The new EU e-customs regulations
*Economic operators are defined in customs legislation as persons who in the course of their business are involved in activities covered by that legislation.
From 1st January 2011, economic operators have had to make paper-free or electronic declarations in advance to customs containing security data before goods enter or leave the EU. This allows customs to carry out better and earlier risk assessments on these goods thereby minimising any delays in connection with controls.
The EU had already moved to paper-free customs processes in relation to exports in July 2009. These were extended to imports in January 2011.
The legislation underpinning all of these moves was passed in 2005 and 2006 providing EU member states customs authorities and their economic operators with up to five years to prepare for these changes.
The 1st January 2011 onwards sees all EU economic operators engaged in EU imports and exports cohesively take on paper-free transactions with customs.
This paper-free agenda will be further advanced in the case of Ireland by the introduction of the Electronic Manifest System in the middle to the end of 2012.
What do the new EU e-customs regulations mean?
The EU has introduced the Import Control System and the Export Control System, which in simple terms means that ACCURATE trade data must now be submitted to the EU customs authorities in ADVANCE to allow for goods to be loaded and sent to or from the EU.
Economic Operators are now responsible for providing this data. If no quality trade data is provided in advance then there will be no load approval forthcoming and definitely no goods shipped.
In order Cut costs, Increase Competitiveness and comply with new EU e-customs Regulations, please visit the EU validated service:
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