Press Release

Brussels, 3 February 2014 

On 31 January 2014, His Excellency the Ambassador of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea in Brussels transmitted to the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO) his country’s instruments of accession to the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (Revised Kyoto Convention), and the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (Harmonized System).

Having entered into force on 3 February 2006, the Revised Kyoto Convention now has 92 Contracting Parties, and is regarded as a blueprint for effective and modern Customs procedures.  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, a strong partnership with the trade and other stakeholders, and a readily accessible system of appeals.

The Harmonized System Convention, which entered into force on 1 January 1988, now has 149 Contracting Parties.  Considering that more than 98% of international merchandise trade is classified in terms of the Harmonized System, the WCO is pleased to welcome Papua New Guinea and looks forward to its active participation in Harmonized System matters.

These accessions are an indication of Papua New Guinea’s commitment to implementing procedures tailored to the international trading environment, against the particular background of the adoption, in Bali (Indonesia) on 7 December 2013, of the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation.

The Harmonized System Convention entered into force in Papua New Guinea on 1 January 2014, while the Revised Kyoto Convention will enter into force in that country on 30 April 2014.