-
Customs classification, relevant goods and trade compliance
The EU Regulation 2023/1115 on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation and repealing Regulation (EU) No 995/2010” has the following goals: minimising the Union’s contribution to deforestation and forest degradation worldwide, and thereby contributing to a reduction in global deforestation; reducing the Union’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and global biodiversity loss Relevant commodities and relevant products will not be placed or made available on the market or exported, unless all the following conditions are fulfilled: (a) they are deforestation-free; (b) they have been produced in accordance with the relevant legislation of…
-
New EU regulation on deforestation and forest degradation products free: a short introduction
On 9 June 2023 the EU regulation 2023/1115 “on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation and repealing Regulation (EU) No 995/2010” has been published in the EU official journal. Some of the key-concepts of this legal source are: according to FAO (food and agricolture organization) the deforestation and forest degradation are taking place at an alarming rate; Deforestation and forest degradation contribute to the global climate crisis in multiple ways; Climate breakdown induces the loss of biodiversity globally and biodiversity loss aggravates climate change; Biodiversity is essential for the resilience of ecosystems…
-
Free trade agreements, Malaysia, Indonesia and deforestation
According to Financial Times “Indonesia and Malaysia have said they will delay trade talks with the EU while they seek fairer treatment for small palm oil producers hit by the bloc’s “punitive” new rules to prevent deforestation”. Indeed, Indonesia and Malaysia have suspended trade negotiations with the EU, citing the bloc’s “punitive” new regulations on deforestation. As declared by Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof (Malaysia’Prime Minister) and Airlangga Hartarto (Indonesia Prime Minister) these countries are seeking fairer treatment for their small palm oil producers, who have been hit by the EU’s recent ban on importing products from land cleared of forests.
-
EU Customs reform, AEO and trusted operators scheme
The Commission working document “ Accompanying the document Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Union Customs Code and the European Union Customs Authority, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 952/2013…” finds out the need to implement the scheme of the AEO (trusted and checked operators) by following the following areas: ‒ AEO traders can operate under a trust and check approach if they have their electronic system interacting with the customs’ systems on a constant basis and thereby allowing customs to have access to all relevant data directly from the operators’ systems. They can self-monitor the compliance of their goods and calculate and…
-
The next Union Customs code and the customs action plan
The new Union Customs Code is the answer to CAP (Customs Action Plan) by which the EU reacts to this problem: the current customs system is burdensome for legitimate trade. And customs authorities struggle in their mission to protect the EU, its financial interests, citizens, enterprises, the Single Market, and the environment. In particular, there are the points highlighted: Customs authorities struggle in their mission to protect the EU; Compliance with customs formalities is burdensome for legitimate trade; The customs model is not fit for e-commerce; Limited data quality, access, and analysis; Member States diverge significantly in the application of the customs rules. In particular, the working document reports that:…
-
The context of the new Union Customs Code: the next challenges of the customs
The Commission staff working document impact assesment report “Accompanying the document Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Union Customs Code and the European Union Customs Authority, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 952/2013” has been published on 22.05.2023 and defines the context where the new Union Customs Code will be placed. This context is the Custom Union founded in 1968 which manages the external border of the EU by enforcing the rules governing the cross-border movement of goods, including by imposing a common tariff on goods imported from third countries. Customs traditionally collect customs duties and other taxes on imports and are…
-
Import, trade compliance and deforestation: check on the relevant commodity
How will work the regulation on the goods relesead by improving the deforestation of third countries? The regulation: list the relevant commodities and products; Lays down that the relevant commodities can be placed or made available on or exported outside the EU market, if they comply with the following three conditions. These conditions are: -the goods must be “deforestation-free”; it means that: 1) the menttioned goods were produced on land that has not been subject to deforestation after 31 December 2020; 2) that the harvested wood did not induce forest degradation after 31 December 2020; -the goods must be produced in line with the relevant legislation of the country of…
-
EU regulation on deforestation-free products
On 19 April 2023, the European Parliament approved the regulation on deforestation-free products which: prohibits the placement of a number of agricultural and livestock products originating from deforested or degraded forest areas on the EU market; is part of European Green Deal; bloks imports associated with deforestation, particularly cattle (whether live, meat or leather), cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soy, timber and rubber. Now it is expected the endorsement by the European Council. The regulation will effectively be implemented 18 months after it comes into force. During this period, the European Commission will adopt implementing acts enabling member states and their respective customs authorities to apply the regulation, and also initiate…