COUNCIL DECISION

of 7 June 1988

accepting, on behalf of the Community, Annex B.2 to the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures

(88/355/EEC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Articles 28, 43 and 235 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),

Whereas, by Decision 75/199/EEC (2), the Community concluded the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures;

Whereas the acceptance of the Annexes to the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures effectively contributes to facilitation and development of international trade;

Whereas Annex B.2, concerning relief from import duties and taxes in respect of goods declared for home use, may be accepted by the Community;

Whereas acceptance should, however, be accompanied by certain reservations to take account of the specific requirements of the customs union and the stage currently reached in the harmonization of customs legislation,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Annex B.2 to the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures, concerning relief from import duties and taxes in respect of goods declared for home use, is hereby accepted on behalf of the Community, subject to a reservation of a general nature and reservations with regard to Standards 3, 21, 28 and 34 and recommended practices 10, 16,18,19, 20, 23, 27, 29, 32, 33 and 35.

The text of Annex B.2, together with the reservations, is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The President of the Council shall designate the person empowered to notify the Secretary-General of the Customs Cooperation Council of the acceptance, by the Community, of the Annex referred to in Article 1, subject to the reservations referred to in the said Article.

(1) OJ No C 167, 27. 8. 1968.

(2) OJ No L 100, 21. 4. 1975, p. 1.

ANNEX B.2

ANNEX CONCERNING RELIEF FROM IMPORT DUTIES AND TAXES IN RESPECT OF GOODS DECLARED FOR HOME USE

INTRODUCTION

Most countries experience the need to relieve from import duties and taxes certain goods cleared for home use, irrespective of their normal tariff classification or normal liability, provided that they are imported in specified circumstances and for specified purposes. This relief may be provided for in the customs tariff or may be set out in separate legislation or regulations.

Relief may be granted on philanthropic or humanitarian grounds, or may be based on considerations of equity. It may be intended to encourage the development of education, science and culture, or to foster harmonious international relations, or be introduced simply for administrative convenience, to avoid expenditure that would be out of proportion to the amounts collected. Occasionally, economic considerations may also have to be taken into account when granting relief.

The relief referred to here is outright inasmuch as the goods are taken into home use and are not placed under a customs procedure affording only conditional relief from import duties and taxes.

However, though the relief is outright, there are usually certain conditions to be met and the facility may, for a time at least, be subject to constraints: use for approved purposes, prohibition on sale, etc.

The relief may apply to both import duties and import taxes or, in certain cases, to customs duties only.

This Annex does not contain an exhaustive list of the various reliefs granted by all countries. It does not cover, inter alia, goods reimported in the same state, goods consumed on board ships, aircraft and international trains or goods contained in travellers' baggage. Nor does it cover tariff preferences, whether granted unilaterally or under bilateral or multilateral agreements.

DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this Annex:

(a) the term ‘relief from import duties and taxes’ means the clearance of goods for home use free of import duties and taxes, irrespective of their normal tariff classification or normal liability, provided that they are imported in specified circumstances and for specified purposes;

(b) the term ‘clearance for home use’ means the customs procedure which provides that imported goods may remain permanently in the customs territory. This procedure implies the payment of any import duties and taxes chargeable and the accomplishment of all the necessary customs formalities;

(c) the term ‘import duties and taxes’ means customs duties and all other duties, taxes, fees or other charges which are collected on or in connection with the importation of goods but not including fees and charges which are limited in amount to the approximate cost of services rendered;

(d) the term ‘customs duties’ means the duties laid down in the customs tariff, to which goods are liable on entering the customs territory;

(e) the term ‘security’ means that which ensures to the satisfaction of the customs that an obligation to the customs will be fulfilled;

(f) the term ‘person’ means both natural and legal persons, unless the context otherwise requires.

PRINCIPLES

1. Standard

Relief from import duties and taxes in respect of goods declared for home use shall be governed by the provisions of this Annex.

