General
Q. What ports do ChannelPorts have offices at?
A. We have offices in Dover and on site within the Eurotunnel Terminal at Folkestone to deal with vehicles using the Channel Tunnel.
Q. Which countries are now member states of the European Union (EU) ?
A.
| Austria Belgium Czech Republic Cyprus Denmark Estonia |
Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland |
Italy |
Portugal Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden United Kingdom |
Q. Which countries are classed as Special Territories of the EU?
A. The Aland Islands
The Canary Islands
Guadaloupe
Guiana
Martinique
Reunion Islands
Mount Athos – also know as Agion Poros
San Marino
Andorra
The Vatican City
Q. Which countries are currently going to be joining the EU?
A. Bulgaria and Romania are due to become members of
the EU in 2007.
Turkey is holding talks about joining the EU but no date has been set for them
to join.
Q. Do I need Customs documents to import or export from or to the member states?
A. Provided the goods are in FREE CIRCULATION within the EU then no, but you may be required to submit an Intrastat return to Customs.
The only exception to this is if, whilst en-route to another member state the goods leave the Territory of the EU. In this case a T2L may be required; this is particularly applicable for goods going to Cyprus, Greece or Malta.
Q. Do I need Customs documents to import or export from or to Special Territories of the EU?
A. Yes you will need Customs documentation.
Q. What is meant by the term ‘Goods are in Free Circulation’?
A. Goods that have been manufactured or produced in the EU or goods that have been imported into the EU where all duties have been paid and where there is no intention of the duties being reclaimed.
If goods do not meet the above criteria then they will be deemed not to be in free circulation and will need Customs documentation.
Q. If we advise one ChannelPorts office that a vehicle will report for clearance and it is going to arrive at the other what should we do?
A. Unless you have sent us original documents, then nothing as our systems are linked. If you have sent us original documents all you need to do is give us a call, we will then arrange to transfer the documents from one office to the other.
Q. What is a commodity code or tariff heading?
A. Every type of commodity is assigned a commodity code by Customs, whether it is for a nut for a machine or for an animal. This code can then be used to calculate an potential charges due on imported consignments.
