G/TFA/N/EU/1/Rev.2  
 
9 April 2020  
(20-2845) Page: 1/7 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION S UNDER  ARTICLE S 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2 AND  12.2.2  
OF THE AGREEMENT ON TRADE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM T HE EUROPEAN UNION  
Revision  
The following communication, dated 7 April 2020 , is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of the European Union  for Members' information.  
 
_______________  
 
 
European Union hereby updates its transparency notification in response to  Article 1.4 of the 
Agreement on Trade Facilitation.  
 
The updates are to take account of a number of temporary measures that the EU has adopted in 
response to the COVID 19 pandemic . 
 
Further updates are likely given the evolving public health situation  and may also be required to 
take into account EU member S tate measures. Where relevant, the measures have also been notified 
to the World Customs Organisation (WCO).  
 
For ease of reference, t he measures are included in a consolidated EU -level notification of its 
transparency measures under the TFA.  The revised p arts are in bold and relate to  measures notified 
with respect to Article 1.1(a), 1.1(b)  and 1.1 (f) of the TFA.  
 
The rest of the information remains as previously submitted in document G/TFA/N/EU/1 /Rev.1. 
 
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 Resource 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.2  
 
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  PART A  
http://eur -lex.europa.eu/legal -
content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32013R09
52&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:32015R24
46&from=EN  UCC Delegated Act  
(Commission Delegated Regulation No 
2015/2446)  
http://eur -lex.europa.eu/legal -
content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32015R24
47&from=EN  UCC Implementing Act  
(Commission Implementing Regulation No 
2015/2447)  
http://eur -lex.europa.eu/legal -
content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.L_.2016.06
9.01.0001.01.ENG&toc=OJ:L:2016:069:FUL
L 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 Operations during COVID -19 outbreak, 26 March 2020 - 
https://ec.europa.eu/transport/sites/transport/files/legislation/c20202010_en.pdf  
 
Commission Implementing Regulation (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_e n 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.2  
 
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  European Commission  
Directorate General for Trade  https://trade.ec.europa.eu/tr
adehelp/eu -import -
procedures  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:32013R09
52&rid=1  Union Customs Code Article 56 regulates 
Common Customs Tariffs  
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/taric_en  Taric or integra ted 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  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 . 
 
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:32013R09
52&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 customs purposes;  
 
PART A  
http://eur -lex.europa.eu/legal -
content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32013R09
52&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:32013R09
52&rid=1  Union Customs Code Articles 69 -76 regulate 
valuation of products  G/TFA/N/EU/1/Rev.2  
 
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  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:32013R09
52&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  
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 , product  
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 pro hibitions 
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 basis differs 
depending on the nature of 
the goods and the risks 
involved.  
This list of legal acts is 
subject to updates  in the 
future.  G/TFA/N/EU/1/Rev.2  
 
- 5 - 
 
  European  Commission 
Directorate General for Trade  https://eur -
lex.europa.eu/ legal-
content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CE
LEX:32020R0402&from=GA  Commission 
Implementing regulation 
(EU) 2020/402 of 14 
March 2020 making the 
exportation of certain 
products subject to the 
production of an export 
authorization  
 https://trade.ec.europa.eu/do
clib/press/index.cfm?id=2123  Commission 
Implementing Regulation 
(EU) 2020/426 of 19 
March 2020 amending 
Implementing Regulation 
(EU) 2020/402 making 
the ex portation of certain 
products subject to the 
production of an export 
authorisation  
 https://trade.ec.europa.eu/do
clib/press/index.cfm?id=2123  Guidelines to implement 
the Regulation 2020/402 
as amended  
 
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:32013R09
52&rid=1  Union Customs Code Article 42 regulates 
penalties  
 
1.1(h) P rocedures for appeal or review;  
 
PART A  
http://eur -lex.europa.eu/legal -
content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32013R09
52&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.  
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  
 G/TFA/N/EU/1/Rev.2  
 
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  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:32013R09
52&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  
 
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.  
 G/TFA/N/EU/1/Rev.2  
 
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  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:  Mr Georg ROEBLING  Mr James SWEENEY  Mr Vincent SAUVALERE  
Function:  Head of Unit D.4  
Customs and Tobacco Anti -
Fraud Policy; AFIS  Head of Unit B.1  
Customs  Head of Unit B.2  
Tobacco and Counterfeit 
Goods  
Telephone:  +(32-2) 29 58976  +(32-2) 29 56037  +(32-2) 29 51420  
Fax: +(32-2) 29 84501    
E-mail: OLAF-FMB-
D4@ec.europa.eu  OLAF-FMB-
B1@ec.europa.eu  OLAF-FMB-
B2@ec.europa.eu  
 
__________