Brussels, 15/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has sent France a Reasoned Opinion asking it to amend its legislation and practices concerning customs debt since when France suspends implementation of a customs decision regarding post-clearance recovery of a customs debt, it does not require a security to be lodged by the debtor as required by the Community Customs Code. "Moreover, in practice suspension of implementation is granted almost automatically by the customs authorities when a customs decision is disputed before an independent body" adds the Commission in a press release. EU rules only permit the security condition to be waived if it "would be likely… to cause serious economic or social difficulties... Moreover, under the same article, implementation may only be suspended where customs have good reason to believe that the contested decision is inconsistent with customs legislation or where irreparable damage is to be feared for the person concerned." France has two months to respond to the Commission's objections.