Customs controls are checks performed by customs authorities to verify that goods, declarations and accompanying documents comply with import and export rules, with risk analysis determining which consignments are selected for examination.
In trade practice
For food consignments entering the EU, customs controls may run in parallel with official sanitary or phytosanitary checks at the border control post, and both must be cleared before goods are released. Controls range from documentary checks of the customs declaration and certificates to physical examination or sampling of the goods themselves. Incomplete or inconsistent documentation is the most frequent trigger for escalated checks, causing delays that are particularly costly for frozen loads. The Union Customs Code sets out the legal framework governing these controls.
In a specification
Logistics and supply agreements should allocate responsibility for costs and delays arising from customs controls, including demurrage or additional cold-store charges incurred while checks are completed.