G/TFA/N/EU/1/Rev.5  
 
5 November 2020 
(20-7878) Page: 1/7 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
 
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLES 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2 AND 12.2.2  
OF THE AGREEMENT ON TRADE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION  
Revision  
The following communication, dated 2  November  2020 is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the European Union.  
 
_______________  
 
 
European Union hereby updates its transparency notification in response to Article 1.4 , 10.4.3, 
10.6.2 and 12.2.2  of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation.  
 
The update is to notify that the already notified Commission decision to exempt from duty and VAT 
certain EU entities procuring essential protective medical equipment is extended until 31 April 2020.  
 
For ease of reference, the measure is included in a consolidated EU -level notification of its 
transparency measures under the TFA. The changes are reflected in strikethrough and /or bold and  
relate to the temporary measures notified with respect to Article 1.1(b) of the TFA.  
 
The rest of the information rema ins as previously submitted in document G/TFA/N/EU/1/Rev.4.  
 
_______________  
 
 
Article 1, Paragraph 4  
The Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) is the official gazette of record for the European 
Union (EU). The L Series, which is published in all the official languages of the EU, contains EU 
legislation. The OJEU is available at: http://eur -lex.europa.eu/oj/direct -access.html . 
 
The European Union and its member States also make available further descriptions, guidelines and 
databases to help traders and other interested parties with prac tical steps and interpretation.  
 
(a) The official place(s) where the items in subparagraphs 1.1(a) to (j) have been 
published;  
 
In "PART A" of the sub -points below references are provided to the EU legislation published in the 
OJEU.  
 
(b)  The Uniform Resou rce Locators of website(s) referred to in paragraph 2.1;  
 
In "PART B" of the sub -points below, Uniform Resource Locators (URL -s) of websites providing 
guidelines and further explanations of the procedures are indicated.  
 
1.1(a) Procedures for importation, exportation, and transit (including port, airport, and other entry -
point procedures), and required forms and documents;  
 G/TFA/N/EU/1/Rev.5  
 
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  PART A  
http://eur -lex.europa.eu/legal -
content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32013R095
2&rid=1  Union Customs Code (UCC)  
(Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European 
Parliament and o f the Council)  
http://eur -lex.europa.eu/legal -
content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32015R244
6&from=EN  UCC Delegated Act  
(Commission Delegated Regulation No 
2015/2446)  
http://eur -lex.europa.eu/legal -
content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32015R244
7&from=EN  UCC Implementing Act  
(Commission Implementing Regulation No 
2015/2447)  
http://eur -lex.europa.eu/legal -
content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.L_.2016.069
.01.0001.01.ENG&toc=OJ:L:2016:069:FULL  UCC Transitional Delegated Act  
(Commission Delegated Regulation No 2016/341)  
PART B  
Specific Trade facilitation measures have been adopted by the EU to facilitate trade in the 
specific circumstances under COVID 19 context at the following weblink:  Guidance on Customs 
issues related to the COVID -19 emergency, 30 March 2020 - 
https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/business/guidance -customs -issues -related -covid-19-
emergency_en  
Guidelines for border management measures to protect health and ensure the availability of 
goods and essential services, 16 March 2020 - https://ec.europa.eu/home -
affairs/sites/homeaffairs/files/what -we-do/policies/european -agenda -migration/20200316_covid -
19-guidelines -for-border -management.pdf  
Communication from the Commission on the implementation of the Green Lanes under the 
Guidelines for border management measures to protect health and ensure the availability of 
goods and essential services, 23 March 2020 - 
https://ec.europa.eu/transport/sites/transport/files/legislation/2020 -03-23-communication -
green -lanes_en.pdf  
Communication from the Commission - European Commission Guidelines: Facilitating Air Cargo 
Operat ions during COVID -19 outbreak, 26 March 2020 - 
https://ec.europa.eu/transport/sites/transport/files/legislation/c20202010_en.pdf  
Commission Implementing Regul ation (EU) 2020/466 of 31 March on temporary measures to 
contain risks to human, animal and plant health and animal welfare during certain serious 
disruptions of Member States' control systems due to Coronavirus disease (COVID -19) - 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/EEC/20_2299_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/EEC/20_2299_00_f.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/EEC/20_2299_00_s.pdf  
(This measure has been notified to the WTO SPS committee under G/SPS/N/EU/380)  
European Commission  
Directorate General for Taxation 
and Customs Union  https://ec.europa.eu/taxation
_customs/business/union -
customs -code_en  Explanations of the Union 
Customs Code  
http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_
customs/business/customs -
procedures_en  Explanations of EU customs 
procedures including import, 
export, transit and special 
procedures  
https://ec.europa.eu/taxation
_customs/business/union -
customs -code/ucc -guidance -
documents_en  Guidelines on Entry and 
Import, Simplifications, 
Transit a nd Customs Status, 
Special Procedures and 
Export  G/TFA/N/EU/1/Rev.5  
 
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  European Commission  
Directorate General for Trade  http://www.exporthelp.europ
a.eu/thdapp/display.htm?pag
e=rt/rt_EUImportProcedures.
html&docType=main&languag
eId=EN  Export helpdesk  
EU import procedures  
 
