The Ministry of Finance improved the Mechanism of Protecting Intellectual Property Rights at Сustoms

On June 30, two orders of the Ministry of Finance came into force (No 281 and No 282 dated 09.06.2020), which are aimed at improving the protection of intellectual property rights at customs.

The orders provide for the following:

- the procedure for applying measures to promote the protection of intellectual property rights and cooperation between customs authorities, right holders and declarants;

- a new procedure for registration of intellectual property rights in the customs register.

Following the adoption of the Law “On Amendments to the Customs Code of Ukraine on Protection of Intellectual Property Rights during the Transfer of Goods across the Customs Border of Ukraine”, the adoption of these orders was the next step in further implementation of «Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU».

Order No 281 introduces a unified approach and procedure for customs authorities to apply measures to goods suspected of violating intellectual property rights, as well as standardized forms of interaction with right holders and declarants.

Order No 282 improves the procedure for registration of intellectual property rights in the customs register, introduces application forms used in EU countries, and provides an electronic form of communication between right holders and the State Customs Service.

The practical implementation of these documents will, on the one hand, strengthen the fight against counterfeit and pirated goods, and on the other will accelerate the transfer across the customs border of Ukraine of original goods and their unimpeded customs clearance.