The World Customs Organisation (WCO) has recommended that its members use customs valuation databases as a risk management and analysis tool and not use them to set minimum values for the purposes of customs valuation.
According to the communication received from the Chairman of the Technical Committee on Customs Valuation, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has expressed concern about misuse of customs valuation databases by the members when they use them to set minimum values or reference prices. This communication dated 15-5-2013 also notes that customs valuation databases are not an essential component of customs valuation control programme for those administrations that have developed programmes which principally use post-clearance audits based on the profiling of importers.
The matter will be brought to the attention of the Technical Committee on Customs Valuation at its October, 2013 session.