Customs Officers’ Day in Tajikistan Date in the current year: January 22, 2024

During the Soviet era, the only customs checkpoint in Central Asia that controlled the movement of goods across the customs border of the Soviet Union was the Termez customs post in Uzbekistan, while the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic did not have its own customs authorities.

The situation changed in 1987, when an operational customs control department was established in Nizhny Panj (Panji Poyon). It reported the Termez customs, but the direct administration of the department was carried out by the Main Customs Administration under the Council of Ministers of the USSR.

In May 1989, the government of the Tajik SSR ordered the establishment of the Tajik Republican Customs. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the proclamation of independence of Tajikistan, it was transformed into the General Directorate of Customs Control under the Cabinet of Ministers of Tajikistan. The Directorate was officially formed on January 22, 1992. The Customs Code of Tajikistan and the Law on Customs Tariff were adopted that same year.

Over the following years the customs authority of Tajikistan underwent a series of transformation. For example, it was renamed the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Tajikistan in 1993 and the Customs Committee Under the Government of Tajikistan in 1994. Its current name is the Customs Service under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan.

The activities of the Customs Service of Tajikistan are regulated by the Customs Code, the relevant sections of the Criminal Procedure Code and the Tax Code, as well as a number of laws, bylaws and regulations. The current version of the Customs Code of Tajikistan was adopted in 2004; it has been amended several times since its adoption.

The main task of the Customs Service of Tajikistan is to regulate the country’s import and export. Customs officers are also tasked with combating violations of customs regulations, smuggling, illegal drug trade and the illegal export of cultural and historical goods, as well as controlling the export of strategically important goods and performing other crucial tasks.

Customs Officers’ Day was established by the Law on Holidays to commemorate the founding anniversary of the Customs Service of Tajikistan. On January 22 every year, new employees of the Customs Service officially join the ranks of the department by taking an oath. Other celebratory events include ceremonies where the employees that have distinguished themselves during the past year receive departmental awards.

Interestingly, International Customs Day is celebrated just four days after Tajikistan’s Customs Officers’ Day. International Customs Day commemorates the inaugural session of the Customs Co-operation Council, the predecessor of the World Customs Organization.