2. Standard

National legislation shall specify the circumstances and enumerate the cases in which relief from import duties and taxes is granted and shall lay down the requirements which must be met to qualify for such relief.

3. Standard

Relief from import duties and taxes shall be authorized not only for goods imported directly from abroad but also for goods which are under another customs procedure.

4. Recommended practice

Except where an international instrument provides for reciprocity, relief from import duties and taxes should be granted without regard to the country of origin of the goods or the country whence they arrived.

FORMALITIES

(a) Prior authority

5. Standard

National legislation shall specify the cases in which prior authority is required for relief from import duties and taxes and shall designate the authorities empowered to grant such authority.

6. Recommended practice

The cases in which prior authority is required for relief from import duties and taxes should be as few as possible.

(b) Declaration

7. Standard

National legislation shall specify the conditions under which goods qualifying for relief from import duties and taxes shall be produced at the competent customs office and a goods declaration shall be lodged.

8. Recommended practice

When a goods declaration is required, the form used should be that normally used for the goods declaration for home use.

(c) Security

9. Standard

The form in which security, if any, is to be provided for the purposes of relief from import duties and taxes shall be laid down in national legislation or determined by the customs authorities in accordance with national legislation.

10. Recommended practice

Where security is required to ensure compliance with any conditions laid down in respect of relief from import duties and taxes, the customs authorities should be satisfied with a written undertaking alone.

11. Recommended practice

Where, in special cases, security is required in the form of a deposit or a surety must be provided, the amount should be as small as possible and should not exceed the amount of the import duties and taxes that would have been involved if no relief had been granted.

12. Standard

Where security has been furnished, it shall be discharged as soon as possible after the customs are satisfied that the conditions under which relief from import duties and taxes has been granted have been duly fulfilled during any period laid down.

SCOPE

Cases covered by international instruments

13. Recommended practice

Relief from import duties and taxes or from customs duties only, as appropriate, should be granted for goods specified in the following international instruments and under the conditions laid down therein:

(a) goods referred to in the Annexes to the Unesco Agreement on the Importation of Educational, Scientific and Cultural Materials (New York, 22 November 1950) and to the Protocol thereto (Nairobi, 26 November 1976) as well as in the Unesco Agreement for Facilitating the International Circulation of Visual and Auditory Materials of an Educational, Scientific and Cultural Character (Beirut, 1948);

(b) equipment or material referred to in Recommended practices 4.39 and 4.41 of Annex 9 (7th edition) to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago, 7 December 1944);

(c) commercial samples of negligible value and advertising material referred to in the International Convention to Facilitate the Importation of Commercial Samples and Advertising Material (Geneva, 7 November 1952);

(d) tourist publicity documents and material referred to in the Additional Protocol to the Convention Concerning Customs Facilities for Touring, Relating to the Importation of Tourist Publicity Documents and Material (New York, 4 June 1954);

(e) products referred to in Articles 6 and 7 of the Customs Convention Concerning Facilities for the Importation of Goods for Display or Use at Exhibitions, Fairs, Meetings or Similar Events (Brussels, 8 June 1961); and

(f) goods imported under diplomatic or consular privileges as referred to in the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic Relations (18 April 1961) and Consular Relations (24 April 1963).

Contracting parties are invited to consider the possibility of acceding to the above international instruments.

Samples of no commercial value

14. Standard

Relief from import duties and taxes and from economic prohibitions or restrictions shall be granted in respect of samples of no commercial value (samples of negligible value within the meaning of the International Convention to Facilitate the Importation of Commercial Samples and Advertising Material (Geneva, 7 November 1952).

