Brussels, 08/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has just adopted a regulation designed to set up new provisions for implementing the Community Customs Code. These provisions aim to simplify and modernise the legal framework and facilitate application of the rules for businesses and administrations. They include the following amendments:
Economic operators who apply for binding tariff information (BTI) are informed by means of a notice inserted in the BTI form that the data, including images, but with the exception of confidential information, may be disclosed on the website of the Commission; the amended form shall be available from 1 February 2004).
Amendments to the rules for competing the Single Administrative Document; the new provisions shall apply with effect from 1 January 2006 but Member States may implement them earlier.
Henceforth, the authorities competent for granting single authorisations shall be the office designated for the place where the applicant's main accounts are held, even when there is not storage, processing or temporary export operations are conducted there.
Alignment on the Istanbul Convention's definition of "commercial use" in such a way that the transport of persons without remuneration is not considered as a commercial activity.
Simplification of the rules on the use of equivalent goods I the dairy sector.
Simplification of the rules determining that, for the purposes of customs clearance, waster and scrap from inward processing are subject to the import duties applicable to them.