1.1(b) Applied rates of duties and taxes of any kind imposed on or in connection with importation or 
exportation;  
 
PART A  
http://eur -lex.europa.eu/legal -
content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32013R095
2&rid=1  Union Customs Code Article 56 regulates 
Common Customs Tariffs  
PART B  
European Commi ssion 
Directorate General for Taxation 
and Customs Union  https://ec.europa.eu/taxation
_customs/business/calculatio
n-customs -duties/what -is-
common -customs -
tariff/taric_en  Taric or integrated Tariff of 
the European Union is a 
multilingual database in 
which are integrated all the 
measures relating to EU 
customs tariff, commercial 
and agricultural legislation.  
European Commission  
Directorate General for Trade  http://madb.europa.eu/madb
/euTariffs.htm   EU Tariffs section of the 
Market Access Database 
provides information on 
tariffs and other import 
measures applied to a given 
product imported into the 
EU. 
European Commission  https://eur -
lex.europa.eu/legal -
content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:
OJ.LI.2020.103.01.0001.01.E
NG&toc=OJ:L:2020:103I:TOC  
https://ec.europa.eu/taxa
tion_customs/news/covid
-19-commission -puts-
forward -taxation -and-
customs -measures -
support -access -more -
affordable -equipment -
vaccines -and-testing -
kits_en  Commission Decision on 
relief from import duties and 
VAT exemption on 
importation granted for 
goods needed to combat the 
effects of the COVID -19 
outbreak during 2020  is 
extended until 30 April 
2021. M ember States  can 
grant VAT relief to sales 
of coronavirus vaccines 
and testing kits to 
hospitals and medical 
practitioners.  The 
European Commission 
has also proposed a 
Council directive 
amend ment 
2006/112/EC. If adopted,  
the new rules would allow 
a temporary VAT 
exemption to be given to 
vaccines and testing kits 
being sold to hospitals 
and medical practitioners, 
as well as closely related 
goods and services. 
member States would 
also be able to  apply 
reduced rates to testing 
kits if they so choose. 
Once agreed by all 
Member States, the new G/TFA/N/EU/1/Rev.5  
 
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  rules would allow a 
temporary VAT exemption 
to be given to vaccines 
and testing kits being sold 
to hospitals and medical 
practitioners, as well as 
closely rel ated goods and 
services. Member States 
would also be able to 
apply reduced rates to 
testing kits if they so 
choose . 
 
1.1(c) Fees and charges imposed by or for governmental agencies on or in connection with 
importation, exportation or transit;  
 
PART A  
http://eur -lex.europa.eu/legal -
content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32013R095
2&rid=1   Union Customs Code Article 52 regulates fees and 
charges  
PART B  
Fees and charges imposed in the EU are rare and those having equivalent effect to customs duties 
are prohibited by the Treaties, under the control of the Court of Justice of the European Union.  
 
1.1(d) Rules for the classification or valuation of products for cust oms purposes;  
 
PART A  
http://eur -lex.europa.eu/legal -
content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32013R095
2&rid=1  Union Customs Code Article 57 regulates 
classification  
http://eur -lex.europa.eu/legal -
content /en/TXT/?uri=CELEX:31987R2658  Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 on the tariff 
and statistical nomenclature and on the Common 
Customs Tariff  
http://eur -lex.europa.eu/legal -
content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32013R095
2&rid=1  Union Customs Code Articles 69 -76 regulate 
valuation of products  
PART B  
European Commission  
Directorate General for Taxation 
and Customs Union  https://ec.europa.eu/taxation
_customs/bu siness/calculatio
n-customs -duties/what -is-
common -customs -
tariff/combined -
nomenclature_en  Tariff classification rules  
https://ec.europa.eu/taxation
_customs/business/calculatio
n-customs -duties/customs -
valuation_en  Customs valuation rules  
 
1.1(e) Laws, regulations, and administrative rulings of general application relating to rules of origin;  
 
PART A  
http://eur -lex.europa.eu/legal -
content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32013R095
2&rid=1   Union Customs Code Articles 59 -64 regulate rules 
of origin  
PART B  
European Commission  
Directorate General for Taxation 
and Customs Union  https://ec.europa.eu/taxation
_customs/business/calculatio
n-customs -duties/rules -
origin_e n Information on both 
preferential and non -
preferential arrangements  G/TFA/N/EU/1/Rev.5  
 
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  European Commission  
Directorate General for Trade  http://trade.ec.europa.eu/tra
dehelp/basic -rules Export helpdesk  
Both preferential and non -
preferential arrangements 
are included  
 
1.1(f) Import, export or transit restrictions or prohibitions;  
 
PART A  
The URL links in part B contain links to the legal basis of the different import, export and transit 
restrictions and prohibitions. The legal basis differs depending on the nature of the goods and the 
risks involved.  
PART B  
European Commission  
Directorate General for Taxation 
and Customs Union  http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_
customs/business/customs -
controls/safety -health -
environment -customs -
controls_en   Sanitary, phytosanitary, 
environmental, p roduct 
safety requirements, control 
of medicines and organic 
farming products  
European Commission  
Directorate General for Trade  http://trade.ec.europa.eu/tra
dehelp/sanitary -and-
phytosanitary -requirements  Export helpdesk  
Sanitary and phytosanitary 
requirements  
European Commission  
Directorate G eneral for Taxation 
and Customs Union  https://ec.europa.eu/taxation
_customs/sites/taxation/files/
pr_list_08 -04-
2016_public_version_en.pdf  The EU list of all legal acts on 
restrictions and prohibitions 
is published at the 
explanatory website and link 
provided. The website 
provides a link to the legal 
basis of the different import, 
export and transit 
restrictions and prohibitions. 
The legal ba sis differs 
depending on the nature of 
the goods and the risks 
involved.  
This list of legal acts is 
subject to updates in the 
future.  
 
