International Customs
Co-operation and Mutual Assistance
Contents:
1. International Conventions
2. International Customs Cooperation
3. Mutual Assistance
4. Gap Analysis
1. International Conventions
The Republic of Iceland is a member of the:
•United Nations
•World Customs Organization
•World Trade Organization
•European Economic Area
•Schengen Agreement
•NATO
•European Free Trade Association
•OECD
•Nordic Council
1. International Conventions
The Republic of Iceland is, i.a., signatory to the following International Conventions:
•Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (1988)
•SAD Transit Convention (1988)
•General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) (1968)
•Istanbul Convention (1990?)
•Full list of Conventions – customs related and otherwise - available on M of Foreign
Affairs website: http://www.utanrikisraduneyti.is/samningar/
1. International Conventions
Alignment:
Conventions/agreements ratified and transposed into national
legislation
2. International Customs Cooperation
Legal Basis:
Customs Act No 88/2005 – article 40, point 11 stipulates that
one of the roles of the Directorate of Customs is :
“Participation in international cooperation of customs
authorities.”
2. International Customs Cooperation
Pillars of Iceland´s International Customs Cooperation:
•Nordic Cooperation and Networks
•EFTA Committees and Free Trade Agreements
•EEA Agreement– bilateral agreements etc
•WCO Instruments and Networks
2. International Customs CooperationNordic Countries
Agreement between the Nordic Countries regarding mutual
assistance in customs matters (1981)
Various Nordic cooperation fora, i.e.
•Nordic Customs Administrative Council (NTR)
•PTN (Nordic Police and Customs)
• NLO (Nordic officers stationed around the world)
2. International Customs CooperationEFTA
Iceland a member of EFTA since 1970
EFTA FTA´s with the following third countries:
Albania, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Egypt, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Israel, Jordan, Republic of Korea,
Lebanon, Macedonia, Mexico, Morocco, Palestinian Authority,
Peru, Serbia, Singapore, Southern African Customs Union
(SACU), Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine
Participation in working groups and committees related to
customs and transit issues
2. International Customs CooperationEuropean Union
Iceland a member of the EEA (1994) which enables
participation in the EU´s Internal Market
Legal basis for customs cooperation and mutual assistance:
•Chapter 3, Articles 21-22 of the EEA Agreement and
• Protocol 11 to the EEA Agreement
Mutual Assistance Agreements with EU member states –
•Germany (1978)
•Poland (1980)
•Nordic States (1982)
2. International Customs CooperationWCO
Iceland a signatory to the Convention Establishing the Customs
Cooperation Council
Member Country of the WCO
•Participation in joint initiatives spearheaded by the WCO
•Cooperation on bi- and multilateral level with other MA´s
•Representation in:
• Council Session,
• Enforcement Committee,
• Capacity Building Committee
•Participation in various fora which have relevance at
particular times
2. International Customs CooperationSpecific Examples
OLAF
Participation in various networks and special projects
2. International Customs Cooperation
Scope of Agreements
Ensure correct application of customs legislation; assistance in
customs matters; customs cooperation; etc etc
Type of Assistance
On request
Spontaneous
2. International Customs Cooperation
Types of Assistance
Exchange of information and documents
Surveillance of persons, goods, places and means of transport
Delivery of Documents or notification of decisions
4. Gap Analysis
•TIR Convention
•Convention on the Harmonization of Frontier
Controls of Goods
•Revised Kyoto Convention (ratification process
underway – will be finished in 2011)
•Coordination Unit for handling requests (as pr
Article 5 of Naples II Convention)
Thank you for your attention!