1.The legislation, approved by the parliament last month, was pushed through after prolonged pressure from Western partners and Ukrainian business associations. The reform is also a necessary step toward Kyiv's accession to the EU.Ukraine's Customs Service has been described as the "biggest cash cow" and the "largest tax-evasion scheme in the country" as smugglers avoid an estimated $2.4 to $3 billion in customs payments each year, the Kyiv Independent reported on Oct. 14.Ukrainians view the State Customs Service as the most corrupt institution in the country, with previous attempts at reforms falling flat.As one of the key changes under the bill, the new head of the service will be selected by an independent committee, half of which will consist of independent experts.