European Parliament Approves New Customs Control Regulation

by Ulrika Lomas, for LawAndTax-News.com, Brussels

02 March 2005

The European Parliament last week approved a new proposal designed to allow for greater customs control and security, and for coordinated action in this area amongst member states.

Under the terms of the regulation approved on Wednesday, which still awaits the approval of the Conference of Presidents, customs offices will be able to exchange information electronically regarding the movement of goods into and throughout the Union.

Traders will additionally be required to fill in electronic declaration forms informing customs offices of the import or export of goods over EU borders.

Responding to concerns that this requirement will place an unreasonable burden on traders based within the EU, the European Commission explained last week that:

"The impact upon traders is likely to be minimal. In the first place, the declarations required will never involve more onerous obligations than those imposed by many third countries, for example the declaration required 24 hours before shipment by the United States. Furthermore, exporters already normally present their export declaration before the goods arrive at the customs office of exit."

It went on to suggest that the new regime could benefit European traders, observing that:

"Prior declarations will, particularly when combined with uniform Community risk-selection criteria for controls that are supported by computerised systems and the exchange of information between customs administrations and other relevant authorities such as police and veterinary services, improve risk-analysis and open the way for total pre-selection for controls."

"It will be possible for customs resources to be better deployed and this will result not only in better security but also in the instant release of all legitimate goods upon their arrival at offices of entry and exit. This speeding up of border processing will benefit Community traders and will counterbalance if not even outweigh any cost or disadvantage of having to provide information earlier than is currently required and electronically rather than on paper."

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