Specific Annex A
Arrival of goods in a Customs territory

Chapter 1

Formalities prior to the lodgement of the Goods declaration

Entered into force :

Definitions

For the purposes of this Chapter:

E1./ F1.

“cargo declaration” means information submitted prior to or on arrival or departure of a means of transport for commercial use that provides the particulars required by the Customs relating to cargo brought to or removed from the Customs territory;

E2./ F3.

“carrier” means the person actually transporting goods or in charge of or responsible for the operation of the means of transport;

E3./ F2.

“Customs formalities prior to the lodgement of the Goods declaration” means all the operations to be carried out by the person concerned and by the Customs from the time goods are introduced into the Customs territory until goods are placed under a Customs procedure.

Principles

1. Standard
Customs formalities prior to the lodgement of the Goods declaration shall be governed by the provisions of this Chapter and, insofar as applicable, by the provisions of the General Annex.

2. Recommended Practice
Customs formalities prior to the lodgement of the Goods declaration should apply equally, without regard to the country of origin of the goods or the country from which they arrived.

Introduction of goods into the Customs territory

(a) Places at which goods may be introduced into the Customs territory

3. Standard
National legislation shall specify the places at which goods may be introduced into the Customs territory. Only when they consider it necessary for control purposes shall the Customs specify the routes which must be used to convey the goods directly to a designated Customs office or other places specified by the Customs. In determining these places and routes the factors to be taken into account shall include the particular requirements of the trade.

This Standard shall not apply to goods on board vessels or aircraft crossing the Customs territory that do not call at a port or airport situated in that Customs territory.

(b) Obligations of the carrier

4. Standard
The carrier shall be held responsible to the Customs for ensuring that all goods are included in the cargo declaration or are brought to the attention of the Customs in another authorized manner.

5. Standard
The fact of having introduced goods into the Customs territory shall entail the obligation for the carrier to convey them directly using designated routes, where required, and without delay to a designated Customs office or other place specified by the Customs. In doing so the nature of the goods or their packaging shall not be altered nor shall any seals be interfered with.

This Standard shall not apply to goods on board vessels or aircraft crossing the Customs territory that do not call at a port or airport situated in that Customs territory.

6. Standard
Where the conveyance of the goods from the place of their introduction into the Customs territory to a designated Customs office or other specified place is interrupted by accident or force majeure, the carrier shall be required to take reasonable precautions to prevent the goods from entering into unauthorized circulation and to advise the Customs or other competent authorities of the nature of the accident or other circumstance which has interrupted the journey.

Production of goods to the Customs

(a) Documentation

7. Recommended Practice
Where the Customs office at which the goods are to be produced is not located at the place where the goods are introduced into the Customs territory, a document should be required to be lodged with the Customs at that place only when the Customs consider it necessary for control purposes.

8. Standard
Where the Customs require documentation in respect of the production of the goods to the Customs, this shall not be required to contain more than the information necessary to identify the goods and the means of transport.

9. Recommended Practice
The Customs should limit their information requirements to that available in carriers’ normal documentation and should base their requirements on those set out in the relevant international transport agreements.

10. Recommended Practice
The Customs should normally accept the cargo declaration as the only required documentation for the production of the goods.

11. Recommended Practice
The Customs office responsible for the acceptance of the documentation required for the production of the goods should also be competent for acceptance of the Goods declaration.

12. Recommended Practice
Where the documents produced to the Customs are made out in a language which is not specified for this purpose or in a language which is not a language of the country into which the goods are introduced, a translation of the particulars given in those documents should not be required as a matter of course.

(b) Arrival outside working hours

13. Standard
The Customs shall specify the precautions to be taken by the carrier to prevent the goods from entering into unauthorized circulation in the Customs territory when they arrive at a Customs office outside working hours.

14. Recommended Practice
At the request of the carrier, and for reasons deemed valid by the Customs, the latter should, insofar as possible, allow the Customs formalities prior to the lodgement of the Goods declaration to be accomplished outside the designated hours of business of the Customs.

