THE Arusha Declaration

THE Arusha Declaration

DECLARATION OF THE CUSTOMS CO-OPERATION COUNCIL

CONCERNING INTEGRITY IN CUSTOMS

The Customs Co-operation Council

NOTING that Customs is an essential instrument for the effective management of an economy and that it performs simultaneously the vital roles of

combating smuggling and facilitating the flow of legitimate trade;

ACKNOWLEDGING that:

uf058 corruption can destroy the efficient functioning of any society and diminish the ability of the Customs to accomplish its mission ;

uf058 a corrupt Customs

uf0b7 will not deliver the revenue that is properly due to the State,

uf0b7 will not be effective in the fight against illicit trafficking, and

uf0b7 will obstruct the growth of legitimate inteational trade and hinder economic development ;

uf058 the Customs has no right to public recognition or trust if its staff break the law habitually ;

CONSIDERING that corruption can be combated effectively only as part of a comprehensive national effort;

DECLARES that a top priority for all Govements should be to ensure that Customs is free of corruption. This requires a firm commitment at the

highest political and administrative levels to maintaining a high standard of integrity throughout the civil service and particularly in the Customs ;

DECLARES that a national Customs integrity programme must take account of the following key factors:

1. Customs legislation should be clear and precise. Import tariffs should be moderated where possible. The number of rates should be limited.

Administrative regulation of trade should be reduced to the absolute minimum. There should be as few exemptions to the standard rules as

possible.

2. Customs procedures should be simple, consistent, and easily accessible, and should include a procedure for appealing against decisions of the

Customs, with the possibility of recourse to independent adjudication in the final instance. They could be based on the Kyoto Convention and

should be so framed as to reduce to a minimum the inappropriate exercise of discretion.

3. Automation (including EDI) is a powerful tool against corruption, and its utilisation should have priority.

4. In order to reduce the opportunities for malpractice, Customs managers should employ such measures as strategic segregation of functions,

rotation of assignments and random allocation of examinations among Customs officers and, in certain circumstances, regular relocation of staff.

5. Line managers should have prime responsibility for identifying weaknesses in working methods and in the integrity of their staff, and for taking

steps to rectify such weaknesses.

6. Inteal and exteal auditing are essential, effective inteal auditing being a particularly useful means of ensuring that Customs procedures are

appropriate and are being implemented correctly. The inteal auditing arrangements should be complemented by an inteal affairs unit that has

the specific task of investigating all cases of suspected malpractice.

7. The management should instil in its officers loyalty and pride in their service, an "esprit de corps" and a desire to co-operate in measures to reduce

their exposure to the possibility of corruption.

8. The processes for the recruitment and advancement of Customs officers should be objective and immune from interference. They should include a

means of identifying applicants who have, and are likely to maintain, a high standard of personal ethics.

9. Customs officers should be issued with a Code of Conduct, the implications of which should be fully explained to them. There should be effective

disciplinary measures, which should include the possibility of dismissal.

10. Customs officers should receive adequate professional training throughout their careers, which should include coverage of ethics and integrity

issues.

11. The remuneration received by Customs officers should be sufficient to afford them a decent standard of living, and may in certain circumstances

include social benefits such as health care and housing facilities, and/or incentive payments (bonuses, rewards, etc.).

12. Customs administrations should foster an open and transparent relationship with Customs brokers and with the relevant sectors of the business

community. Liaison committees are useful in this respect.

Nirobi Convention...