15. Recommended practice

The following should be regarded as samples of no commercial value:

(a) raw materials and products of such dimensions that they are useless except for purposes of demonstration;

(b) articles of non-precious materials affixed to cards or put up as samples in the manner usual in the trade, provided that there is not more than one of each size or kind;

(c) raw materials and products, and articles of such materials or products, rendered useless, except for purposes of demonstration, by slashing, perforation, indelible marking or by any other effective method;

(d) products which cannot be put up as samples of no commercial value in accordance with paragraphs (a) to (c) and which consist of: (i) non-consumable goods of an individual value not exceeding US $ 5, and provided there is not more than one sample of each kind or quality; (ii) consumable goods of an individual value not exceeding US $ 5, even if they consist wholly or partly of samples of the same kind or quality, provided the quantity and the manner in which they are put up preclude their being used otherwise than as samples.

Human therapeutic substances, blood-grouping and tissue-typing reagents

16. Recommended practice

Relief from import duties and taxes and from economic prohibitions or restrictions should be granted in respect of the following substances, where they are consigned to institutions or laboratories approved by the competent authorities:

(a) therapeutic substances of human origin; human blood and its derivatives (whole blood, dried plasma, albumin, gamma-globulin, fibrinogen); bodily organs;

(b) blood-grouping reagents of human, animal, plant or other origin; and

(c) tissue-typing reagents of human, animal, plant or other origin.

Removable articles imported on transfer of residence

17. Standard

Relief from import duties and taxes and from economic prohibitions or restrictions shall be granted in respect of removable articles belonging to a natural person or to members of his household imported on transfer of their residence to the country of importation.

18. Recommended practice

For the purposes of Standard 17 the expression ‘removable articles’ should be taken to include, in particular:

(a) furniture and furnishings;

(b) household appliances and audio-visual equipment;

(c) personal effects;

(d) means of transport for private use e.g.: motor vehicles and trailers therefor, cycles, motor cycles, caravans, pleasure boats and light aircraft;

(e) household provisions normally kept in stock;

(f) collector's pieces;

(g) household pets and saddle horses; and

(h) equipment necessary for the calling, trade or profession of the persons transferring their residence, other than industrial, commercial or agricultural plant or equipment.

Note

In some countries, relief from customs duties and from economic prohibitions or restrictions is granted in respect of industrial, commercial or agricultural plant or equipment imported by natural persons in connection with the transfer of their undertaking to the country of importation.

19. Recommended practice

The relief provided for in Standard 17 should not be made subject to conditions more restrictive than the following:

(a) that the articles are appropriate, in kind, number and value, to the circumstances of the case:

(b) that in the case of persons returning to the country of importation, there has been an appropriate period of residence abroad. This period should not be fixed at more than one year;

(c) that except for household provisions, the removable articles have been owned or possessed, and used abroad by the importer or the members of his household for a reasonable period. This period should not be fixed at more than six months except in the case of articles liable to large amounts of import duties and taxes, for which it should not exceed one year;

(d) that except for household provisions, the removable articles granted relief will continue to be owned or possessed, and used by the importer or the members of his household for a reasonable period after importation. This period should not be fixed at more than six months except in the case of articles liable to large amounts of import duties and taxes, for which it should not exceed one year;

(e) that the removable articles be imported within an appropriate period starting from the date on which the importer establishes residence in the country of importation. This period should not be less than six months;

(f) that any alcoholic beverages and tobacco goods do not exceed the quantities laid down in national legislation;

(g) that the importer submits a list (inventory) of all the articles being imported.

Furniture and household articles for furnishing secondary residences

20. Recommended practice

Relief from import duties and taxes and from economic prohibitions or restrictions should be granted in respect of furniture and household articles imported for the purpose of furnishing a secondary residence by a person whose normal residence is in another country, under the conditions laid down by national legislation.

Note

Relief is normally made subject to the following conditions:

(a) the furniture and household articles must: 1) have been used before by the person concerned for a reasonable period; 2) be imported to furnish the secondary residence and be for the personal use of a private person and the members of his family living with him during their stay in the secondary residence; 3) be appropriate, in kind and quantity, to the normal furnishing of the secondary residence in question; 4) be retained in the possession of the person concerned for a reasonable period;

(b) relief may be granted on one occasion only for one and the same secondary residence;

(c) the secondary residence must be owned by the person concerned or have been rented by him for a reasonable period.

