As the gatekeeper for the Single Market, customs have to ensure that all products entering the European Union comply with the rules on safety and security.
All products of animal origin entering the EU are subject to import controls by veterinary surgeons at border inspections posts. Customs authorities have to make sure that these controls are not bypassed.
These blueprints, drafted jointly by experts of the Commission and EU member states, are practical guidelines laying down clear criteria based on EU best practice, against which a customs administration can measure its own operational capacity. They can be used to analyse gaps between the existing situation in individual countries and the blueprint standards. Thus they provide a basis for plans to undertake customs reforms as well as preparations for compliance with international rules and standards.
The Customs Policy of the European Union is a foundation of the Union and an essential element in the functioning of the single market. The single market can only function properly where there are common rules applied in a common way at its external borders - twenty five Customs administrations acting as one. See fact sheet : EU customs - facts and figures :
"Drug Precursors" are chemical substances frequently used to manufacture illicit drugs such as ecstasy or amphetamines manufacture. Having wide legitimate uses, drug precursors may be extremely dangerous when diverted from the licit distribution channels for the illicit manufacturing of drugs.
The terrorist attacks in New York, Madrid and London have changed the world in which we live. The fight against terrorism and protection of the citizens has become for governments more than an important issue; it has become a strategic issue. We are facing a serious, new challenge: How best to design and implement effective measures that will successfully defend our trading and transport system from terrorism- while preserving the efficiency of today's system and the benefits which consumers and, businesses derive from it?
Counterfeiting is a growing and increasingly dangerous phenomenon. The statistics of seizures show that the amount of counterfeit and pirated articles seized at the EU's external borders is continuing to increase. These threaten the health and safety of EU citizens, their jobs, Community competitiveness, trade, and investment in research and innovation.
The Commission has prepared a guide on how to interpret and implement the rules of origin that determine whether or not goods produced in the beneficiary countries are eligible for preferential tariff treatment under the EU's Scheme of General System of Preferences (GSP) for developing countries.
The User's Handbook to the rules of preferential origin used in the trade between the EC and other European and the Mediterranean countries provides background information and explanations of the subject matter.
18/12/2008
EU enlargement in 2004
Transitional customs measures
The information document provides an overview of transitional customs measures following enlargement of the EU to 25 countries on 1 May 2004. It is available in numerous languages.
