The WCO Secretary General, Mr. Kunio Mikuriya, in his capacity as the depository of the WCO Conventions, received the Instruments of accession of Kuwait to the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (Revised Kyoto Convention - RKC) and to the Convention on Temporary Admission (Istanbul Convention) on 13 April 2017, from the Ambassador of Kuwait to Belgium, H.E Mr. Jasem A. Albudaiwi.

With the accessions of Kuwait, the RKC Convention now has 109 Contracting Parties, and the Istanbul Convention, 69 Contracting Parties.

Having entered into force on 3 February 2006, the Revised Kyoto Convention is a WCO legal instrument regarded by the entire international Customs Community as a blueprint for modern Customs in 21st Century, which complements countries’ efforts towards the ratification and the implementation of the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA) which entered into force on 22 February 2017.

Amongst others, the Convention’s key elements include the application of simplified Customs procedures in a predictable and transparent environment, the optimal use of information technology, the utilization of risk management for efficient Customs control, a strong partnership with trade and other stakeholders, and a readily accessible system of appeals. 

Since the entry into force of the Istanbul Convention on 27 November 1993, the international business community enjoys considerable simplification of Customs formalities as the ATA carnet also serves as a goods declaration at export, transit and import. The ATA carnet is now the document most widely used by the trade for international operations involving the temporary admission of goods. The ATA system facilitates the flow of goods at borders, enabling Customs authorities to concentrate scarce resources elsewhere. Not only does the system facilitate trade, it also contributes to more efficient border management.

Secretary General Mikuriya welcomes these accessions and encourages other countries to follow the same path, as these Conventions are both key Customs' instruments that facilitate the international movements of goods across borders.