On Thursday 22 February, members of the European Parliament’s Internal Market Committee (IMCO) adopted their position on the reform of the Customs Code, which will restructure the functioning of customs authorities in the European Union. This reform establishes a new EU customs data platform and a new ‘EU Customs Authority’ (see EUROPE 13184/4).
“With growing trade volumes, especially in e-commerce, and the increasing number of non-fiscal requirements that must be checked at the border, further harmonisation under the Union Customs Code and certain new benefits like the Customs Data Hub need to be realised much faster in order to meet these challenges”, commented the rapporteur, Deirdre Clune (EPP, Irish), in a press release.
MEPs have added new tasks for customs authorities. They should ensure that goods posing a risk to the safety of citizens and residents do not enter the EU customs territory, by putting in place appropriate measures for the control of goods and supply chains. MEPs want the authorities to protect the EU against counterfeit goods and goods that do not comply with other legislation. The authorities would also be tasked with collecting, analysing and exchanging relevant information to support decision-making.
“The changes MEPs made could prevent surprise customs fees for consumers and reduce the influx of unsafe products that make it into their homes”, commented Léa Auffret, Senior International Affairs Policy Officer at the European Consumer Organisation, in a press release.
“This reform is essential, as consumer organisations keep finding that too many products entering the market breach EU product safety rules”, she added.
Last October, MEPs adopted their position on the new framework for e-commerce and the revised VAT rules (see EUROPE 13278/21).
Read the compromise amendments: https://aeur.eu/f/ayj (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)