Brussels, 27/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission asked Italy on Thursday 27 October to comply with the EU law on customs duties and to pay the amounts due from the import of fresh bananas to the EU Budget. In the event of Italy's failing to act within two months, the Commission may refer the case to the Court of Justice.
Between 1998 and 2004, some Italian customs offices accepted customs declarations relating to imported bananas with an identical standard weight although weight checks revealed that, in most cases, the real weight was higher than the weight declared. By systematically accepting declarations which they should have known to be wrong, the Italian authorities have caused a loss of resources to the EU budget. The loss amounts to €6,742,210.57. In a similar case with regard to customs duties on the import of fresh bananas (Commission v. Portugal, Case C-23/10), the Court of Justice ruled that customs authorities must ensure the correct application of customs legislation by checking a customs declaration when they have grounds for considering it incorrect. (LC/transl.rt)