1.1(g) Penalty provisions for breaches of import, export, or transit formalities;  
 
PART A  
http://eur -lex.europa.eu/legal -
content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32013R095
2&rid=1  Union Customs Code Article 42 regulates 
penalties  
 
1.1(h) Procedures for appeal or review;  
 
PART A  
http://eur -lex.europa.eu/legal -
content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32013R095
2&rid=1  Union Customs Code Articles 44 -45 regulate 
appeals and review procedures  
 
1.1(i) Agreements or parts thereof with any country or countries relating to importation, exportation, 
or transit; and  
 
PART A  
The URL links in part B contain links to the agreements concluded by the EU on customs and trade 
related matters.  G/TFA/N/EU/1/Rev.5  
 
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  PART B  
European Commission  
Directorate General for Trade  http://ec.europa.eu/trade/poli
cy/countries -and-
regions/agreements/  EU Trade Agreements  
European Union  
External Actions Service  http://ec.europa.eu/world/agr
eements/searchByActivity.do?
parent=8507&xmlname=746
&actName=Customs  List of treaties related to 
Customs  
European Co mmission  
Directorate General for Taxation 
and Customs Union  https://ec.europa.eu/taxation
_customs/business/internatio
nal-affairs_en  EU Customs international 
affairs  
 
1.1(j) Procedures relating to the administration of tariff quotas.  
 
PART A  
http://eur -lex.europa.eu/legal -
content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32013R095
2&rid=1  Union Customs Code Article 56 regulates Tariff 
Quotas  
PART B  
European Commission  
Directorate General for Taxation 
and Customs Union  https://ec.europa.eu/taxation
_customs/business/calculatio
n-customs -duties/what -is-
common -customs -tariff/tariff -
quotas_en  Tariff Quotas  
 
(c) The contact information of the enquiry points referred to in paragraph 3.1  
 
European Commission  
Directorate General for Trade  http://trade.ec.europa.eu/tra
dehelp/about -us Export helpdesk with 
possibility to send requests 
for more information  
http:/ /ec.europa.eu/trade/tra
de-policy -and-you/contacts/  Enquiries on trade policy  
European Commission  
Directorate General for Taxation 
and Customs Union  http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_
customs/contacts_en  Customs info point  
The European Commission 
operates a central contact 
centre to ensure all inquiries 
are responded in a timely 
manner by the rig ht experts.  
European Commission  
Directorate General for Health 
and Food Safety  http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/healt
h_food -
safety/about_us/contact_en.h
tm SPS Enquiry Point  
 
Article 10, paragraph 4.3  
 
Members shall notify the Committee of the details of operation of the single window  
 
European Commission  
Directorate General for Taxation 
and Customs Union  https://ec.europa.eu/taxation
_customs/general -
information -
customs/electronic -
customs /eu-single -window -
environment -for-customs_en  EU single window initiative  
 G/TFA/N/EU/1/Rev.5  
 
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  Article 10, paragraph 6.2  
 
Each Member shall notify the Committee  and publish its measures on the use of customs 
brokers.  
 
EU legislation does not require the use of customs brokers. EU legislation only defines "customs 
representatives" (Article 18 of the Union Customs Code), the use of which is neither mandatory nor 
limited to a certain professional class (as the customs brokers) and the rules governing them are 
set out in a transparent way.  
 
Article 12, paragraph 2.2  
 
Each Member shall notify the Committee  of the details of its contact point for the exchange 
of this information.  
 
European Anti -fraud Office (OLAF)  
European Commission  
200 Rue de la Loi, B -1049 Brussels  
Scope:  General questions (policy, 
legislation, application)  Operational matters, requests for assistance, 
coordination of enquiries at EU level  
Name:  Ms Lara DOBINSON  Mr James SWEENEY  Mr. Jacky MARTEAU  
Function:  Head of Unit B.1 Customs , 
Trade and Tobacco Anti -
Fraud Strategy  Head of Unit B.3  
Customs and Trade – 
Operations and 
Investigations  Head of Unit B.2  
Illicit Trade, Health and 
Environment - 
Operations and 
Investigations  
Telephone:  +(32-2) 29 64276  +(32-2) 29 56037  +(32-2) 29 50457  
E-mail: OLAF-FM-
B1@ec.europa.eu  OLAF-FM-
B3@ec.europa.eu  OLAF-FM-
B2@ec.europa.eu  
 
__________