As part of the EU-WCO Programme for the Harmonized System in Africa financed by the European Union, a workshop on advance rulings on classification, origin and valuation was held in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR), from 28 to 31 October 2019.  The activity was chaired by a representative of the Programme and led by two accredited experts from the WCO.  The workshop was attended by 17 participants, comprising officials from Central African Customs and private-sector stakeholders.

The purpose of the mission was to set up an advance ruling system in the Central African Republic.  During the first day of the workshop, the participants reviewed the work done on advance rulings in the CAR on the basis of the tool devised by the WCO.  They then drew up and finalized a draft national law on advance rulings and a working plan for implementation of the advance ruling programme.

To oversee follow-up of the working plan, a Steering Committee was set up under the authority of the Director General of Central African Customs, to be managed by the Head of the International Cooperation Service.

At the close of the proceedings, in view of the progress made and of the forthcoming publication of the Ministerial Decision establishing an advance ruling system, the Central African Customs Administration notified the WCO Secretary General that the WCO Recommendation of 18 June 1996 on the introduction of programmes for binding pre-entry classification information had been accepted.

For more information, please contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org.