Unloading

(a) Places of unloading
15. Standard
National legislation shall specify the places which are approved for unloading.

16. Recommended Practice
At the request of the person concerned, and for reasons deemed valid by the Customs, the latter should allow goods to be unloaded at a place other than the one approved for unloading.

(b) Commencement of unloading

17. Standard
The commencement of unloading shall be permitted as soon as possible after the arrival of the means of transport at the place of unloading.

18. Recommended Practice
At the request of the person concerned and for reasons deemed valid by the Customs, the latter should, insofar as possible, allow unloading to proceed outside the designated hours of business of the Customs.

Charges

19. Standard
Any expenses chargeable by the Customs in connection with:

• accomplishment of Customs formalities prior to the lodgement of the Goods declaration outside the designated hours of business of the Customs;
• unloading goods at a place other than the one approved for unloading; or
• unloading goods outside the designated hours of business of the Customs, shall be limited to the approximate cost of the services rendered.

Chapter 2

Temporary storage of goods

Definitions

For the purposes of this Chapter:

E1./ F1.

“cargo declaration” means information submitted prior to or on arrival or departure of a means of transport for commercial use providing the particulars required by the Customs relating to cargo brought to or removed from the Customs territory thereon;

E2./ F2.

“temporary storage of goods” means the storing of goods under Customs control in premises and enclosed or unenclosed spaces approved by the Customs (hereinafter called temporary stores) pending lodgement of the Goods declaration.

Principles

1. Standard
Temporary storage of goods shall be governed by the provisions of this Chapter and, insofar as applicable, by the provisions of the General Annex.

2. Standard
The Customs shall authorize the establishment of temporary stores whenever they deem it necessary to meet the requirements of the trade.

3. Recommended Practice
Temporary storage should be allowed for all goods irrespective of quantity, country of origin or country from which they arrived. However, goods which constitute a hazard, which are likely to affect other goods or which require special installations should be admitted only into temporary stores specially equipped and designated by the competent authorities to receive them.

Documentation

4. Standard
The only document to be required when goods are placed under temporary storage shall be that used to describe the goods when they are produced to the Customs.

5. Recommended Practice
The Customs should accept the cargo declaration or another commercial document as the only document to be required to place the goods under temporary storage, provided that all the goods mentioned in that cargo declaration or that other commercial document are placed in a temporary store.

Management of temporary stores

6. Standard
The Customs shall lay down the requirements as regards the construction, layout and management of temporary stores and the arrangements for the storage of goods, for stock-keeping and accounting and for Customs control.

Authorized operations

7. Standard
Goods under temporary storage shall be allowed, for reasons deemed valid by the Customs, to undergo normal operations necessary for their preservation in their unaltered state.

8. Recommended Practice
Goods under temporary storage should be allowed, for reasons deemed valid by the Customs, to undergo normal operations necessary to facilitate their removal from the temporary store and their further transport.

Duration of temporary storage

9. Standard
Where national legislation lays down a time limit for temporary storage, the time allowed shall be sufficient to enable the importer to complete the necessary formalities to place the goods under another Customs procedure.

10. Recommended Practice
At the request of the person concerned, and for reasons deemed valid by the Customs, the latter should extend the period initially fixed.

Goods deteriorated or damaged

11. Recommended Practice
Goods deteriorated, spoiled or damaged by accident or force majeure before leaving the temporary store should be allowed to be cleared as if they had been imported in their deteriorated, spoiled or damaged state provided that such deterioration, spoilage or damage is duly established to the satisfaction of the Customs.

Removal from a temporary store

12. Standard
Any person having the right to dispose of the goods shall be entitled to remove them from a temporary store subject to compliance with the conditions and formalities in each case.

13. Standard
National legislation shall specify the procedure to be followed when goods are not removed from a temporary store within the period allowed.