Trousseaus and wedding presents

21. Standard

Relief from import duties and taxes and from economic prohibitions or restrictions shall be granted in respect of trousseaus and wedding presents for a person resident abroad who transfers residence to the country of importation on, or with a view to marriage to a person already residing in that country.

22. Standard

Trousseaus and wedding presents shall be taken to include:

(a) household linen and clothing, whether or not new, for the personal use of the person concerned or for use in his household;

(b) any articles customarily given on the occasion of a wedding.

23. Recommended practice

The relief provided for in Standard 21 should not be made subject to conditions more restrictive than the following:

(a) that the person concerned has lived abroad for an appropriate period. This period should not be fixed at more than one year;

(b) that the goods be imported no earlier than three months before the scheduled date of the wedding and no later than six months after the wedding;

(c) that the person granted the relief will continue to own or possess the goods imported as trousseaus and wedding presents for a reasonable period after importation. As a rule, this period should not be fixed at more than one year;

(d) that the goods are intended for the personal use of the couple;

(e) that any alcoholic beverages and tobacco goods do not exceed the quantities laid down in national legislation;

(f) that a list (inventory) of all the goods being imported be submitted, together with any supporting documents required by the customs authorities.

Personal effects and educational articles for persons attending educational establishments

24. Standard

Relief from import duties and taxes and from economic prohibitions or restrictions shall be granted in respect of the personal effects and educational articles used by persons normally resident abroad who are duly enrolled as full-time pupils or students in an educational establishment in the country of importation.

25. Recommended practice

The relief provided for in Standard 24 should not be made subject to conditions more restrictive than the following:

(a) that the goods be for the personal use of the person concerned;

(b) that a list (inventory) of the goods to be imported be submitted, together with any supporting documents required by the customs authorities.

Effects acquired by inheritance

26. Standard

Relief from import duties and taxes and from economic prohibitions or restrictions shall be granted in respect of effects inherited by a person who, at the time of the death of the deceased, has his principal residence in the country of importation provided that such effects were for the personal use of the deceased.

27. Recommended practice

The relief provided for in Standard 26 should not be made subject to conditions more restrictive than the following:

(a) that the deceased was resident abroad at the time of death;

(b) that the effects be imported within one year of the date on which the person concerned became entitled to dispose of them;

(c) that, except in the case of household provisions, the person granted relief retain ownership or possession of the goods inherited for a reasonable period after importation. As a rule, this period should not be fixed at more than one year;

(d) that any alcoholic beverages and tobacco goods do not exceed the quantities laid down in national legislation;

(e) that a list (inventory) of the goods to be imported be submitted, together with any supporting documentary proof required by the customs authorities.

Personal gifts

28. Standard

Relief from import duties and taxes and from economic prohibitions or restrictions shall be granted in respect of personal gifts (excluding alcohol, alcoholic beverages and tobacco goods) the aggregate value of which, determined on the basis of the retail prices in the country of dispatch, does not exceed US $ 25. Where several consignments are dispatched at the same time by the same sender to the same addressee, the aggregate value shall be taken to be the total value of all those consignments.

Note

A gift is usually considered to be personal if it:

(a) is sent to a private person by or on behalf of another private person resident abroad;

(b) is occasional; and

(c) consists only of goods for personal use by the addressee or his family, and the nature and quantity of the goods imported are such that the consignment is obviously not of a commercial nature.

Goods sent to charitable or philanthropic organizations

29. Recommended practice

Relief from import duties and taxes and from economic prohibitions or restrictions should be granted in respect of basic necessities (such as foodstuffs, medicaments, clothing and blankets) sent as gifts to an approved organization for distribution free of charge to needy persons by the organization or under its control.

