1.All exchanges of information, such as declarations, applications or decisions, between customs authorities and between economic operators and customs authorities, and the storage of such information, as required under the customs legislation, shall be made using electronic data-processing techniques.
2.Common data requirements shall be drawn up for the purpose of the exchange and storage of information referred to in paragraph 1.
3.Means for the exchange and storage of information, other than the electronic data-processing techniques referred to in paragraph 1, may be used as follows:
(a)on a permanent basis where duly justified by the type of traffic or where the use of electronic data-processing techniques is not appropriate for the customs formalities concerned;
(b)on a temporary basis, in the event of a temporary failure of the computerised system of the customs authorities or of the economic operators.
4.By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the Commission may adopt in exceptional cases decisions allowing one or several Member States to use means for the exchange and storage of information other than electronic data-processing techniques.
Such a decision on a derogation shall be justified by the specific situation of the Member State requesting it and the derogation shall be granted for a specific period of time. The derogation shall be reviewed periodically and may be extended for further specific periods of time upon further application by the Member State to which it is addressed. It shall be revoked where no longer justified.
The derogation shall not affect the exchange of information between the Member State to which it is addressed and other Member States nor the exchange and storage of information in other Member States for the purpose of the application of the customs legislation.
The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 284, in order to determine the following:
the common data requirements referred to in Article 6(2), taking into account the need to accomplish the customs formalities laid down in the customs legislation and the nature and purpose of the exchange and storage of information referred to in Article 6(1);
the specific cases where means for the exchange and storage of information, other than electronic data-processing techniques, may be used in accordance with point (a) of Article 6(3);
the type of information and the particulars that are to be contained in the records referred to in Articles 148(4) and 214(1).
1.The Commission shall specify, by means of implementing acts:
(a)where necessary, the format and code of the common data requirements referred to in Article 6(2);
(b)the procedural rules on the exchange and storage of information which can be made by means other than the electronic data-processing techniques referred to in Article 6(3).
Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 285(4).
2.The Commission shall adopt the decisions on derogations referred to in Article 6(4) by means of implementing acts.
Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 285(2).
1.Economic operators established in the customs territory of the Union shall register with the customs authorities F1....
2.In specific cases, economic operators which are not established in the customs territory of the Union shall register with the customs authorities F2....
3.Persons other than economic operators shall not be required to register with the customs authorities unless otherwise provided.
F3...
4.In specific cases, the customs authorities shall invalidate the registration.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in Art. 9(1) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of S.I. 2019/715, reg. 2(3)(aa)(i) (as inserted by The Customs Safety, Security and Economic Operators Registration and Identification (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1379), regs. 1(3), 3 (as amended by S.I. 2020/1624, regs 1(2), 10)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F2Words in Art. 9(2) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of S.I. 2019/715, reg. 2(3)(aa)(ii) (as inserted by The Customs Safety, Security and Economic Operators Registration and Identification (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1379), regs. 1(3), 3 (as amended by S.I. 2020/1624, regs 1(2), 10)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F3Words in Art. 9(3) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of S.I. 2019/715, reg. 2(3)(aa)(iii) (as inserted by The Customs Safety, Security and Economic Operators Registration and Identification (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1379), regs. 1(3), 3 (as amended by S.I. 2020/1624, regs 1(2), 10)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 284, in order to determine:
the cases referred to in Article 9(2), where economic operators which are not established in the customs territory of the Union are required to register with the customs authorities;
the cases referred to in the first subparagraph of Article 9(3), where persons other than economic operators are required to register with the customs authorities;
the cases referred to in Article 9(4) where the customs authorities invalidate a registration.
The Commission shall specify, by means of implementing acts, the customs authority responsible for the registration referred to in Article 9.
Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 285(4).
1.All information acquired by the customs authorities in the course of performing their duty which is by its nature confidential or which is provided on a confidential basis shall be covered by the obligation of professional secrecy. Except as provided for in Article 47(2), such information shall not be disclosed by the competent authorities without the express permission of the person or authority that provided it.
Such information may, however, be disclosed without permission where the customs authorities are obliged or authorised to do so pursuant to the provisions in force, particularly in respect of data protection, or in connection with legal proceedings.
2.Confidential information referred to in paragraph 1 may be communicated to the customs authorities and other competent authorities of countries or territories outside the customs territory of the Union for the purpose of customs cooperation with those countries or territories in the framework of an international agreement or Union legislation in the area of the common commercial policy.
3.Any disclosure or communication of information as referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall ensure an adequate level of data protection in full compliance with data protection provisions in force.
1.Customs authorities and economic operators may exchange any information not specifically required under the customs legislation, in particular for the purpose of mutual cooperation in the identification and counteraction of risk. That exchange may take place under a written agreement and may include access to the computer systems of economic operators by the customs authorities.
2.Any information provided by one party to the other in the course of the cooperation referred to in paragraph 1 shall be confidential unless both parties agree otherwise.
1.Any person may request information concerning the application of the customs legislation from the customs authorities. Such a request may be refused where it does not relate to an activity pertaining to international trade in goods that is actually envisaged.
2.Customs authorities shall maintain a regular dialogue with economic operators and other authorities involved in international trade in goods. They shall promote transparency by making the customs legislation, general administrative rulings and application forms freely available, wherever practical without charge, and through the Internet.
1.Any person directly or indirectly involved in the accomplishment of customs formalities or in customs controls shall, at the request of the customs authorities and within any time-limit specified, provide those authorities with all the requisite documents and information, in an appropriate form, and all the assistance necessary for the completion of those formalities or controls.
2.The lodging of a customs declaration, temporary storage declaration, entry summary declaration, exit summary declaration, re-export declaration or re-export notification by a person to the customs authorities, or the submission of an application for an authorisation or any other decision, shall render the person concerned responsible for all of the following:
(a)the accuracy and completeness of the information given in the declaration, notification or application;
(b)the authenticity, accuracy and validity of any document supporting the declaration, notification or application;
(c)where applicable, compliance with all of the obligations relating to the placing of the goods in question under the customs procedure concerned, or to the conduct of the authorised operations.
The first subparagraph shall also apply to the provision of any information in any other form required by, or given to, the customs authorities.
Where the declaration or notification is lodged, the application is submitted, or information is provided, by a customs representative of the person concerned, as referred to in Article 18, that customs representative shall also be bound by the obligations set out in the first subparagraph of this paragraph.
1.[F4The customs authorities must] develop, maintain and employ electronic systems F5... for the storage of F6... information, in accordance with the Code.
F72.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F4Words in Art. 16(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Customs Safety and Security Procedures (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/715), regs. 1(2), 2(3)(b)(i) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1624, regs. 1(2), 9); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F5Words in Art. 16(1) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Customs Safety and Security Procedures (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/715), regs. 1(2), 2(3)(b)(ii) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1624, regs. 1(2), 9); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F6Word in Art. 16(1) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Customs Safety and Security Procedures (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/715), regs. 1(2), 2(3)(b)(iii) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1624, regs. 1(2), 9); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F7Art. 16(2) revoked (31.12.2020) by The Customs Safety and Security Procedures (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/715), regs. 1(2), 2(2) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1624, regs. 1(2), 9); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
The Commission shall specify, by means of implementing acts, the technical arrangements for developing, maintaining and employing the electronic systems referred to in Article 16(1).
Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 285(4).