professional materials under the jurisdiction of the Department and the Sector.