Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 230/2

24 April 2007

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 177/2007

European Union (EU)* : Requirement to Lodge Pre-arrival Information for Goods Entering into the Community Customs Territory

Further to Commercial Information Circular No. 227/2005 of 30 June 2005, the European Commission (the Commission) has adopted a Regulation to set out the implementation details of the requirement that information on goods should be provided to the customs authorities before they are imported into the EU. Details are set out in Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1875/2006 (the Regulation), which can be accessed through the following link:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2006/l_360/l_36020061219en00640125.pdf.

DETAILS

2. The Regulation amends Regulation (EEC) No. 2454/93 laying down provisions for the implementation of the Community Customs Code. Among other things, it sets out the implementation details of the pre-arrival information requirements for goods entering into the customs territory of the European Community (the Community). Starting from 1 July 2009, all goods brought into the Community should be covered by an "entry summary declaration" submitted electronically, following the time limit set out below:

1. for containerised cargo in maritime traffic, at least 24 hours before loading at the port of departure; for bulk/break bulk cargo in maritime traffic, at least four hours before arrival at the first port in the customs territory of the Community;
   
2. for short haul flights (flight duration of less than four hours from the last airport of departure in a third country till the arrival to the first Community airport) in air traffic, at least by the time of the actual take off of the aircraft; for long haul flights, at least four hours prior to arrival at the first airport in the customs territory of the Community;
   
3. for rail and inland waters traffic, at least two hours prior to arrival at the customs office of entry in the customs territory of the Community;
   
4. for road traffic, at least one hour prior to arrival at the customs office of entry in the customs territory of the Community;
   

3. Information requirements of the entry summary declaration for various transportation modes are available at Annex III of the Regulation (to be inserted as Annex 30A of Regulation (EEC) No. 2454/93). When a customs declaration is used as an entry summary declaration, that declaration shall include the particulars for an entry summary declaration set out in Annex III.

ENQUIRIES

4. For enquiries concerning the contents of this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5500.

Yours faithfully,

(K H NG)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry

* The EU includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Note 1: While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.
Note 2 : The biweekly newsletter "Business Alert - EU" of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council provides up-to-date information on the latest developments in EU trade policy and trade regulations. The newsletter is available for free e-subscription and can be accessed through http://www.tdctrade.com/alert/eualert.htm.