As of today, the European Union (EU) is introducing an even stricter ban on the import of fuels produced from Russian oil, the Agency “Customs“ reported on its website, BTA reported.
According to the new rules, the purchase, import or transfer - directly or indirectly - to the EU of petroleum products from Russian oil that are refined in a third country is prohibited. The measures are applied on the basis of the European Regulation of 31 July 2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia's actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine.
For the purposes of implementing the ban, the sanctions legislation requires that economic operators upon import submit to the customs authorities evidence of the country of origin of the crude oil used in the refining of petroleum products in the third country.
The “Customs“ Agency states that importers should have adequate procedures for due diligence and provide all necessary information to establish the origin of the crude oil, including documents certifying the country of extraction. An exception is allowed when the petroleum products are imported from a partner country included in the annex to the regulation.
Importers may rely on various documentary evidence of the origin of the crude oil, but are urged to exercise caution in the event of suspicions of falsified or inaccurate documents.
Economic operators are recommended to include special contractual clauses with their suppliers guaranteeing the origin of the crude oil, as well as to apply extended due diligence.
The customs administration specifies that when importing petroleum products from heading 2710 from a partner country included in the list of the regulation, it is not required to present evidence of the origin of the crude oil from subheading 2709 00.
The Customs Agency has published on its website instructions for traders, as well as a list of countries - net exporters of crude oil for 2024.