Awards

30. Recommended practice

Relief from import duties and taxes and from economic prohibitions or restrictions should be granted in respect of:

(a) decorations presented by foreign governments to persons resident in the country of importation;

(b) objets d'art, trophies, medals and similar articles presented abroad either as prizes in a competition or as a reward for acts of courage or self-sacrifice, to persons resident in the country of importation, or such articles donated by authorities or non-profit-making organizations abroad with a view to presentation for the same purposes in the country of importation to persons resident in that country, subject to the production of any supporting documents required by the customs authorities.

Materials for the construction, upkeep or ornamentation of military cemeteries; coffins, funerary urns and ornamental funerary articles

31. Recommended practice

Relief from import duties and taxes and from economic prohibitions or restrictions should be granted in respect of:

(a) goods, imported by organizations approved by the competent authorities of the country of importation and appropriate for the construction, upkeep or ornamentation of military cemeteries;

(b) coffins containing the bodies, and urns containing the ashes, of deceased persons, and the flowers, wreaths and other ornamental objects accompanying them;

(c) flowers, wreaths and other ornamental objects brought by persons attending a funeral or mourners coming to decorate graves in the country of importation.

Documents and miscellaneous articles of no commercial value

32. Recommended practice

Relief from import duties and taxes and from economic prohibitions or restrictions should be granted in respect of consignments containing the following items when they are clearly, by their quantity or nature, of no commercial value:

(a) publications of foreign governments and publications of official international organizations;

(b) printed forms issued by foreign governments;

(c) voting papers for foreign nationals;

(d) documents sent free of charge to the public services of the country of importation;

(e) objects to be submitted as evidence or for similar purposes to the courts or other official agencies of the country of importation;

(f) printed circulars concerning signatures addressed to public services or banks in the country of importation;

(g) securities in foreign currencies, cheque books and travellers' cheques of banks established abroad;

(h) reports, statements and notes drawn up by companies established abroad;

(ij) recorded media such as punched cards, sound recordings, magnetic tapes, microfiches, mircofilms and magnetic discs, for the international exchange of information;

(k) publications of chambers of commerce of the country of importation abroad;

(l) plans, technical drawings, traced designs, specifications and other documents imported solely with a view to placing orders abroad or to participating in competitions or calls for tenders in the country of importation;

(m) documents relating to trade marks, patterns or designs and patent applications submitted to the agencies in the country of importation which deal with the protection of copyrights or the protection of industrial or commercial property;

(n) printed forms and tickets sent by transport and travel undertakings located abroad to their offices and agencies in the country of importation;

(o) printed forms and tickets, bills of lading, waybills and other commercial documents which have been processed;

(p) press photographs and stereotype mats for press photographs sent to press agencies or to publishers of newspapers or periodicals.

Religious objects

33. Recommended practice

Relief from import duties and taxes and from economic prohibitions or restrictions should be granted in respect of objects used for religious worship, subject to compliance with the conditions laid down in national legislation.

Products imported for testing

34. Standard

Relief from import duties and taxes and from economic prohibitions or restrictions shall be granted in respect of products imported for testing, provided that the quantities imported do not exceed those strictly necessary for testing and that:

(a) they are products that will be completely used up during testing;

(b) if not so used up, they will be re-exported, destroyed or rendered commercially valueless under official control, without expense to the revenue.

Products and materials for the protection of goods during transport

35. Recommended practice

Relief from import duties and taxes and from economic prohibitions or restrictions should be granted in respect of packing materials (straw, paper, fibre glass, wood shavings, etc.) and various products such as rope, paper and paperboard which have been used to stow and protect goods during transport.

Fodder and other feed for animals in the course of being transported

36. Recommended practice

Relief from import duties and taxes and from economic prohibitions or restrictions should be granted in respect of fodder and other feed accompanying imported animals and intended for use during transport.

INFORMATION CONCERNING RELIEF

37. Standard

The customs authorities shall ensure that all relevant information concerning relief from import duties and taxes is readily available to any person interested.