EU cargo declaration

The European Union Advance Cargo Declaration Regime becomes effective on January 1st 2011.

This new regime will affect all freight imported into and exported out of Europe, as well as transhipment cargo. Customs controls are applied for an equal level of protection against terrorist attacks for all goods shipped through the EU similar to the advanced manifest regime ("24 hour rule") instituted by the United States' Trade Act of 2002 which followed the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

From 1 January 2011, any failure to comply with the obligations laid down in the regime will result in individual EU Member States imposing penalties according to the national legislation. It will apply in addition to existing customs rules laid down in the Community Custom Code.

The Club is currently preparing one of its Legal Briefing publications on this subject to provide more detail on the operators who need to declare, the information required and various other compliance issues which can vary between individual EU states. In the meantime, a special resources page has been added where we are collating resources and guidance on this new regim