Community customs code: treatments, controls and risk-related informations (amend. Regulation (EC) No 2913/92)

The European Parliament adopted by 454 votes in favour, 7 against with 51 abstentions a number of amendments on the Community Customs Code regulation, with a vote under the simplified procedure. The resolution was drafted by Janelly FOURTOU (EPP-ED, France). The principal amendments were as follows: - Parliament deleted the provision permitting the conditions under which information provided by economic operators to customs might be disclosed to other authorities in the same Member State, other Member States, the Commission, or authorities in third countries; - Parliament set out the criteria for accreditation as authorised economic operators. The latter are those who might avail themselves of the simplified procedure; - a new clause is inserted stating that Customs authorities might carry out such controls as they deem necessary to ensure that customs rules and other legislation governing the international movement of goods between the customs territory of the Community and third countries and the presence of goods that do not have Community status are correctly applied. Customs controls for the purpose of verifying the correct application of Community legislation may be carried out in a third country where this is authorized by international agreement; - where controls are performed by authorities other than customs authorities, such controls must be performed in close coordination with the customs authorities, wherever possible at the same time and place; - customs and other competent authorities, such as veterinary and police authorities, may exchange data received in connection with the international movement of goods between the customs territory of the Community and third countries and the presence of goods that do not have Community status. They may also exchange such data with the customs authorities of Member States and the Commission, where this is required for the correct application of relevant legislation, so as to protect the security of citizens and businesses or to detect or prevent irregularities. The communication of confidential data to customs and other authorities (such as. security agencies) of third countries shall be permitted only in the context of an international agreement and provided that the data protection provisions in force, in particular Directive 95/46/EC and Regulation 45/2001, are observed; - Parliament stated that the committee procedure must be used to determine a number of matters, inter alia, the time-limit for lodging summary declaration before goods are brought into the customs territory of the Community; - the time limits for introducing electronic declaration and automated systems for the implementation of risk management and for the electronic exchange of data between customs offices have been extended.