2454 final report.pdf - Agra CEAS Consulting

Evaluation of the Community Plant Health Regime: Final Report
DG SANCO Evaluation Framework Contract Lot 3 (Food Chain)
The Commission runs an action programme for customs in the Community with the aim to
support the development of a pan-European electronic customs environment which ensures that
customs activities match the needs of the internal market, guarantees the protection of the
financial interests of the EC and increases safety and security, the so called C2013 programme.
A significant part of the Customs 2013 budget is used for the development of IT systems to be
used directly by MS, but specific initiatives are also undertaken to work on the harmonisation of
customs controls, through best practices and guidelines.
Interlinking of databases held by plant health authorities with IT systems used by customs could
be a relevant approach, and should be further explored, as is currently done for other domains,
where a project group has been created under C2013 to develop functional specifications for a
possible ―Single Window‖ between the TRACES database used by veterinary authorities and the
relevant customs systems by the beginning of 2011. However, a decision whether the project
would be completely or partially further pursued after the delivery of the functional
specifications has not been taken at this stage. With regards to the exchange of risk related
information to customs on the introduction of consignments into the EU with potential plant
health hazards, there is also an agreement between the various Commission services involved
that further work is needed to include targeted information into the Community Risk Information
System which is subsequently transmitted to the national risk systems of MSs after transcribing
into customs language. However, the technical requirements of such a project have not been
defined. An example of the use of the RIF is the dissemination by the Commission of
information regarding the protection measures related to avian influenza in Thailand to the
customs risk analysis centres of all MSs and Candidate Countries.
Regarding IT nomenclature and the different coding systems in use, several inspection services
mentioned that the customs nomenclature should allow inserting a plant health coding system,
which would be of great help for inspectors. Some MS CAs responded that plant health and
customs IT systems need to be linked together; it is suggested in particular, where possible, to
establish a correlation between the lists of products subject to quarantine and customs
nomenclature, e.g. by creating a unified database at EU level of plant and plant products with
their customs codes which are prohibited and which should be subject to a phytosanitary control.
Customs consider that it is difficult to go into details in a systematic way for many sectors.
The Combined Nomenclature (CN) is laid down in the Annex to Council Regulation no. 2658/87
is based on the harmonised system, which applies globally. The Integrated Tariff of the
Community (TARIC = acronym for "Tarif Intégré de la Communauté") is an instrument which
was created at the same time as the CN by Regulation 2658/87 (Article 2). It shows all duty rates
actually applicable, as well as all tariff-related commercial and agricultural policy measures. Its
structure is based on the 8-digit CN code which it extends by a further 2 digits to the 10-digit
TARIC code (Article 3(3) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87112). Member States can go
up to 20 digits but information stored centrally at EUROSTAT level is only based on the first 8
digits.
112 Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 of 23 July 1987 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the
Common Customs Tariff
Food Chain Evaluation Consortium 95