In Latvia, from September 3-5, the EU-funded Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA 10) organised a study visit on transit-related questions for the representatives of Customs Services in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, which are responsible for developing a national transit strategy/policy and have expertise in the field of application of the transit/TIR procedures in their countries.

This BOMCA 10 activity is aimed at exchanging best practices and explaining the practical application of the transit procedure, using different modes of transport and TIR procedures.

The participants visited the central office of the National Customs Board of State Revenue Service of Latvia, where they were familiarized with the centralized control of transit procedure, the principles of automated risk analysis and work of the Customs Laboratory.

 It was also possible to visit the Customs Control point of Riga International Airport, get acquainted with the application of general transit and TIR procedures and visit the premises of an authorized consignor/consignee, to familiarize participants with the application of the simplified transit procedure and its advantages.

During the second day, a visit to the EU external border (state border of Latvia with the Russia) was organized, in order to get acquainted with practical examples of clearance and closure of transit procedures.

The study visit ended with a practical visit to Riga Free Port Customs Control point and concluded with an introduction to the customs control process there.